THE SOCIOCULTURAL COMPONENTS of BODY IMAGE APPLYING SOCIOLOGY of the BODY' ISSUES on a SAMPLE of JORDANIAN FEMALES

Abstract

This study aimed at revealing the sociocultural components of body image for Jordanian females. Five sociocultural components of body image were derived from the theoretical issues of sociology of the body:1) body image satisfaction. 2) strategies of body image managements. 3) value judgments of body image. 4) instrumentalism of body image. 5) cultural stresses of body image. The sample was included (512) university student females between (18-22) years old, and the data was collected from the universities of north, middle, and the south of Jordan. The results showed, with medium rate responses, that Jordanian females were not satisfied with their body image in terms of length, weight. And appearance of the body. Furthermore, the results showed that Jordanian females have body image strategies like: diet, exercise, visiting nutrition experts. Besides, body image includes value judgments like: the thinner body more attractive, agility, controlling, beauty than obese body. And also, the results revealed that body image associate with instrumentalism which represents in practical interests such as: marriage, obtaining job, engaging in social relationships. In addition, body image includes cultural stresses comes through family members and friends. Furthermore, rural and urban, monthly income of family, and mother education differences were not found suggesting that ideals of body image spread across all social stratums.