The Impact of Ideal Body Image in Bollywood Films On Young Girls

Abstract

Commercial films are one of the most popular products of electronic media and they playa key role in the formation of the society's ideals. The male and female protagonists in the films represent the ideal representation of masculinity and femininity respectively. The youth in particular get inspired by representation of protagonists' ideas, characteristics and traits which are shown in films which they try to imitate. The representation of women's body in Bollywood films as a sexual object leads young girls to self-objectification which limits young girls to see their bodies the way it is shown in films and appears to others. Body dissatisfaction among young girls (15-20years) is a very prominent effect of such ideal body representation. A qualitative framework and feminist research methodology is used for the research. A semi-structured interview guide is used for the collection of data. Body dissatisfaction predicts depressive symptoms in early adolescent girls. There is a relationship between the media representation of ideal body image and dissatisfaction with the body. It leads to the increasing attempt to achieve thin/ideal body. Having an ideal body (thin waist, large breasts and hips) is the most prominent beauty standard found in the Bollywood's female protagonists. Thin girls want to have an ideal body and the bulky girls also want to have that particular kind of body represented by Bollywood films through female film actresses to look beautiful. Young girls have started treating themselves as an object by limiting themselves to bodily beauty. Young girls are getting depressed and stressed out because of the body image represented in Bollywood films.