Jessica Ranstead Source #1

Step 1:
A. Does social media have a negative influence on the female body image?
B.Perloff, Richard M. "Social Media Effects on Young Women's Body Image Concerns: Theoretical Perspectives and an Agenda for Research." Web.b.ebsco.host.com. Germany: Springer, 29 May 2014. Web. 3 Mar. 2015.

Step 2: This article is about the effect that social media has on the female body. The author's stance on this topic is that, it does have a negative influence on body image. In general white women from westernized countries are most influenced by social media. Men, and women of different ethnicities have been seen to have been influenced, but their presence isn't as prominent. One of the main arguments is that women who are more prone to disordered eating and disordered body image, purposely seek out websites that fuel these needs. Websites that are pro-ana, which glamorize anorexia, or websites that are pro-mia, which glamorize bulimia, are places that young women frequent. They use social media to satisfy the need of not feeling good about themselves. The fewer "likes" they get on their pictures lowers their self-esteem. Some of these websites make these girls feel at home, and almost have a cult-like feel to them, and make them think that "thinness", is a way to feel better about yourself. 

This source didn't really change my thinking because I already thought that social media did have a negative influence on young women. It did bring new ideas to me though. I thought it was interesting how although white women are the focus, men are still influenced by social media as well. I always looked at men as more confident, so it's odd to think that they could have body image problems as well. I agree with this source that women are influenced negatively, but I don't agree that women always go looking for it, because sometimes people know that that triggers their low self-esteem and they don't want to see that. This source definitely lead me to the answer that yes social media plays a huge impact in the female body image. I would answer that social media and social networking sites, idolize thinness, and make it seem like it is something that all women need in order to feel confident and happy. On the contrary it is not something women need, there are many other ways to gain confidence rather than being stick thin. I never considered that these websites make women feel like they belong, and I guess that's why some young girls think these pro-ana and pro-mia websites don't do any harm, because they see that there are many others girls out there just like them. 

This source has lead me to wonder why the majority of women who have body image issues are white women from westernized countries. I am also wondering more about these websites now and why the put anorexia and bulimia on a pedestal. My research will also go into Facebook, twitter, and instagram and how those sites in particular advance this behavior.