Communication Studies

How materialistic advertising messages negatively shape the female body image

April 13, 2011 coms 0

Psychological research has consistently shown that women feel unhappy with their body after looking at images of thin, idealized models, which are typically represented in the media. However, today’s consumer culture and media promote not only the ideal of perfect beauty, but also that of the material affluent lifestyle, both of which are commonly depicted together, and highlight the benefits of beauty and of owning material goods to one’s personal success and fame.

Films Promote Superwoman Expectation for Women

April 11, 2011 coms 0

Exposure to attractive, aggressive, female leads in films affects how men and women think about who women ought to be in the real world. Women in particular have high standards for other women, and expect them to be both stereotypically feminine and masculine i.e. beautiful and aggressive rather than beautiful and passive.

Study Finds Surprising Gender Differences Related to Sexual Harassment

April 6, 2011 coms 0

Sexual harassment may have become so commonplace for women that they have built up resistance to harassing behavior they consider merely “bothersome,” suggests a provocative new study by Michigan State University researchers.

Study finds distinction between masculine and feminine body language through baseball

April 5, 2011 coms 0

A new study by UCLA and the University of Glasgow found a distinct difference in what defines masculine body language versus feminine body language in baseball. Their findings showed that masculine body language conveyed anger, while feminine body language conveyed sadness.

Smart Phones Not Replacing Other Media For News Access — At Least Yet

April 2, 2011 coms 0

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers found that mobile media technologies such as smart phones aren’t taking people away from relying on traditional media sources such as newspapers or television. Instead, mobile media are filling the spaces in people’s daily routine in which other media sources are either unavailable or inconvenient to use.

Study: Facebook photo sharing reflects focus on female appearance

March 30, 2011 coms 0

In a new study published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, University at Buffalo researcher Michael A. Stefanone, PhD, and colleagues found that females who base their self worth on their appearance tend to share more photos online and maintain larger networks on online social networking sites.

Study shows why people read magazines featuring envy-inspiring models

March 25, 2011 coms 0

New research reveals why people read fitness and fashion magazines featuring photos of impossibly thin or muscular models — models whose appearance highlight the readers’ own flaws.

Gender stereotypes could push women away from entrepreneurship

March 23, 2011 coms 0

Vishal Gupta believes the way that entrepreneurship is presented, discussed and taught must change — especially for women. “Where are the role models for women?” asks Gupta, an assistant professor of strategy at Binghamton University. “Pick up any book on entrepreneurship: It’s all about men. Switch on the TV, and when it comes to entrepreneurs, it is Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Where are the women entrepreneurs? They’re not being talked about.”

UWM study finds work climate the main reason women leave engineering

March 16, 2011 coms 0

Women who leave engineering jobs after obtaining the necessary degree are significantly more likely to leave the field because of an uncomfortable work climate than because of family reasons, according to a study being undertaken at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM).

Email Spreads Political Rumors, But Internet Use Does Not, Says Study

March 11, 2011 coms 0

Despite the fears of some, a new study suggests that use of the internet in general does not make people more likely to believe political rumors. However, one form of internet communication – e-mail – does seem to have troubling consequences for the spread and belief of rumors.