Weight and body image are issues many females face that can lead to unhealthy exercising and extreme dieting. This paper examines the relationship between perceptions of mothers’ attitudes and behaviors regarding weight and body image and their 18-25 year old daughters’ attitudes and behaviors. This research utilizes a survey of 876 females at a Midwestern university. Respondents report being at least somewhat uncomfortable with their weight and report a lack of confidence with their weight. Regression results indicate that females’ attitudes and behaviors are somewhat explained by perceptions of their mothers’ attitudes and behaviors. Mothers making negative comments about their own weight, mothers telling their daughters to lose weight and mothers’ weight loss behaviors significantly influence respondents’ weight satisfaction, self-esteem, weight loss and weight control behaviors. This research identifies factors contributing to unhealthy eating behaviors and poor body image, and suggests how mothers can help improve their daughters’ body image. / Department of Sociology

Utilizing subcultural identity, scripting, and reference group theories, this study analyzes 21 young adult, evangelical Christian women’s attitudes toward sexuality, and how they utilize messages regarding sexuality from their pastors and parents. Although the women in this study perceive that messages from their pastors and parents regarding sex are unclear and at times inconsistent, their attitudes still particularly fit into the well-known strict sexual “norms” for evangelical Christians. However, the women’s understanding of sexuality did not always include messages from a pastor or parent. Though messages from the participants’ pastors and parents are not irrelevant to the women in this study, the ambiguous nature of their messages offers the participants a unique opportunity to construct their own definitions of sex. Most participants consider procreation to be an important purpose of sex, but they also believe enjoyment and intimacy are important purposes. Additionally, while most of the women in this study consider oral sex and anal sex to count as a loss of virginity, participants also noted many gray areas when considering virginity loss and sexual purity. / Department of Sociology

This study investigated the relationships between young women's attitudes and exposure to violence, objectification of women, and sex-role stereotypes. The research analyzed whether or not viewing sexual content or violence in music videos affected young women's current moods or changed attitudes about sexual beliefs. Music videos were selected from cable television networks and music Web sites. Sixty-six undergraduate women at a Midwest university were exposed to six music videos with violent, sexual, or neutral content. Pretests and post-tests were used to assess any change of mood or attitude after viewing music videos. Results showed no significant change in sexual beliefs for any of the three groups. The group viewing neutral videos demonstrated a significant change in mood prior to viewing the music videos between the groups. The data suggested the method of selection of participants, use of pretests and post-tests, effects of music, and desensitization to violence and sexual content may have played a role in the outcomes of the study. / Department of Journalism