Thesis advisor: Michael Malec / My motivation for this research study comes from my own experience with and observations of body image issues among female students on the Boston College campus, as well as my observations of and research into the homogenization of beauty in the high-end fashion industry. Through various social institutions, namely high-end fashion media, our society supports an extremely narrow definition of beauty for women (read: White and thin/ultra-thin). There is an overwhelming lack of representation of women of color and women who do not fall in line with the thin body standard. I aim to contribute where there are holes in the conversation regarding diversity and exclusionary practices in the high-end fashion industry. Chiefly, I seek to contribute to an understanding of how fashion industry producers might continue to engage in the homogenization of beauty while evading liability with intermittent diversification effort. I conduct a content analysis of 11 issues (past and contemporary) of the high-end fashion magazine, U.S. Vogue. The units of measurement for my data collection are images, articles, and text produced by Vogue, as well as featured advertisements produced by other industry players. My data consists of recorded frequencies and two major codes (Race and Body Type) with various sub codes. I ultimately conclude that: (1) despite our society’s supposed increased sensitivity to diversity and diversification effort, we have made little progress on this front in the fashion industry (especially body type representation); and (2) U.S. Vogue does in fact continue to engage in racial exclusion while concealing its liability via the practice of racial capitalism. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2016. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Departmental Honors. / Discipline: Sociology.

The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and physical activity level of daughters and their mothers’ body type/size and attitude towards physical activity in African Americans was investigated. 51 subjects were recruited. Subjects completed the Short International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and an attitudinal questionnaire. Subjects’ height and weight were measured. Mother’s body type/size was found to be weakly associated with daughter’s BMI (r=0.28, p=0.051). Mother’s overall attitude towards physical activity was not associated with daughter’s IPAQ score. The results suggest mother’s body type/size and select components of the mother’s attitude are related daughter’s BMI and physical activity level.

Title: Somatotype Comparison in Short Distance and Long Distance Triathlon Objectives: The goal is to determine the somatotype of triathletes competing in half ironman distance triathlons with triathletes competing in short distance triathlons. Methods: The Heath and Carter method was used for measuring the anthropometric parameters. The gained data were used in specific equations to calculate each of the three somatotype compoments. The anthropometric measurements involved participants of the Czechman Tour races. Results: By gaining appropriate anthropometric data, the average somatotype of triathletes competing in half distance events (2,1 - 4,4 - 2,9) falls into the category of ectomorphic mesomorph, whereas the somatotype of competitors in short distance events (2,1 - 4,4 - 2,9) falls into the category of mesomorphic ectomorphs. Keywords: somatotype, triathlon, body type, the Heath and Carter method

The purpose of this paper is to get a better understanding of how the malerole is changing over time. Masculinity and what defines a male hero seemsto be changing depending on the time we are living in. Society and normsare forming ideals for how a man should act and look. I have chosen to doan analysis on Batman because he is a hero who has a long history in ourpopular culture. I have analysed 5 different movies with 5 different actorswho have portrayed him from 1966 to 2005. The paper's method is filmanalysis and I have analysed how the actors who are portraying Batmanhave changed over time in the different Batman movies, focusing on howhis body, male role and masculinity have changed in the different Batmanincarnations. This implies paying attention to changes in muscularity, typeof masculinity and the relationship between the hero's mind and body. I amalso viewing Batman as if he is two different persons, one as Bruce Wayneand one as Batman. The result shows that the focus on the body's physicalattributes has increased gradually over time. The physical changes began inBatman's costume and slowly over time the focus has switched to his realbody.

Lululemon, a leading brand name in the athletic apparel field, has been promoting community building on its official media channels as part of its IDEA concept, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Action. This thesis examines the visual strategies Lululemon employs to advocate for body type inclusivity and diversity on its official Instagram account by using its female Ambassadors representatives. It also explores the audience’s reaction to this promotional activity. We used visual analysis methods and semiology to analyse and interpret the photographs posted in the context of the Ultramarathon event for Women’s Day, 2024 and examine whether and how they incorporated the company’s IDEA concept. We also used netnography to record, analyse, and interpret the comments posted by the followers of the Lululemon account in response to this event. Ambassador models of all origins and sizes were shown in the photographs as dedicated and strong in achieving their goals, deviating from media stereotypes. The comment analysis showed that, while on the whole, the Ultramarathon was regarded in a positive light and was saluted for furthering inclusivity and diversity, Lululemon’s external business practices overshadowed the promoted IDEA concept and reduced its impact. The findings of this study are essential for understanding the strategies brands utilise to promote their products via social impact and how audiences affect the outcome and success of such endeavours.

Title of thesis: Injury rate in female artistic gymnastics. Objective: Using the questionnaire method to discover what injuries are the most common in female artistic gymnastics, to ascertain if they occur more frequently during training or competition and whether coaches put emphasis on regeneration of their charges. Methodology: For the research, an exploratory method was used, via the technique of nonstandardized questionnaires with open questions. 15 questionnaires were sent by email, of which eight were returned, fully completed and further adapted. The results of the work: The result of the work is that the most injuries occur during the training cycle, fewer during the competitions. The greatest number of accidents occur in the age category around nine years old and the most problematic apparatus, according to the coaches, is the beam. The positive side is that in no case did coaches say that the female gymnast had to end her sporting career. On the other hand the biggest gap in the training process in almost all surveyed clubs is the follow-up regeneration. In many cases this is underestimated because the coaches often have no spare time. Keywords: female artistic gymnastics, body type, regeneration, injuries, vertebral problems, questionnaire.

The aim of this essay is to examine the censorship that the social media platform Instagram exerts over pictures of female nudes, and whether the body type of the women depicted is a factor in how the censorship is carried through. This is executed by making a comparative picture analysis of eight nude photos published on Instagram, four of which are allowed on the platform and four which are not, and have therefore been deleted. The bodies are analysed, and aspects of how they are depicted which are related to the Instagram Community Guidelines, and furthermore if the body depicted conforms to the norms of our contemporary beauty standards and “the Male Gaze”, are reviewed. This fundamental part of the study isbased on the formal analysis and the methods of semiotics. Furthermore, the history of the nude in art, the body norms and ideals of our contemporary society, the Instagram Community rules and Guidelines and the artists are presented briefly. The discussion which has been carried through is based on the analysis and thesis of how female nudes of the Western art cannon have been received, judged, divided into categories and censored to answer the central inquires of the essay. In conclusion, this essay finds how pictures of nude women on Instagram are received, judged, and censored differently depending on whether they fit into the norms of beauty and conform to the male gaze. Hence, the rules of Instagram are found to have been followed through with double standard and bias.

Kraven inom textilindustrin förändras genom åren, förutom senaste modetrenden, funktionella material är plaggets passform en viktig aspekt för kundnöjdhet. Studien skrivs i samarbete med ett modeföretag med inriktning mot fast fashion. Syftet är att undersöka passformsproblem på överdelsplagg för dam med djup halshål både fram och bak. Balans- problem och fel vinkling av halsringningen är ett återkommande passformsproblem på dessa modeller som leverantörerna inte lyckas få till. Problemet är störst på deras ärmlösa afton -klänningar där denna variant av modell tillverkas mest. I denna studie ligger fokuset på att undersöka passformen på aftonklänningar utan ärm för att kunna hitta alternativa passformslösningar som kan vara till hjälp för företaget. Studiens har genomförts i två steg. En förstudie av företagets gamla modeller utfördes i första hand för att kunna identifiera passformsproblemet. Detta har verifieras genom avprovningar på provpersoner med olika kroppstyper/ kroppshållning, för att kunna få en övergripande bild över passformen. Nästa steg sker genom digitalt mönsterkonstruktion för att kunna skapa en förbättrad modell med djup halsringning både fram och bak. Studiens resultat visar att många olika faktorer påverkar passformen. Bland annat placering av insnittet, axelns lutning samt hur halshålet vinklas vid konstruktion har en stor avgörande del för modellens passform. / The demands in the textile industry are changing over the years, besides from the latest fashion trend, functional materials, garment's fit is an important aspect for customer satisfaction. The study is written in collaboration with a fashion company focusing on fast fashion. The purpose of study is to analyze fitting issue on upper body garments for ladies wear with deep neck line front and back. Balance problem and wrong angling of neckline is a recurring fit problem on these models that the suppliers fail to achieve. Most of the fitting problem is on their sleeveless evening dresses where this type of model is manufactured most. In this study, the focus is on examining the fit of evening dresses without sleeves in order to be able to find fitting solutions that can be helpful to the company. The study approach has been done in two steps. A preliminary study of the company's old models was analyzed to be able to identify fit problem. This has been verified by testing on human body with different body types / posture, in order to get an overall view of the fit. The next step has been through cad based pattern design to be able to create an improved model with deep neckline both front and back. The study's results show that many different factors affect the fit. For instance, placement of the incision, the shoulder slope and how the neckline angles in pattern making is crucial for the fit of the model.