Body dissatisfaction among Chinese youth: gendered differences and social media influence

Abstract

The current study examines the gendered differences among Chinese youth regarding their perceptions of body image. It also investigates the relationship between physical anxiety and social media influence. Through surveys and in-depth interviews, the following findings were uncovered: (1) young women are more anxious about their body images and appearances than young men; (2) Men are more likely to be anxious about their skin and height, and women are more likely to be anxious about their weight and facial appearance; (3) frequent social media users have shown a higher anxiety level than those who do not use social media regularly. In this study, we not only discuss the relationship between social media and appearance anxiety but also analyze the cause and effect in the context of contemporary Chinese society, adding a Chinese viewpoint to the current literature on beauty and body image. We find that beauty standards shaped by social media have greatly influenced men’s and women’s overall body image in contemporary China. This project also seeks to raise awareness of the omnipresent problems of body anxiety and the potential risk for mental health problems. Through the lens of appearance anxiety, this study will contribute to the analysis of urban gender roles, womanhood, and masculinity in contemporary China, as well as the ideologies of Chinese urban youth at the intersection of gender and aesthetics.