Interview Results
Part 2 Report
Q1. One paragraph explaining the objective of the study
Study Question: How does online clothing advertisements reinforce body shamming?
The study seeks to achieve three main objectives. First, to assess how online clothe advertisements’ decision to use perfect body images in their cover puts pressure on the buyers to have an ideal shape. Secondly, to establish whether the ads reinforce body shaming, especially to get the respondents’ view how the ads make them feel about their bodies. Thirdly, the research explores critical body issues such as weight, and shape, and whether the respondents feel the pressure to look like the celebrities used in the covers of the adverts. Finally, the research seeks to enlighten the society regarding body shaming. It would be an exciting addition to the body of knowledge in a move to find a solution that would increase the self-worth of individuals irrespective of their body size or shape.
Q2. One paragraph explaining who your participants were, their profile, how many, how did you find them, when, and where did you administer your survey.
My survey focused on 16 youths aged between 20 and 30 years. I balanced them so that I had eight males and eight females. I got them in the social hall on two separate occasions due to the coronavirus, which bars many people from gathering at once. On the first day, I managed to get eight, and the reset on the second day. I administered the survey in the same venue, on two separate dates, 11th and 12th of June, 2020, where I guided them through the questions and gave them only fifteen minutes to respond before I took the results with me.
Q3. For each question in the survey provide results of your study in terms of frequencies and percentage.
| Questions | Gender | Frequency | Percentage |
| A (profile) | Male Female | 8 8 | 50% 50% |
| B (personal questions) | Male Female | 6 10 | 37.5% 62.5% |
| C (online marketing) | Male Female | 4 12 | 25% 75% |
| D (body shaming) | Male Female | 5 11 | 31% 69% |
| E (general questions) | Male Female | 8 8 | 50% 50% |
| F (view on the subject) | Male Female | 7 9 | 44% 56%s |
Q4. How do you interpret the results? How did this survey project the answer? What did you learn from this research method (writing, testing, and rolling them out)? What do you see as the prospect of this project (what changes you would make if you were to do this project again? How will you carry it forward if you were not restricted with time?
Based on the results from a sample size of 16 youths, it is evident that many online clothesline advertisements use celebrities, and people with hard to attain body types. In the same study, many females than males buy clothes online, and they get affected by the ads, pushing them to try to attain the perfect body. Moreover, many females than males get affected by body shaming and would go out of their way to achieve perfect weight and shape to look good and be comfortable in their bodies. Females also feel that advertisements give them much pressure to lose weight. The males in the study did not care much how they look, with only a few willing to pose for photos that would be used in the covers of the adverts in their favorite online stores. Most females were unwilling to wear their summer clothing and pose for photos because they felt they were not food enough like those previously used. Generally, the majority of the respondents seem to agree that the clothesline should use ordinary people in their ads. They also agree that the advertisements seem to emphasize perfection; therefore, denouncing people with the additional weight, color, and body shapes.
The questions were designed to test the knowledge of the respondents about online clothe advertising, and whether they pay attention to the subtle communication, they portray regarding body imaging. Similarly, the questions sought their opinion regarding their feeling and whether they would react to the advertisement ns by working on their body to attain “perfect shape” emphasized by the online stores to fit their brands. The project, if successfully conducted, would be necessary for advising against body shaming, as it would enlighten the online clothing stores on the public view about their advertisements, especially the need to use normal people to advertise their brands. It would help their clients to order their products without the feeling of guilty or ashamed of adding weight.
If I had time, I would increase my sample space to get a better view of the public, because 16 people is a small sample, and that means there is too much overgeneralization. I would also structure questions for online stores and schedule meetings with them to understand better what informs their ads, and whether the body-shaming is intentional or a strategy to increase sales.
Q5: Any other feedback
From the personal questions in B., it was shocking to learn that 12/16 respondents felt they were medium and overweight, with only four of the respondents feeling they had normal weight. It further explains why most of them were not comfortable stepping out in public in their summer clothing for fear of body shamming. 80% felt that their weight denies them a chance to wear what they want, perhaps explaining why the online cover photos put pressure on them to lose weight to fit the trendy clothing. Similarly, all the female respondents confirmed that they panic at the thought of being fat, and also worries about being shapeless, therefore, deeply affected by body shaming.