Robinson Tom, Callister Mark, Jankoski Tahlea
Department of Communications, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA.
Body Image. 2008 Jun;5(2):141-51. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2007.11.004. Epub 2008 May 5.
Television programs portray characters with idealized body types that for most viewers are unattainable. These body types have become a common source of comparison for many young viewers who evaluate their own self-worth and bodies based on the models they see on television. This study examines body weight, both in terms of frequency and portrayals, focusing on how preadolescent and adolescent characters' bodies are presented on the sitcoms from three children's television networks. The results indicate that while children's situation comedies have relatively few overweight characters, this small percentage closely parallels national figures. Male and female characters do not differ in their distribution across weight categories. However, when character ethnicity is factored, significant shifts occur. Surprisingly, no differences were observed in the portrayal of physical and mental attributes among weight categories except in social popularity where overweight characters were not as embedded in social networks. Compared to other relevant studies, this research provides some evidence that the treatment and portrayal of overweight characters in children-targeted sitcoms is more positive, equitable, and less stereotypical than in other programming venues and that children are experiencing body type diversity in these fictional portrayals. Nonetheless, above average weight characters still suffer some social marginality and ethnic misrepresentation.
电视节目塑造的角色拥有理想化的体型，而对大多数观众来说，这种体型是无法企及的。这些体型已成为许多年轻观众进行比较的常见来源，他们根据在电视上看到的模特来评估自己的自我价值和身体状况。本研究从出现频率和呈现方式两方面考察体重情况，重点关注三个儿童电视网络的情景喜剧中青春期前和青春期角色的身体是如何呈现的。结果表明，虽然儿童情景喜剧中超重角色相对较少，但这一低比例与全国数据相近。男性和女性角色在体重类别分布上没有差异。然而，当考虑角色种族因素时，就会出现显著变化。令人惊讶的是，除了在社交受欢迎程度方面超重角色在社交网络中的融入度较低外，不同体重类别的角色在身体和心理属性呈现上没有差异。与其他相关研究相比，本研究提供了一些证据，表明针对儿童的情景喜剧中超重角色的处理和呈现比其他节目更积极、公平，刻板印象也更少，并且儿童在这些虚构呈现中体验到了体型多样性。尽管如此，体重高于平均水平的角色仍然遭受一些社会边缘化和种族误现。
