Skip to main content
Log in

Anything but Real: Body Idealization and Objectification of MTV Docusoap Characters

Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Women and men featured in U.S. based MTV docusoaps were analyzed to explore body ideal and body exposure norms in a television genre highly popular among young people. Results from a quantitative content analysis of five popular docusoaps from 2004 to 2011 demonstrated that, although these shows were labeled as reality-based, the bodies displayed in them were highly idealized. Close to half of women’s bodies were coded as curvaceously thin and more than half of men’s bodies were coded as muscularly lean. Over two-thirds of women’s bodies and close to three-quarters of men’s bodies were coded as low fat, demonstrating that thinness was the most common body characteristic. In addition, cast members on the programs commonly exposed their bodies, including widespread partial nudity and some full nudity. Women, compared to men, exhibited a higher level of body exposure. However, men tended to expose their bodies to a higher degree than women. Close to half of all men were shown partially nude, compared to one-quarter of women. Characters with the idealized body types also exhibited a higher level of body exposure than others. These findings support previous research that investigated cultural expectations and media representations of women and men’s appearance in the U.S. The findings also demonstrate a growing focus on male body image and objectification. The potential psychological implications of self-objectification and modeling among adolescent audiences are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrejevic, M. (2004). Reality TV: The work of being watched. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous. (2011, Feb. 16). “The Hills” was fake: Star says MTV reality show all scripted. The New York Post. Retrieved from http://nypost.com/2011/02/16/the-hills-was-fake/.

  • Aubrey, J. S. (2006). Effects of sexually objectifying media on self-objectification and body surveillance in undergraduates: Results of a 2-year panel study. Journal of Communication, 56, 366–286. doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.2006.00024.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aubrey, J. S., & Taylor, L. D. (2009). The role of lad magazines in priming men’s chronic and temporary appearance-related schemata: An investigation of longitudinal and experimental findings. Human Communication Research, 35, 28–58. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2958.2008.01337.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baruh, L. (2009). Publicized intimacies on reality television: An analysis of voyeuristic content and its contribution to the appeal of reality programming. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 53, 190–210. doi:10.1080/08838150902907678.

  • Beck, D., Hellmueller, L. C., & Aeschbaher, N. (2012). Factual entertainment and reality TV. Communication Research Trends, 31, 4–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blond, A. (2008). Impacts of exposure to images of ideal bodies on male body dissatisfaction: A review. Body Image, 5, 244–250. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2008.02.003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cafri, G., Blevins, N., & Thompson, J. K. (2006). The drive for muscle leanness: A complex case with features of muscle dysmorphia and eating disorder not otherwise specified. Eating and Weight Disorders, 11, 117–118. doi:10.1007/BF03327575.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calogero, R. M., & Thompson, J. K. (2010). Gender and body image. In J. C. Chrisler & D. R. McCreary (Eds.), Handbook of gender research in psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 153–184). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Carter, B. (2011, January 21). Another ratings record for ‘Jersey Shore’. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/another-ratings-record-for-jersey-shore/.

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/obesity-overweight.htm.

  • Chozick, A. (2013, June 17). Longing to stay wanted, MTV turns its attention to younger viewers. The New York Times, Media & advertising. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/18/business/media/longing-to-stay-wanted-mtv-turns-its-attention-to-younger-viewers.html?_r=0.

  • Conrad, K. D., Dixon, T. L., & Zhang, Y. (2009). Impact of music, music lyrics, and music videos on children and youth. Pediatrics, 124, 1488–1494. doi:10.1542/peds. 2009-2145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dhoest, A. (2005). “The Pfaffs are not like the Osbournes”: National inflections of the celebrity docusoap. Television & New Media, 6, 224–245. doi:10.1177/1527476404270608.

  • Disanto, T. (Executive producer). (2004–2006). Laguna Beach: The real orange county [Television series]. Hollywood, Calif: Paramount Pictures.

  • Disanto, T. (Executive producer). (2007–2008). Newport harbor: The real orange county [Television series]. Hollywood, Calif: Paramount Pictures.

  • Egbert, N., & Belcher, J. D. (2012). Reality bites: An investigation of the genre of reality television and its relationship to viewers’ body image. Mass Communication and Society, 15, 407–431. doi:10.1080/15205436.2011.583545.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fallon, A. (1990). Culture in the mirror: Sociocultural determinants of body image. In T. Cash & T. Pruzinsky (Eds.), Body images: Development, deviance, and change (pp. 80–109). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fouts, G., & Burggraf, K. (2000). Television situation comedies: Female body images and verbal reinforcements. Sex Roles, 40, 473–481. doi:10.1023/A:1018875711082

  • Fouts, G., & Vaughan, K. (2002). Television situation comedies: Male weight, negative references, and audience reactions. Sex Roles, 46, 439–442. doi:10.1023/A:1020469715532.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frederick, D. A., Fessler, D. M., & Haselton, M. G. (2005). Do representations of male muscularity differ in men’s and women’s magazines? Body Image, 2, 81–86. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2004.12.002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fredrickson, B. L., & Roberts, T. A. (1997). Objectification theory: Toward an understanding of women’s lived experiences and mental health risks. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21, 173–206. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.1997.tb00108.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fredrickson, B. L., Roberts, T. A., Noll, S. M., Quinn, D. M., & Twenge, J. M. (1998). That swimsuit becomes you: Sex differences in self-objectification, retrained eating, and math performance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 269–284.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, R. (1986). Beauty bound. Lexington, MA: Heath.

  • Freeman, M. J., Dolgen, L., Greenwood, K., Portnoy, A., Zalkind, J., Predescu, N., & Cohen, S. (Executive producers). (2009–2012). Teen Mom [Television series]. New York, NY: 11th Street Productions.

  • Gardner, E. (January 15, 2013). What kind of person watches reality TV? Home/Entertainment. Cable TV.com. Retrieved from http://cabletv.com/blog/what-kind-of-person-watches-reality-tv/.

  • Garner, D. M., Garfinkel, P. E., Schwartz, D., & Thompson, M. (1980). Cultural expectation of thinness in women. Psychological Reports, 47, 483–491. doi:10.2466/pr0.1980.47.2.483.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gateley, L. (Executive producer). (2006–2010). The Hills [Television series]. Hollywood, Calif: Paramount Pictures.

  • Goldschein, G., French, J., Johnston, J., & Murray, J. (Executive producers). (1992–2008). The Real World [Television series]. Hollywood, Calif: Paramount Pictures.

  • Gorman, B. (2010, September 17). MTV’s ‘The Real World’ is turning 25 and returning to sin city as seven roommates take over Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in March 2011. TV By the Numbers. Retrieved from http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/.

  • Grabe, S., & Hyde, J. S. (2009). Body objectification, MTV, and psychological outcomes among female adolescents. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 39, 2840–2858. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2009.00552.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grabe, S., Ward, L. M., & Hyde, J. S. (2008). The role of the media in body image concerns among women: A meta-analysis of experimental and correlational studies. Psychological Bulletin, 134, 460–476. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.134.3.460.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, K. (2001). Ourselves, our bodies: Thin-ideal media, self-discrepancies, and eating disorder symptomology in adolescents. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 20, 289–323. doi:10.1521/jscp.20.3.289.22303.

  • Harrison, K. (2003). Television viewers’ ideal body proportions: The case of the curvaceously thin woman. Sex Roles, 48, 255–264. doi:10.1023/A:1022825421647.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatton, E., & Trautner, M. N. (2011). Equal opportunity objectification? The sexualization of men and women on the cover of Rolling Stone. Sexuality and Culture, 15, 256–278. doi:10.1007/s12119-011-9093-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hennink-Kaminski, H., & Reichert, T. (2011). Using sexual appeals in advertising to sell cosmetic surgery: A content analysis from 198 to 2007. Sexuality and Culture, 15, 41–55. doi:10.1007/s12119-010-9081-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kilborn, R. (1994). How real can you get? Recent developments in reality television. European Journal of Communication, 9, 421–439. doi:10.1177/0267323194009004003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, K., Laake, R. A., & Bernard, A. (2006). Do the depictions of sexual attire and sexual behavior in music videos differ based on the network and character gender? American Journal of Health Education, 37, 146–153. doi:10.1080/19325037.2006.10598894.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Labre, M. P. (2005). Burn fat, build muscle: A content analysis of Men’s Health and Men’s Fitness. International Journal of Men’s Health, 4, 187–200. doi:10.3149/jmh.0402.187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langley, J., & Langley, M. (Executive producers). (2007-present). Cops [Television series]. Los Angeles, CA: 20th Century Fox Television.

  • Law, C., & Labre, M. P. (2002). Cultural standards of attractiveness: A thirty-year look at changes in male images in magazines. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 79, 697–711. doi:10.1177/107769900207900310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leit, R. A., Pope, H. G., & Gray, J. J. (2001). Cultural expectations of muscularity in men: The evolution of playgirl centerfolds. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 29, 90–93. doi:10.1002/1098-108X(200101)29:1<90::AID-EAT15>3.0.CO;2-F.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Levine, S., & Weisman, J. (2010). MTV’s new reality. Variety, 306(21), 4.

  • Luciano, L. (2007). Muscularity and masculinity in the United States: A historical overview. In J. K. Thompson & G. Cafri (Eds.), The muscular ideal (pp. 41–66). Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marikar, S. (2009, January 19). The top 10 reality shows of the decade. ABC News. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/.

  • McCreary, D. R., Saucier, D. M., & Courtenay, W. H. (2005). The drive for muscularity and masculinity: Testing the associations among gender-role trait, behaviors, attitudes, and conflict. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 6, 83–94. doi:10.1037/1524-9220.6.83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michaels, M. S., Parent, M. C., & Moradi, B. (2013). Does exposure to muscularity-idealizing images have self-objectification consequences for heterosexual and sexual minority men? Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 14, 175–183. doi:10.1037/a0027259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulgrew, K. E., Volcevski-Kostas, D., & Rendell, P. G. (2014). The effects of music video clips on adolescent boys’ body image, mood, and schema activation. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43, 92–103. doi:10.1007/s10964-013-9932-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Murnen, S. K., Smolak, L., Mills, J. A., & Good, L. (2003). Thin, sexy women and strong muscular men: Grade-school children’s responses objectified images of women and men. Sex Roles, 49, 427–437. doi:10.1023/A:1025868320206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nabi, R. L., Biely, E. N., Morgan, S. J., & Stitt, C. (2003). Reality-based television programming and the psychology of its appeal. Media Psychology, 5, 303–330. doi:10.1207/S1532785XMEP0504_01.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oldenburg, A. (2011, January 7). Jersey Shore’ Season 3 premiere sets ratings record for MTV. USA Today. Retrieved from http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2011/01/jersey-shore-season-3-premiere-sets-ratings-record-for-mtv/1#.VLusZMZQCHc.

  • Olivardia, R. (2001). Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the largest of them all? The features and phenomenology of muscle dysmorphia. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 9, 254–259. doi:10.1037/1524–9220.5.2.112.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Papacharissi, Z., & Mendelson, A. (2007). An exploratory study of reality appeal: Uses and gratifications of reality TV shows. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 51, 355–370. doi:10.1080/08838150701307152.

  • Parent, M. C., & Moradi, B. (2011). His biceps become him: A test of objectification theory’s application to drive for muscularity and propensity for steroid use in college men. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58, 246–256. doi:10.1037/a0021398.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, C., Burnett, M., Probst, J., & Burris, D. (Executive producers). (2000-present). Survivor [Television series]. Santa Monica, CA: Mark Burnett Productions.

  • Pope, H. G., Olivardia, R., Gruber, A., & Borowiecki, J. (1999). Evolving ideals of male body image as seen through action toys. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 26, 65–72. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1098-108X(199907)26:1<65::AID-EAT8>3.3.CO;2-4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pope, C. G., Pope, H. G., Menard, W., Fay, C., Olivardia, R., & Phillips, K. A. (2005). Clinical features of muscle dysmorphia among males with body dysmorphic disorder. Body Image, 2, 395–400. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2005.09.001.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Potratz, R. M. (2007). When is reality real?: Youth perceptions of MTV reality programs (Master’s thesis, Ohio University). Retrieved from http://etd.ohiolink.edu/send-pdf.cgi/Potratz%20Rachel%20M.pdf?ohiou1194968374.

  • Rochlin, M. (2005, August 30). An MTV coming of age that went too far. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://nytimes.com.

  • Rohlinger, D. (2002). Eroticizing men: Cultural influences on advertising and male objectification. Sex Roles, 46, 61–74. doi:10.1023/A:1016575909173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salsano, S., Jeffress, S., & French, J. (Executive producers). (2009–2012). Jersey Shore [Television series]. Hollywood, Calif: Paramount Pictures.

  • Silverstein, B., Perdue, L., Peterson, B., & Kelly, E. (1986). The role of the mass media in promoting a thin standard of bodily attractiveness for women. Sex Roles, 13, 519–532. doi:10.1007/BF00287452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stefanone, M. A., Lackaff, D., & Rosen, D. (2010). The relationship between traditional mass media and “social media”: Reality television as a model for social network site behavior. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 54, 508–525. doi:10.1080/08838151.2010.498851.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stelter, B. (2008, March 27). ‘The Hills’ draws 4.8 million on TV, 1.8 million online. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://mediacoder.blogs.nytimes.com.

  • Sypeck, M. F., Gray, J. J., & Ahrens, A. H. (2004). No longer just a pretty face: Fashion magazines’ depictions of ideal female beauty from 1959 to 1999. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 36, 342–347. doi:10.1002/eat.20039.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, M. J. (2002). Gender in magazine advertising: Skin sells best. Clothing and Textiles Research Journal, 18, 178–181. doi:10.1177/0887302X0001800306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, J. K., & Cafri, G. (Eds.). (2007). The muscular ideal: Psychological, social, and medical perspectives. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, M. A., & Gray, J. J. (1995). Development and validation of a new body-image assessment scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 64, 258–269. doi:10.1207/s15327752jpa6402_6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, J. K., Heinberg, L. J., Altabe, M. N., & Tantleff-Dunn, S. (1999). Exacting beauty: Theory, assessment and treatment of body image disturbance. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Tiggemann, M., & Kuring, J. (2004). The role of body objectification in disordered eating and depressed mood. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 43, 299–311. doi:10.1348/0144665031752925.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vandenbosch, L., & Eggermont, S. (2012). Understanding sexual objectification: A comprehensive approach toward media exposure and girls’ internalization of beauty ideals, self-objectification, and body surveillance. Journal of Communication, 62, 869–887. doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.2012.01667.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viacom (2010, April 29). Pulse. Retrieved from http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/VIA-B/1725278684x0x520649/5DB4F263-9C92-4563-9A81-35E6E1713894/Request-pulse_q110.pdf.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sung-Yeon Park.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Flynn, M.A., Park, SY., Morin, D.T. et al. Anything but Real: Body Idealization and Objectification of MTV Docusoap Characters. Sex Roles 72, 173–182 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-015-0464-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-015-0464-2

Keywords

Navigation