Today I am joined by Jamie Chan. Jamie is a PhD researcher and a doctoral tutor in the School of Psychology at the University of Sussex. Jamie is studying psychological processes underlying women's social class and body image from a social psychological perspective, including cultural differences and discrimination. In this week's episode, we discuss the following:
Jamie's background & how they got into the body image and social class research in women.
South Asian women's body image experience regarding acculturation, skin colour and body satisfaction.
The differences in body image dissatisfaction in women living in the East versus those living in the West, and the role social media has played in this.
The role of the media in representing different races and cultures on screen, and the white-centric focus in different cultures impact body dissatisfaction.
How body image research has developed over time to integrate different ethnicities and races into the scope.
The importance of qualitative studies (e.g. focus groups) to understand the experiences of different cultures and races, without assuming someone's eating disorder will present with specific characteristics based on the group they exist in and instead of only comparing to the experience of white people.
The importance of understanding someone's identities, environment, biases, and power dynamics in a clinical setting which may impact the information patients share in the therapeutic space.
The impact social class has on body dissatisfaction, as a result of different factors that affect individuals. To find out more about Jamie and their research, you can find them on Twitter @jamie_chan_. Please note that this podcast discusses eating disorder topics that some individuals may find triggering. Please check in with yourself along the way, and remember this is not a replacement for clinical support and advice.
