SNDT WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY
BMK Knowledge Resource Centre
Vithaldas Vidyavihar, Juhu Tara Road,
Santacruz (West) Mumbai - 400049
Sociocultural Pressures, Internalization, and Body Esteem in Congenitally Blind, Late-Blind, and Sighted Men and Women
Sara Dell’Erba
Sociocultural Pressures, Internalization, and Body Esteem in Congenitally Blind, Late-Blind, and Sighted Men and Women - P.73‐84
Introduction: Visual experience has a substantial effect on how individuals construct a template
of their own bodies in space. Whether the absence of total or partial visual exposure in individuals of both genders allows the buffering of harmful effects has yet to be tested. This study
examined the role of vision among congenitally blind and later blind subjects for the expression
of body esteem and sociocultural attitudes toward appearance. Methods: Participants comprised 101 subjects, 53 sighted and 48 visually impaired men and women. For the purpose of
the study, we took into consideration congenitally blind, late blind, and typically sighted individuals. The Sociocultural Attitudes toward Appearance Questionnaire-3 (SATAQ-3) and the
Body-Esteem Scale Questionnaire (BESQ) were used as measures. Results: Although congenitally blind, late blind, and typically sighted individuals showed similar awareness of media content
and beauty ideals, typically sighted women displayed higher pressure to conform and had higher
levels of social comparison. Congenitally blind women placed less emphasis on mass media as an
influential aspect of their body perception and showed reduced internalization of beauty ideals
and higher levels of body esteem. Moreover, men with visual impairments considered siblings and
family to be the most influential information sources for their own body perception, while showing reduced levels of athlete internalization. Discussion: In this research, it was identified that
the absence of sight influences an individual’s body image beyond its physical, metric representation. Susceptibility to detrimental messages linked to sociocultural standards of attractiveness
is interiorized by individuals with and without visual impairments, regardless of their gender.
Implications for Practitioners: Further studies on body esteem and sociocultural pressures
could enable practitioners to better understand how to support individuals with visual
blindness
body satisfaction
body image
internal representation
visual impairment
visual feedback
somatosensory input
Sociocultural Pressures, Internalization, and Body Esteem in Congenitally Blind, Late-Blind, and Sighted Men and Women - P.73‐84
Introduction: Visual experience has a substantial effect on how individuals construct a template
of their own bodies in space. Whether the absence of total or partial visual exposure in individuals of both genders allows the buffering of harmful effects has yet to be tested. This study
examined the role of vision among congenitally blind and later blind subjects for the expression
of body esteem and sociocultural attitudes toward appearance. Methods: Participants comprised 101 subjects, 53 sighted and 48 visually impaired men and women. For the purpose of
the study, we took into consideration congenitally blind, late blind, and typically sighted individuals. The Sociocultural Attitudes toward Appearance Questionnaire-3 (SATAQ-3) and the
Body-Esteem Scale Questionnaire (BESQ) were used as measures. Results: Although congenitally blind, late blind, and typically sighted individuals showed similar awareness of media content
and beauty ideals, typically sighted women displayed higher pressure to conform and had higher
levels of social comparison. Congenitally blind women placed less emphasis on mass media as an
influential aspect of their body perception and showed reduced internalization of beauty ideals
and higher levels of body esteem. Moreover, men with visual impairments considered siblings and
family to be the most influential information sources for their own body perception, while showing reduced levels of athlete internalization. Discussion: In this research, it was identified that
the absence of sight influences an individual’s body image beyond its physical, metric representation. Susceptibility to detrimental messages linked to sociocultural standards of attractiveness
is interiorized by individuals with and without visual impairments, regardless of their gender.
Implications for Practitioners: Further studies on body esteem and sociocultural pressures
could enable practitioners to better understand how to support individuals with visual
blindness
body satisfaction
body image
internal representation
visual impairment
visual feedback
somatosensory input