Black women, Brazilian butt lifts and body image
A qualitative study on the role social media play in promoting the thick ideal
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21875244 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Lauryn Grubbs (0009-0000-1704-0242, New School), Casey R Stannard (0000-0003-0644-8490, Louisiana State University) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Publication date | 2024-05-03 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Fashion Style & Popular Culture (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2050-0726 • E-ISSN: 2050-0734 |
| Publisher | Intellect (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1386/fspc_00257_1 |
| OpenAlex | W4396672468 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 15 |
Brazilian butt lift (BBL) surgery is defined by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery as ‘a specialized fat transfer procedure that augments the size and shape of the buttocks without implants’. While members of all ethnic and racial groups elect to get cosmetic surgery, BBLs are especially popular among Black women. Unlike the Eurocentric beauty standard to be as thin as possible, Black women strive for an in-between weight, otherwise known as the thick ideal. This body ideal is based on the Mammy and Jezebel stereotypes of Black women and can cause women with excess or too little curves to feel a sense of inferiority or a lack of racial acceptance. Many prominent Black celebrities and influencers have either had, encouraged or drawn attention to BBLs through various mass media channels, including social media. Thus, this research aimed to understand the trend towards buttock augmentation and body concerns among Black women and examine if social media play a role in sharing information and opinions regarding the procedure within the Black community. The research was guided by two questions: (1) what discussions are Black women having about BBLs on social media? (2) Do conversations about BBLs impact Black women’s body image and body satisfaction? To explore the purpose, videos on TikTok were examined. TikTok, a video-focused social networking platform, was chosen due to its rising popularity, focus on appearance-based content and its emphasis on collaboration and conversation. The results fell under two themes: (1) motivations for having a BBL and (2) resistance against having a BBL. The themes were consistent with previous research done on the relationship between internet use and body image concerns, previous research conducted on the impact of the thick ideal on Black women’s body image and sociocultural theories of self-objectification, social comparison and body surveillance
Political science · Qualitative research · Social media · Social science · Sociology · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Gender Studies · Media, Gender, and Advertising · Obesity and Health Practices
Social comparisons on social media
“I don’t need people to tell me I’m pretty on social media
Bodypositivity
Purposeful Sampling for Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis in Mixed Method Implementation Research
“I’m Supposed To Be Thick”
Should Latinas go blond?’ Media representation and the regulation of Latina bodies and Latinas’ social and cultural practices in a beauty magazine
Asian American Women’s Body Image Experiences
Most Girls Want to be Skinny
Grounded theory research
Expanding Our Understanding of Eating Practices, Body Image, and Appearance in African American Women
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |