Racial Differences in Body Weight and Shape Perceptions: The Role of African American Acculturation among Black Women

Body dissatisfaction can be a pervasive issue for women. Nevertheless, the limited research that exists with Black women shows they are less vulnerable to body dissatisfaction. The goal of this study was to assess weight and shape perceptions and concerns in Black and White women using figures that racially represent participants, while also investigating how acculturation influences Black women’s perceptions of their bodies. A sample of 198 cisgender, Black and White women completed an online survey asking them to identify figures that represented their actual and ideal bodies using figures representing their identified race, their level of African American acculturation, and their weight and shape concerns using standardized questionnaires. Actual body size perceptions did not differ between Black and White women; however, all women chose ideal figures that were smaller and curvier than the figures selected to represent their actual bodies. Ideal body size was smaller for White than for Black women, and actual and ideal body shape was curvier for Black women. White women displayed more concerns about their weight and shape compared to Black women, and these concerns correlated with ideal figure choices. Black women who were more acculturated to some aspects of African American culture perceived themselves as larger and chose ideal figures that were larger and curvier. This study adds to the understanding of the role that acculturation plays in Black women’s body image and highlights the need to avoid assuming that all Black women are protected from societal pressures regarding weight and shape. Keywords: body dissatisfaction, body weight, body shape, black women, acculturation