Social Media's Impact on Filipina Body Image Perceptions

SEN.
RENATO “COMPAÑERO” CAYETANO MEMORIAL

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL
Senior High School Department
“THE INFLUENCES OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON HOW FILIPINOS

PERCEIVE AN IDEAL BODY IMAGE FOR A FILIPINA”
A Qualitative Research
Presented to the
Faculty of Science Department
Senator Renato “Compañero” Cayetano Memorial Science
and Technology High School
Pamayanang Diego Silang, Ususan, Taguig City
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements
for the course Practical Research I
of Group Two from Grade 11 – STEM 101
By:
Ariño, Ma. Luisa C.
Galiza, John Clarence S.
Ramos, Ezra B.
MS. GLEZA LYNN ASEÑAS

MARCH 2019
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SEN. RENATO “COMPAÑERO” CAYETANO MEMORIAL
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Given the pressure driven by social peers and members of a community to a
Filipina’s body figure, the researchers, having of common information about the topic
through experience, have agreed upon delving into a deeper study in accord to the said
situation. Moreover, with the proliferating dependency and common usage of social
media in the Philippines, and it as being a platform for immediate influence and
communication to users, the researchers have thought if any of it has any effect to the
perception of Filipinos to a Filipina’s ideal body image.
Furthermore, body image is a vital part of a woman’s self-esteem. Women who
has a positive body image tends to have a good physical and mental health while those
who have negative views on their body tends to develop low self-esteem and certain
mental conditions. Nowadays, social media has a huge impact that influences the body
of a woman. According to a study commissioned by Unilever, only five percent of
Filipino women consider themselves beautiful. This means that the other 95 percent see
themselves as average, below average, or even ugly. (Pedero, 2005).
Over the years, the use of social media has increased and along the rising
amount of its users also rises the dependency of people to social media. Most
well-known female celebrities use the social media to share their lifestyle and this
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creates a massive influence on the perception of the users, in this case, Filipino users
towards a Filipina’s body image. Lastly, certain social media platforms like Instagram
and Facebook adds fuel to the fire as these platforms provide most of the factors that
significantly affects―whether positively or negatively― the user’s perception.
Statement of the Problem
The study aims to determine the influences of social media towards the
users' perception of a body of Filipinas. The researchers seek to answer the
following questions:
1. Which gender within the group of young adults is usually mindful about
the body features of Filipinas?
2. What is the user’s prior perception of an ideal Filipina body image
before using social media?
3. Does using social media change their perception? What social media
made them change their prior perception on Filipinas?
Significance of the Study
The study can bring a stepping-stone into social enlightenment on how social
media affects one’s ideal body image for a Filipina. Hence, by executing this study, it
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also contributes to the field of Sociology and Health by further understanding the
developing trends in the Philippines’ women body image and to know if it is beneficial in
women’s well-being. Moreover, findings in the research can also bring knowledge to
social media users if they are truly held responsible or influence-able in the given topic.
Nevertheless, it is just to conduct this study, for it adds knowledge to each and every
one of us about women’s health.
Scope and Delimitation
The researchers carried out this research with the intention of determining each
perception of social media users in terms of the body image of Filipina women. The
chosen respondents are ages 18-30 for they are focused on young adults since they are
the ones who are mostly mindful about these certain topics. A survey will be given to the
respondents containing questions that is related to the topic. All of the respondents are
within Taguig City but it will be limited up to 30 respondents and via quota sampling.
Definition of Terms
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Body Image - Body image is a person's perception of the aesthetics or sexual
attractiveness of their own body. It involves how a person sees themselves, compared
to the standards that have been set by society.
Ideal - satisfying one's conception of what is perfect; most suitable.
Life style - a particular way of living; the way a person lives, or a group of people live.
Perception - the way you think about or understand someone or something.
Social media - forms of electronic communication (such as Web sites) through which
people create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, etc.
Trends - a current style or preference.
CHAPTER II
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REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Comprising works of literature, studies and legal bases that are related and vital for the
researchers to have a background about the said topic, this chapter mostly lay the
needed pre-information to form a plan for the execution of the research paper.
Related Literature
Providing detail and exemplifying the importance of the research topic, the
Cosmopolitan article entitled “Angel Locsin To Body-Shamers: 'Perfect ka?' fully
encapsulates the relevance of the contemporary issues in society in relation to the
researchers’ study. The article talks about Boy Abunda’s interview in his late night TV
show “Tonight With Boy Abunda” (TBWA) with the multi-awarded actress, Angel Locsin,
regarding about the “body shames” she received after she finally comes back with a
new teleserye after a long hiatus. Fully pointing out the unstructured criticism she got in
Twitter, a social media platform, through an embedded video in it, this magnified the
weight shame women receive. Hence, the researchers come to ask if there are any
existing criteria used by the social media users that was brought upon, maybe by
Twitter or any social media platforms, for them to come up with a statement that Angel
Locsin is “fat”. (Zarzuela, D. 2019.)
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Figure 1 Body shames towards Filipina actress, Angel Locsin
Furthermore, a Philstar news article wrote about a statistics made by
SimilarWeb, a research company, in relation about the numbers of social media users
and what social media platforms are most often used in the Philippines. Stating that
almost all 67 million Filipino social media users out of the total 105.7 million Filipinos in
the country are using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, this largely affirm the idea of the
researchers that social media platforms have a high contribution towards the perception
of ideal Filipina’s body image. (Mateo, J. 2018.)
Moreover, according to the second volume of the Women’s magazine, “Jean
Hailes For Women’s Health: Body Image”, the media, may it be mainstream or not,
have a large impact about people's difficulty of being contented with their own skins due
to the constant stream of impossible imagery of perfectly built and sculpted bodies that
are, again, hard to achieve,which are displayed in it. Thus, pertaining to this fact, it
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confirms the idea of the researchers that there is an effect of social media on its users
about the perception of bodies. Hence, knowing that there is an effect, the researchers
resulted in an inquiry regarding the perceptions of social media users to Filipinas’ body
features.
"It’s only been made worse with the digital power to edit photos and narrow hips,
widen thigh gaps, make breasts bigger and create perfect complexions with just a
few mouse clicks. Combine that with the explosion of the often ruthless, sniping
world of social media, and it’s no wonder body image remains a huge issue for so
many women. (Hailes, J. 2016)”
Thoroughly pointing out the reasons to why body image is clearly relevant and as
well as determining the ease of manipulating certain qualities of a woman to what is not
real in reality through social media by so-called “filters” programmed in it, this
emphasized the intention of the researchers to know and classify if the perceptions of
Filipinos towards Filipina’s body image is due to social media
In addition to this, based on an Inquirer Lifestyle news article “What ‘perfect body’
looks like in PH, 17 other countries according to study”, the researchers have been
given an overview to what Filipina body image are Filipinos attracted to. However, this
study “Perception of Perfection” performed by Superdrug Online Doctors, a UK online
pharmacy, was not conducted through social media. Although, it still imparted an
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important detail to the researchers and that is: Filipinos determines their Ideal body
image through this body of a woman shown in the following picture who is expected to
weight 128 pounds. (Inquirer, 2015.)
Figure 2. Photo of an Ideal body of Filipinos for a Filipina based on a study of a UK
online pharmacy
Related Studies
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Withal, a study about ideal body image on social media made by Pham, M. on
2015, the researchers have concluded that popular social media sites constitute an
enormous part of the digital public culture and public interactivity today. Hence, in the
specification to public interactivity, this wholly agrees to the fact that social media
platforms are a molder of what perceptions of Filipinos are to Filipina body features.
(Moreover, the study has provided a piece of information from a 2013 Pew Internet
Report that reports:
“...73 percent of adult Internet users (age 18 and older) worldwide use social
media networks. The top three are Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The numbers of
active users these sites have are staggering. Respectively, they have 1.19 billion, 241
million, and 150 million monthly active users (with a signicant amount of overlap
between them). Twitter and Instagram are, in some ways, niche sites that have
“particular appeal to younger adults [ages 18–29], urban dwellers, and non-whites”.
(Duggan and Smith 2014)”
According to Javella (2014) the journal entry in the first volume of Asia Pacific Journal of
Education, Arts and Sciences ” the researchers even more recognized the fact that
social media is highly effective in regards to the body satisfaction of a specific
group of people in relation to the numbers of attention such as likes and reactions they
garnered through platforms. Stating such, this gave structure to the thought of the
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researchers that social media is a field of perception where Filipinos could share or
state their views of a woman’s body.
Likewise, a study research paper have expounded the fact that awareness
towards body type and the image becomes well-known due to advertisements about it.
Seen in its related literature, it has stated that according to Andrew (2012), body
shaming is now being talked about and considered to be a reason why women are
being deprived of their body types due to the perceptions brought by social media and
its users.
Related Legal Bases
Lastly, the Magna Carta Women Republic Act No. 9710 had also given a piece of
information in regards to their topic. “Ordering that Non-discriminatory and
non-derogatory portrayal of women in media and film to raise the consciousness of the
general public in recognizing the dignity of women and the role and contribution of
women in the family, community, and the society through the strategic use of mass
media.” (Magna Carta Women R.A. No. 9710, 2010.) With this, the researchers thought
that the mass media where social media belongs to is very much contributive to
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Filipina’s body features. Hence, this means that social media is truly a platform where
its users could share their insight into the body features of Filipina, therefore making the
research valid and aidful to society
Conceptual Framework
Figure 3. Conceptual Framework
The conceptual framework primarily delineates the interrelationships of the
variables present in the study. Hence, the framework shown above clearly gives the
relationship of written variables; the researchers deemed that the respondents'
perceptions are greatly affected by their gender, the social media platform they are
using and the duration of it being used. Thus, thoroughly evident: the latter variables
mentioned are the independent variables and the former variable is the dependent
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variable. For instance, the researchers' already forethought that the respondents'
perception may vary according to their gender; as well as the platform and the duration
of it being used, a person that uses social media for a long time might have a different
perception compared to a person that has been using a platform much presently. Also,
the perception of the respondents, if already processed through coding, gives the critical
idea whether social media platforms influences Filipinos' perception. Basically, the
respondents' perception is the independent variable and the influence of social media is
the dependent variable.
CHAPTER III
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METHODOLOGY
Research Design
The research design of their study is in a Qualitative format, specifically
ETHNOGRAPHY. This is right and just for the following reasons: (1) For it aims to delve
into a study about specific cultural groups - Filipinas and people who use social media;
(2) For it wholly focuses on people who share similar experiences: all respondents are
users of social media; (3) Including the researchers, they are fully exposed in the said
environment (social media) and can be considered as "immersed" with said participants.
Sampling and Participants
The researchers expect that the 30 respondents are Filipino citizens, either male
or female, that are part of the age group of young adults (18-30 years old). And also, the
users of social media platforms are living within Taguig City. Hence, with the said
characteristics of the participants, the sampling would be in a format of a Quota
Sampling for the respondents should meet the said criteria in order to be considered as
legitimate part taker in the study. Quota sampling is a method for selecting survey
participants that is a non-probabilistic version of stratified sampling.
Data Collection
The researchers will be using a Postal, Open-Ended Questionnaire for the data
collection due to the following reasons: (1) The type of questions in the questionnaire
are open-ended; (2) The respondents are given the freedom to openly answer what
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they want or what they could think of without any restrictions; (3) The researchers would
want the respondents to support their answers by asking questions starting with "How?"
and follow-up questions such as "Why?" (4) The researchers would distribute the
questionnaires online. Also, the researchers would also be using a participative, indirect
observation for the respondents and their social media accounts would simply be under
watch to record and evaluate if there was and is any information they have posted that
perceives Filipina's body features.
Data Gathering Procedure
The way researchers will gather data should be executed through a series of
events. First, they will make the needed questionnaire. Then, the researchers will find
the respondents who are suitable and has the characteristics stated on the study. Third,
after finding the respondents, they will ask for consent to show that the respondents
agreed to be participants of the study and will briefly explain the study. Fourth, the
researchers will then proceed to send the made questionnaire via the internet. Fifth,
they will set a time for the respondents (15-30 minutes) to finish answering the
questionnaire, then after the time runs out - the data will be immediately gathered. Sixth,
the respondents would be informed that there social media activities from the past until
present will be held under observation for a week to see if they post something that is
related to Filipina's body image. Lastly, after the observation is done, the respondents
will be told that the execution of experimentation has already finished.
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Data Analysis
Brought by the condition that there are a variety of sources of information
gathered, the researchers will analyze the information through a Thematic Analysis.
Thematic analysis is one of the most common forms of analysis in qualitative research.
It emphasizes pinpointing, examining, and recording patterns (or "themes") within data.
Themes are patterns across data sets that are important to the description of a
phenomenon and are associated to a specific research question.
Ethical considerations
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Ethical considerations plays a vital role in research study, thus the researchers
laid out the ethics to be considered that are as of follows:
1. Anonymity and confidentiality of the participant would be respected.
2. A letter of consent would be given before the researchers execute the
data gathering procedure.
3. The researchers would not harm nor force the respondents in any way.
4. Before the data gathering procedure begins, the researchers would briefly
explain the topic to the participants.
5. The truthfulness, integrity and quality of the research would be promised
to be constant and is expected to be ensured.
APPENDICES
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Questionnaire for the Research Paper “THE INFLUENCES OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON

HOW FILIPINOS’ PERCEIVE AN IDEAL BODY IMAGE FOR A FILIPINA”
Name (optional):
Age:
Gender:
1. Which body type do you prefer? (Please refrain from choosing more than 3)
❏ Triangle Shape
❏ Inverted Triangle Shape
❏ Rectangle Shape
❏ Hourglass Shape
❏ Diamond Shape
❏ Rounded Shape
❏ Pear Shape
2. What features do you think makes a Filipina unique?

__________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
3. What do you think of social media's representation of Filipinas?

__________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
4. Do you often express your opinions online about women and their body features?
__________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
5. What social media do you prominently use? Does this outlet change your
perception on Filipinas’ body image?
__________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
LETTER OF CONSENT
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Dear Respondent,
We are conducting a research study entitled “The Influences of Social Media on

How Filipinos Perceive an Ideal Body Image for a Filipina” as a partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the course Practical Research I. We respectfully chose you as one of
our respondents to answer the questions attached with this for the completion of our
study. So, please provide your honest responses and rest assured that you will be
treated with confidentiality.
Aside from answering the questions, we will also be doing an observation on you
for one week, especially on your social media accounts.
Thank you for your kind cooperation.
Yours truly,
Ariño, Ma. Luisa C. Galiza, John Clarence S.

Researcher Researcher
Ramos, Ezra B.
Researcher
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I, (name of respondent), agrees to the terms and conditions

aforementioned by the researchers. Thus, I will willingly provide all the needed
data for their research study.
If not, please state the reason(s) why:

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________
Printed name and
Signature of the Respondent
REFERENCES
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Javellana, G. (2014). Influence of Media on Body Image Satisfaction among

Adolescents. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, Arts and Sciences , 1(1), pp. 95-101.
Pham, M. (2015). I Click and Post and Breathe, Waiting for Others to See What I See”:
On #FeministSeles, Outt Photos, and Networked Vanity. Fashion Theory , 19(2),
pp. 221-242.
(2015). Lifestyle News - Latest Health, Parenting, Food, Travel, Relationship News |
Inquirer.net. LOOK: What ‘perfect body’ looks like in PH, 17 other
countries according to study | Inquirer Lifestyle. Retrieved on February 13, 2019, from
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/203843/look-what-perfect-body-looks-like-in-ph-17-other-co
untries-according-to-study/
Hailes, J. (2016). Jean Hailes For Women's Health: Body Image. Body Image, 2
Zarzuela, D. (2019, January 29). Cosmo.ph: The Online Home Of Fun, Fearless Pinays.
Angel Locsin Responds To Body-Shamers On Tonight With Boy Abunda |
Cosmo.ph. Retrieved on February 13, 2019, from
http://www.cosmo.ph/entertainment/angel-locsin-neil-arce-bashers-body-shaming-bo
dy-love-body-positivity
Ramirez, B. Body shaming ideologies in Women’s Health Magazine covers in the

Philippines. pp. 8-12. Retrieved from
https://www.academia.edu/34093602/BODY_SHAMING_IDEOLOGIES_IN_THE_PHI
LIPPINES
(2010.) Q & A: Magna Carta of Women (Republic Act No. 9710). Retrieved on February
13, 2019, from https://psa.gov.ph/content/q-magna-carta-women-republic-act-no-9710
20 | Page

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SEN.

RENATO “COMPAÑERO” CAYETANO MEMORIAL

“​THE INFLUENCES OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON HOW FILIPINOS

MS. GLEZA LYNN ASE​ÑAS

Background of the Study

Given the pressure driven by social peers and members of a community to a

perception of Filipinos to a Filipina’s ideal body image.

Furthermore, body image is a vital part of a woman’s self-esteem. Women who

of a woman. According to a study commissioned by Unilever, only five percent of

themselves as average, below average, or even ugly. (Pedero, 2005).

significantly affects―whether positively or negatively― the user’s perception.

Statement of the Problem

users' perception of a body of Filipinas. The researchers seek to answer the

the body features of Filipinas?

2. What is the user’s prior perception of an ideal Filipina body image

before using social media?

made them change their prior perception on Filipinas?

Significance of the Study

one of us about women’s health.

Scope and Delimitation

Body Image - ​Body image is a person's perception of the aesthetics or sexual

to the standards that have been set by society.

Ideal - ​satisfying one's conception of what is perfect; most suitable.

Perception - ​the way you think about or understand someone or something.

Trends - ​a current style or preference.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Cosmopolitan article entitled “Angel Locsin To Body-Shamers: 'Perfect ka?' fully

encapsulates the relevance of the contemporary issues in society in relation to the

Locsin is “fat”. (Zarzuela, D. 2019.)

Figure 1 Body shames towards Filipina actress, Angel Locsin

Furthermore, a Philstar news article wrote about a statistics made by

of ideal Filipina’s body image. (Mateo, J. 2018.)

Moreover, according to the second volume of the Women’s magazine, “Jean

many women. (Hailes, J. 2016)”

Filipinos towards Filipina’s body image is due to social media

study “Perception of Perfection” performed by Superdrug Online Doctors, a UK online

weight 128 pounds. (Inquirer, 2015.)

Figure 2. Photo of an Ideal body of Filipinos for a Filipina based on a study of a UK

Report that reports:

(Duggan and Smith 2014)”

social media is highly effective in regards to the body satisfaction of a specific

state their views of a woman’s body.

Related Legal Bases

information in regards to their topic. “Ordering that Non-discriminatory and

research valid and aidful to society

Figure 3. Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework primarily delineates the interrelationships of the

relationship of written variables; the researchers deemed that the respondents'

the dependent variable.

The research design of their study is in a Qualitative format, specifically

Sampling and Participants

characteristics of the participants, the sampling would be in a format of a Quota

participants that is a non-probabilistic version of stratified sampling.

perceives Filipina's body features.

Data Gathering Procedure

will be told that the execution of experimentation has already finished.

Brought by the condition that there are a variety of sources of information

phenomenon and are associated to a specific research question.

laid out the ethics to be considered that are as of follows:

1. Anonymity and confidentiality of the participant would be respected.

2. A letter of consent would be given before the researchers execute the

data gathering procedure.

explain the topic to the participants.

“THE INFLUENCES OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON HOW FILIPINOS

MS. GLEZA LYNN ASEÑAS

Body Image - Body image is a person's perception of the aesthetics or sexual

Ideal - satisfying one's conception of what is perfect; most suitable.

Perception - the way you think about or understand someone or something.

Trends - a current style or preference.