G A M M A P H I B E TA .

O R G

C U LT I VAT I N G P O S I T I V E B O D Y I M A G E

MCKENNA MURLEY
03/06/22

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• W H AT I S A R O L E M O D E L ?
-A ROLE MODEL IS A PERSON WHO IS ADMIRED BY OTHERS
A N D W H O S E B E H AV I O R T H E Y T R Y TO I M I TAT E . T H E Y
P O S S E S S Q UA L I T I E S W E W O U L D L I K E TO H AV E A N D T H AT
HAVE AFFECTED OUR LIVES OR THE LIVES OF OTHERS IN A
P O S I T I V E W AY.

EXAMPLES:
-PUBLIC FIGURES, CELEBRITIES, CHAPTER OR CAMPUS
L E A D E R S , FA M I LY M E M B E R S O R F R I E N D S

CHARACTERISTICS OF A ROLE MODEL

-LIVE BY THEIR VALUES, DEVELOP EMPOWERING
I N C L U S I V E R E L AT I O N S H I P S , E X H I B I T C O N F I D E N C E ,
A D M I T T H E I R M I S TA K E S , E M B R A C E W H O T H E Y A R E .
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W H AT I S B O DY I M A G E ?
• Affective body image
• Behavioral body image
• Cognitive body image
• Perceptual body image
-The way you see your body is your perceptual
body image. When you choose to see your body
with compassion and love, you cultivate positive
body image.
• Affective Body Image
The overall level of satisfaction you experience about
your body’s shape, parts and ability is your affective
body image. Accepting your body as it is increases your
satisfaction with your body and fosters positive body
image.
Behavioral Body Image
The way you think and feel about your body drives your
behavior. This behavior is your behavioral body image.
Choosing behaviors that keep your body healthy
cultivates positive body image.
Cognitive body image
How you think about your body is your cognitive body
image. Speaking kindly to yourself when you think about
your body is a tangible way to work toward a positive
body image.
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P O S I T I V E B O DY I M AG E
• What is Positive Body Image?
When a person is able to accept, appreciate and respect their body, they may be
described as having a positive body image. Positive body image is not the same as
body satisfaction. It is possible to be dissatisfied with some aspects of your body,
yet still accept it with its imperfections.
• Examples of Positive Body Image
Harnaam Kaur is no stranger to bullying—she has experienced it since grade school. With polycystic
ovarian syndrome causing an imbalance of hormones that led to her growing a full beard, Kaur
decided to embrace her body and her beard at age 16. Since then, she’s become a strong voice on
self-acceptance. She gives talks throughout the world on self-esteem and embracing your
uniqueness.

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C U LT I VAT I N G P O S I T I V E B O DY
I M AG E
• Shelby is a second-year member who loves to bike. Shelby also has a chronic illness
that sometimes makes it difficult to exercise. At first, Shelby had a hard time adjusting
to her body’s new normal, but the support of her sisters helped her love her body as it
is.
• Sierra is a fourth-year member who feels her best when she’s wearing loose fitting
tops and boy cut jeans, but her family hasn’t always loved her style. Sierra opened up
about her struggle to accept her body with her big sister. After having a great
conversation, Sierra and her big sister decided they would visit their campus’s
counseling center to help them both find deeper self-love.

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C U LT I VAT I N G P O S I T I V E B O DY
IMAGE
There is no one way to be a positive body image role model in
your chapter or on your campus. Whether it's through
advocating for others, sharing our struggles with a trusted
friend or regularly celebrating who we are, we each have an
opportunity to cultivate healing, foster self-love and serve as
role models.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDowwh0EU4w

G A M M A P H I B E TA . O R G
 B U I L D I N G ST R O N G G I R L S
Gamma Phi Betas serve as role models when they speak kindly about their bodies, when they
use empowering language when speaking with their sisters' bodies and when they engage with
empathy and compassion when they hear girls using negative language about their bodies.

• Start a gratitude journal and write down one thing about your body you're grateful for each day. Research
shows that focusing on gratitude can rewire our brains and help us see ourselves and the world around us
through a more positive lens.
• Follow positive body image influencers on social media. Tip: Follow influencers from different racial, religious,
socioeconomic, ability, gender or sexual orientation backgrounds from your own to increase your
understanding of how you can foster positive body image for yourself and others.
• Reach out to your campus or community health or counseling center to explore how you can foster positive
body image or to foster self-care if you are supporting someone else as they explore their body image.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoATG6lePH8
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