"You Can Never Be Too Thin" – or Can You?: A pilot Study on The Effects of Digital Manipulation of Fashion Models" Body Size, Leg Length and Skin Color

This pilot study examines whether awareness of the digital manipulation of photographs may mitigate the effects of "the thin ideal" in fashion magazines. Digital manipulations of four fashion photographs altered models' body shape, skin color and leg length. Subjects were exposed to both original and manipulated versions. Focus group discussion and individual surveys suggest that whereas women find thin models with dark skin (whether Caucasian or African American) attractive, they prefer authentic, unretouched images in advertisements. In addition, a questionnaire measured the erosion of body dissatisfaction and found that female subjects were significantly happier with their bodies once they had seen both the thin and restored images side by side, and thereby recognized the impact of digital manipulation. They were also more likely to protest the practice of digital editing in magazines to editors and advertisers. Findings are discussed with regard to the importance of enhanced media literacy as an antidote to magazine editorial policy that favors artistic freedom over truth in digital editing.