Sexual Objectification in Protective Online Communities: Exploring the Experiences of Women with Eating Disorders
About this study
This study aims to explore how sexual objectification is experienced within online communities such as body positivity, eating disorder recovery, and body neutrality groups. Specifically, we are interested in understanding how women with eating disorders navigate and perceive sexual objectification, and whether or not it is explicitly present in these spaces.This is a qualitative research study designed to provide deeper insights into the ways women with eating disorders engage with and are impacted by these online spaces.
Research TeamBethany Morris, Dr Natalie Jovanovski, Dr Lauren Saling
InstitutionRMIT University
Ethics Approval Number27867
Funding SourceN/A
Project Start Date20 November 2024
Project End Date11 November 2025
ParticipantsWe are seeking 15-30 participants who:
- Have been registered as female at birth;
- Are between the ages of 18 and 35;
- Have sufficient level of English to engage in the interview;
- Have received a formal diagnosis of an eating disorder;
- Not being in inpatient care or hospital setting
- Being part of social media communities surrounding either eating disorder recovery, body-positivity, or body-neutrality.
- Have been registered as female at birth;
- Are between the ages of 18 and 35;
- Have sufficient level of English to engage in the interview;
- Have received a formal diagnosis of an eating disorder;
- Not being in inpatient care or hospital setting
- Being part of social media communities surrounding either eating disorder recovery, body-positivity, or body-neutrality.
What is InvolvedWe are seeking 15-30 participants for 30-60 minute online interviews.
During the interview, we will ask participants roughly 10 questions about their experiences in online communities (body positivity, eating disorder recovery and body neutrality), with a focus on their perceptions of sexual objectification and how they interpret this in the community they are apart of.
During the interview, we will ask participants roughly 10 questions about their experiences in online communities (body positivity, eating disorder recovery and body neutrality), with a focus on their perceptions of sexual objectification and how they interpret this in the community they are apart of.
LocationOnline
Contact Details
s4081409@student.rmit.edu.au, natalie.jovanovski2@rmit.edu.au, lauren.saling@rmit.edu.au