A stab at an abstract (updated)

Hi all,

I realised that by doing a production component, that I really didn't have much room to explore body image to the degree that I had been casting my net. So, I have refined my topic down to something that I think will fit into about 7,000 or so words. That being the case, my direction is a little different. Caitlin, you are SO focused. I still have to work out some kind of outline and of course, now I have to think of a new title, etc. I am about to tackle a Literary Review and have been procrastinating because I still have a stack of reading to do and so I am unsure of how to proceed with it. However, I promised it to Willa yesterday, so that is how I will be spending the rest of my day. Anyway, that is where I am at the moment - paralysed with fear. :-)

This is my abstract (or as much as it can be without having written the thesis) that reflects what I am now aiming to do:

The Role Discourse Plays in Women’s Magazines Towards Finding Beauty

Consumers of media products are bombarded by a multiplicity of discourses that inform the performance of their social role. In the case of women’s magazines these discourses often focus on beauty as a component of success and to the objectification of women (see for example Aubrey, 2006). Research identifies that magazine content contributes to issues of body dissatisfaction, sexual attitudes and gender-role attitudes (see for example Tiggemann and McGill, 2004). This study will comprise of an in-depth analysis of a corresponding month for Cleo and The Australian Women’s Weekly magazines, taking into account the cover material, how their features are sectioned and the advertising targeted at their readers in order determine how these discourses change when addressing two different demographic targets of women.

Aubrey, J.S. (2006). ‘Effects of sexually objectifying media on self-objectification and body surveillance in undergradulates: results of a 2-year panel study’. Journal of Communication, 56(2): 366-386.
Tiggemann, M. and McGill, B., (2004). ‘The role of social comparison in the effect of magazine advertisements on women’s mood and body dissatisfaction.’ Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 23(1): 23-44.