Action: In the final phase, building on the results of previous discussions with men, I designed a booklet centered around dialogues. It compiles stories narrated by women about their body image, gathered from interviews and other forms of communication, along with my own stories, into dialogue-based narratives. This booklet not only delves into the complex and significant topic of female body image but also facilitates profound male-female dialogues. Through the interactions of characters Starlight (symbolizing women) and Comet (symbolizing men), it explores body image, self-acceptance, and societal-cultural influences. Starlight’s candid sharing reveals the pressures and struggles women face regarding body image in modern society. In contrast, Comet’s blank response sections provide an opportunity for male readers to engage in this dialogue, fostering understanding and respect. I distributed this booklet to three men: one who had previously participated in online seminars, one who had never engaged in any intervention, and a social science expert who had been interviewed earlier, now participating as a subject.
Findings: The feedback from men was somewhat surprising. They were astonished by women’s perceptions and genuine thoughts about body image, indicating a clear communication gap between the sexes. Such dialogues helped men begin to understand women’s perspectives on body image and modify their expectations, acknowledging the existence of biases and the male gaze. To me, this dialogue slightly challenged the ‘male gaze’, shifting men’s long-standing expectations of female body image. Therefore, enhancing male-female interactions can lead to greater understanding, respect, and acceptance of women with diverse body images. The feedback from the man who had participated in two online discussions showed that through seminars and the booklet, he began to understand that women should not face so much criticism and judgment about their bodies. During the seminar on the topic of ‘being overweight’, learning more about the backgrounds of female bloggers in the cases, along with their photos and videos, he sensed a slight shift in attitudes towards female body image. However, the other two men also expressed that they had rarely or never discussed this topic with women before. Through such dialogues, they realized that male biases and gazes indeed harm women.
Reflection: Each participant felt that as men, they seldom have the opportunity to express or listen to women’s views on body image without reservations. The booklet provided them a casual platform for this dialogue, prompting them to start thinking about the issue. However, they also believed that for some men lacking empathy, this format might not be effective in making them realize the seriousness of these issues. Compared to the intense discussions in seminars, the booklet, though lighter in form, was perceived as less profound or lacking strong opinions. This honest feedback made me realize that each intervention method has its pros and cons, affecting individuals differently based on their personalities. Reflecting on this, I also want to eliminate biases against men, acknowledging that not every man holds the same level of expectations regarding female bodies. In the future, I plan to organize more diverse activities to encourage positive dialogues on this topic among both sexes. These could range from male-only participation to introducing female participants, to better encourage the elimination of biases. Workshops incorporating arts like painting, film, and music could also be organized to facilitate discussions on the topic. In conclusion, such dialogues are important, positive, and necessary.
Reference：
Mulvey, L. (1975). Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema. Screen, 16(3), pp.6–18.
Berger, J. (1972). Ways of Seeing. Edmonton, Alta.: The Schools.