The Ideal Body: Examining Instagram Female Fitness Influencers' Role in The Modern Feminist Movement

Abstract

This thesis examines the role of Instagram female fitness influencers within the context of modern feminist theories and analyzes how they present themselves to online users on Instagram. Through interviewing and examining the Instagram accounts of five female fitness influencers, I explore whether their constructed online identities advance modern theories of feminism socially, physically, and economically. Furthermore, I identify how female fitness influencers internalize and identify their own role within the landscape of modern feminist and sociological theories. I use two major research strategies: 1) a qualitative analysis of extended interviews and 2) a method of content analyses on each influencer’s Instagram account. This thesis challenges the notion of the contemporary “ideal” body within the hegemonic standards of femininity. Additionally, this thesis seeks to draw links between the unique profession of a female fitness influencer and the larger sociological issues at play in feminist movements. Results indicate that fitness influencers post pictures and videos on their Instagram accounts not to objectify themselves, but to emphasize a positive lifestyle and promote strength and empowerment. Fitness influencers do challenge the contemporary notion of the ideal body image through their “fitspiration” Instagram accounts. Fitness influencers are able to self-promote as a form of entrepreneurship on Instagram to appeal to an audience and generate monetary revenue. Lastly, fitness influencers are not negatively impacted from comments left under their posts and are not negatively affected by the body and work of other fitness influencers.