| Summary: | Body image satisfaction among African women is poorly understood. Using a mixed-methods research design, 230 African women are surveyed in order to broadly examine body image. Specifically, body image satisfaction, body image ideals, objectified body consciousness and eating pathology is examined with the aim of highlighting psychological and counseling implications. Particular emphasis is placed on non-weight-related aspects of body image including hair texture, skin color/tone and facial feature appraisals. This study begins the work of answering questions about the relationship African women have with their bodies and the systemic forces that impact the same (histories of colonialism, rampant globalization and salient sociocultural factors). Notable quantitative and qualitative results suggest the following: a) African women endorse high levels of body satisfaction with their body sizes, hair textures, skin tones and facial features; b) African women idealize smaller body sizes; c) higher levels of hair satisfaction appear to have a negative influence on body image satisfaction; d) skin color satisfaction is associated with higher levels of body image satisfaction; and e) facial feature satisfaction has little influence on overall body image satisfaction.
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