Droga de corpo! Imagens e representações do corpo feminino em revistas brasileiras / Images and representations of the female body in Brazilian magazines / ¡Porquería de cuerpo! Imágenes y representaciones del cuerpo femenino en revistas brasileñas

Estudo documental, qualitativo, descritivo, com objetivo de analisar imagens e representações do corpo da mulher e sua relação com o consumo de drogas nos conteúdos de reportagens publicadas em quatro revistas de circulação nacional (Veja, Isto É, Boa Forma, Cláudia). As reportagens selecionadas foram submetidas à técnica de análise de conteúdo, sendo identificados três grupos temáticos: O corpo como um estímulo para o consumo de drogas; Riscos para o corpo decorrentes do consumo de drogas; A busca do corpo ideal com a utilização de drogas. Os dados mostraram que a mídia reproduz padrões estéticos rígidos, expondo as mulheres a agravos sociais e de saúde que estimulam o consumo de drogas de forma autônoma e/ou por prescrição. A busca pela beleza e a apelação ao erotismo feminino, divulgados pelos meios de comunicação analisados, limitam a importância social das mulheres, ao atrelar imagens que lhes atribuem o status de objeto sexual.

This documentary, qualitative, descriptive study has the objective to analyze images and representations of the female body and their relation to drug use in the content of articles published in four magazines with national circulation (Veja, Isto É, Boa Forma, Claúdia). The articles selected were submitted to the technique of content analysis, with three thematic groups identified: the body as an incentive to use drugs; risks to the body resulting from drug use; and the search for the perfect body through drug use. The data showed that the media reproduces rigid aesthetic standards, exposing women to social and health offenses that stimulate drug use, either autonomously or by prescription. The search for beauty and the appeal to feminine eroticism, published through the communication channels analyzed, limit the social importance of women by using images that link them to the status of sexual object.

Estudio documental, cualitativo, descriptivo, con el objetivo de analizar imágenes y representaciones del cuerpo femenino y su relación con el consumo de drogas en los contenidos de reportajes publicados en cuatro revistas de circulación nacional. Los reportajes seleccionados fueron sometidos al análisis de contenido en los cuales se han identificado tres grupos temáticos: El cuerpo como estímulo para el consumo de drogas; Riesgos para el cuerpo debido al consumo de drogas; La búsqueda del cuerpo ideal a través de las drogas. Los datos mostraron que el promedio reproduce estándares estéticos rígidos, exponiendo a las mujeres a riesgos sociales y de salud que estimulan el consumo de drogas de forma autónoma y/o de prescripción. La búsqueda por la belleza y la apelación al erotismo femenino, divulgados por los medios analizados, limitan la importancia social de las mujeres al vincular imágenes que otorgan a las mismas el status de objeto sexual.

Identifying effective communication channels in a rural community: A field report from south India.

Background: There is scarcity of information on communication channels in rural areas where about 38% of people are illiterate. Objective: To identify the channels of communication available in rural areas by interviewing key informants. Method: This study was conducted in 51 villages of Ellapuram block, Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu in the year 2004. Key informants selected from the villages were interviewed by a Medical Social Worker. The questionnaire included information on modes of communication channels, availability of markets, public facilities, and local associations. Result: The study block included 9893 households covering a population of 39255. Their main occupation was agriculture (86%). Electricity was available in all the villages. More than 80% of the villagers had community TV/cable connections, >50% of the villages had cinema star fan associations, mahila mandals, youth clubs, self-help groups, anganwadi centres and ration shops. The main source of communication as per interview was television (100%), wallposters (55%); publicity through panchayat office meetings (53%) and dandora or beat of drums(43%). Conclusion: Main communication channels, commonly used to disseminate information were TV and wall posters. More than 50% of villages had local associations which can be used for effective communication. This information is vital for disseminating important information on public health programmes and educating the rural community.