It’s a Comparison Thing, Isn’t It?”

Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Accounts of How Partner Relationships Shape Their Feelings About Their Body and Appearance

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12005239
AutoresCaroline J Huxley (Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom), Caroline Huxley (0000-0001-9755-6096, University of Warwick, autor correspondente), Victoria Clarke (0000-0001-9405-7363, University of the West of England), Emma Halliwell (0000-0001-8283-2991, University of the West of England)
Ano2011
Volume35
Fascículo3
Páginas415-427
Data de publicação2011-08-31
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoPsychology of Women Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0361-6843 • E-ISSN: 1471-6402
EditoraSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0361684311410209
OpenAlexW2135974743
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas20
Referências citadas58

Women’s feelings about their body and their appearance are an important aspect of their lives, yet little is known about the ways in which partner relationships shape these feelings. There has been some debate about whether or not same-sex relationships offer protection to nonheterosexual (lesbian and bisexual) women from potentially harmful social appearance pressures, but there has been little empirical exploration of this issue. We contribute to the debate by presenting findings from a British qualitative study based on interviews with 15 nonheterosexual women talking about their feelings about their bodies and their appearance in the context of partner relationships. These accounts were analyzed using a phenomenologically oriented form of thematic analysis (TA) and seven main themes were generated. The women suggested that same-sex relationships were both positive and negative influences in shaping their feelings about their body and appearance, highlighting the complexity of this issue. However, positive descriptions of empathy toward body and appearance concerns as well as diversity within same-sex attractions suggest that same-sex relationships have the potential to encourage women to feel happier with their bodies. This analysis also suggests that the theoretical debate is too simplistic and that a synthesized explanation should be explored in future research

Context (archaeology · Developmental psychology · Diversity (politics · Empathy · Feeling · Lesbian · Psychoanalysis · Qualitative research · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Fashion and Cultural Textiles · Psychology · Social Psychology