Body Dissatisfaction Among Lesbian College Students
The Conflict of Straddling Mainstream and Lesbian Cultures
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12004729 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Susan E Beren (Yale University, corresponding author), Helen A Hayden (San Diego State University and University of California, San Diego), Denise E Wilfley (0000-0002-3599-8689, San Diego State University, and University of California, San Diego), Ruth H Striegel-Moore (Wesleyan University), Ruth H Striegel‐Moore (Wesleyan University) |
| Year | 1997 |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 431-445 |
| Publication date | 1997-09-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Psychology of Women Quarterly (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0361-6843 • E-ISSN: 1471-6402 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1471-6402.1997.tb00123.x |
| OpenAlex | W2038211247 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 19 |
| References cited | 20 |
Research examining body dissatisfaction among lesbians has attempted to compare lesbians' and heterosexual women's attitudes toward their bodies. Studies have yielded mixed results, some indicating that lesbians, compared to heterosexual women, are more satisfied with their bodies, and some indicating that the two groups of women are equally dissatisfied. In an attempt to more closely explore lesbians' attitudes toward their bodies, we conducted interviews with 26 lesbian college students and inquired into how the following areas might be related to body-image concerns: (a) lesbian beauty ideals, (b) the sources through which lesbian beauty ideals are conveyed, (c) lesbian conflict about beauty, (d) negative stereotypes about lesbians' appearance, and (e) lesbian concerns about feminine identity. Results indicated that young adult lesbians embrace a beauty ideal that encompasses both thinness and fitness. Whereas mainstream sources, such as women's magazines and peer pressure seem to influence lesbian college students to value a thinner body ideal, sexual relationships with women encouraged acceptance of one's body. Conflict between mainstream and lesbian values about the importance of weight and overall appearance was repeatedly voiced by the respondents. The complexity of lesbians' feelings about their bodies is discussed, and future directions for research are suggested
Aesthetics · Art · Beauty · Developmental psychology · Feeling · Human sexuality · Ideal (ethics · Lesbian · Mainstream · Psychoanalysis · Sexual identity · Sexual orientation · Sociology · Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Fashion and Cultural Textiles · Gender Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology
Exacting beauty
We Can Be Athletic and Feminine, But Do We Want To? Challenging Hegemonic Femininity in Women's Sport
What Do Women Want? The Effects of Gender and Sexual Orientation on the Desirability of Physical Attributes in the Personal Ads of Women
Lesbian and bisexual women's judgments of the attractiveness of different body types
Fat, queer and sick? A critical analysis of ‘lesbian obesity’ in public health discourse
Exploring biculturality and beauty standards through breast discourse and breasted experience of sexual minority women
Body Image and Sexual Functioning Among Bisexual Women
Narrating Rural Lesbian Lives
The Impact of Group Membership on Lesbians' Physical Appearance
Sexuality Sells
Social Action Research
Sense of Belonging to Layers of Lesbian Community Weakens the Link Between Body Image Dissatisfaction and Depressive Symptoms
It’s a Comparison Thing, Isn’t It?”
These are not my people’
Examining Objectification Theory
A qualitative exploration of whether lesbian and bisexual women are 'protected' from sociocultural pressure to be thin
The Influence of Race, Ethnicity, Class, and Sexual Politics on Lesbians' Body Image
Differences Between Lesbians and Heterosexual Women in Disordered Eating and Related Attitudes
Gender, sexual orientation, and romantic partner influence on body image
| Citations per year | 0.7 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 1999 - 2017 (19) |
| Highly cited | No |