BODY DISSATISFACTION AMONG LESBIAN COLLEGE STUDENTS |
| |
| Authors: | Susan E. Beren Helen A. Hayden Denise E. Wilfley Ruth H. Striegel-Moore |
| |
| Affiliation: | San Diego State University, and University of California, San Diego;Yale University;San Diego State University and University of California, San Diego;Wesleyan University |
| |
| Abstract: | 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 |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
