Body Image and Sociocultural Norms

Abstract

Internalization of sociocultural norms about the body has been theorized to be an important factor in fostering body dissatisfaction in women. Some theorists have suggested that a lesbian identity may buffer or immunize lesbians from the damaging effects of society's pressure to be thin by reducing this internalization. This study was designed to test this claim empirically. Questionnaires were completed by 108 lesbians and 115 heterosexual women recruited through snowball sampling. Lesbians felt more fit, reported less negative attitudes toward their lower bodies, and internalized sociocultural norms less than heterosexual women. For all women, internalization of sociocultural norms significantly predicted body attitudes. Lesbians and heterosexual women appear to be similarly exposed to and aware of society's messages, and as such their body attitudes substantially overlap. However, lesbians are buffered from these views in some specific areas. These differences appear to be primarily the result of differential internalization of sociocultural norms.

Self–Esteem as a Moderator of the Effect of Social Comparison On Women’s Body Image

“…Other studies show that the importance of internalization is not limited to African American women (Bergeron & Senn, 1998;Durkin & Paxton, 2002;Field et al, 2001;Halliwell & Dittmar, 2004;Morry & Staska, 2001). For example, Halliwell and Dittmar (2004) found, in a nonstudent female sample, that comparisons to thin models increased anxiety among high-internalization participants, but had no significant effect on low-internalization participants.…”

Lesbians’ attitudes and beliefs regarding overweight and weight reduction

“…The other unique theme is that, although there was a general agreement in this sample that lesbians are more accepting of all weights and body shapes than in the heterosexual community (Bergeron & Senn 1998, Swami & Tovee 2006), there is also concern about the impact of this acceptance on health. This study was consistent with others that found lesbians receptive to interventions that focused on health, healthy behaviours and fitness, rather than on weight, BMI and being thin (Bowen et al.…”

“…Lesbians have been found to have attitudes similar to heterosexual comparisons concerning weight, appearance and dieting and the same rates of bulimia in some studies (Brand et al. 1992, Heffernan 1996, Feldman & Meyer 2007), while others found that lesbians have less negative attitudes about their bodies (Bergeron & Senn 1998, Polimeni et al. 2009) and find women with higher BMIs more attractive (Swami & Tovee 2006).…”

An Ecological Framework for Sexual Minority Women’s Health: Factors Associated With Greater Body Mass

“…Several studies found that lesbians are more accepting of their bodies and more tolerant of higher weight in self and others (Bergeron & Senn, 1998;Gettelman & Thompson, 1993;French et al, 1996;Herzog, Newman, Yeh, & Warshaw, 1992;Maor, 2012;Markey & Markey, 2014;Morrison et al, 2004;Polimeni et al, 2009;Siever, 1994;Swami & Tovee, 2006). However, other studies found lesbians to be similar to heterosexual women in concerns about weight, appearance, body acceptance, and/or dieting (Brand et al, 1992;Davids & Green, 2011;Feldman & Meyer, 2007;Heffernan, 1996;Keridwen, 2012;Huxley, Clark, & Halliwell, 2012;Kozee & Tylka, 2006;Peplau et al, 2009).…”