Body Objectification, Self-Esteem, and Relationship Satisfaction: A Comparison of Exotic Dancers and College Women

Abstract

We examined body objectification, self-esteem, and relationship satisfaction differences between college women and exotic dancers and the relationships among these measures for both groups. Forty-three college women and 40 female exotic dancers completed a questionnaire that assessed each of these constructs. Relative to college women, exotic dancers reported less relationship satisfaction, more body surveillance, and a greater prioritizing of body attractiveness over physical competence. Relationship satisfaction and the prioritizing of appearance over physical competence varied for the heterosexual and bisexual dancers. For exotic dancers, the body objectification measures of surveillance and shame were negatively, and body control was positively, related to self-esteem; body shame was negatively related to relationship satisfaction. For college women, higher levels of body surveillance and body shame were associated with higher prioritizing of physical attractiveness relative to physical competence.

Belly Dance as an Embodying Activity?: A Test of the Embodiment Model of Positive Body Image

“…The obtained positive finding for belly dance is similar to those found previously for street dance (Swami and Tovée 2009) and modern dance (Langdon and Petracca 2010). It is in marked contrast to the one previous finding for exotic dance (Downs et al 2006), whereby United States exotic dancers had poorer body image than college students. Thus the categorization of belly dance as akin to exotic dance in this way (Langdon and Petracca 2010) does not hold.…”

“…As yet there exists little quantitative research on the body image of Australian or other belly dancers, but in their preliminary survey of U.S. belly dancers, Downey et al (2010) reported that the vast majority saw belly dance as a positive influence on their feelings about their body (and none cited it as a negative influence). Consequently, in contrast to Downs et al (2006) finding for U.S. exotic dancers, we predicted that belly-dancers would show less body dissatisfaction and more positive body image than non-belly dancing college students.…”

“…These two forms of dance demonstrate a more obvious physicality and allow a greater diversity in physique than more traditional forms of dance, such as ballet. On the other hand, Downs et al (2006) found that United Staes exotic dancers (women who dance in adult sexualized settings, e.g., "gentlemen's clubs", for the pleasure or titillation of the viewer), scored higher on body surveillance and body shame and lower on relationship satisfaction than college women. Langdon and Petracca (2010) likened belly dance to exotic dance and categorized both as appearance-focused forms of dance (in contrast to modern and street dance which were categorized as athletically-focused forms), with the clear implication that belly dance would relate negatively to body image.…”

Integrating Social Comparison Theory and Self-Esteem within Objectification Theory to Predict Women’s Disordered Eating

“…U.S. college women who devalue their overall self-worth also tend to hold their bodies in low esteem. Low self-esteem predicts body dissatisfaction among college women (Tylka and Subich 2004) and low self-esteem is associated with body shame among exotic dancers (Downs et al 2006 Body comparison is also likely to predict body shame in the model (see path i). Canadian, Australian, and U.S. women who compared their bodies or body parts to others perceived as more attractive (i.e., upward social comparison), such as those who resemble the thin-ideal, experienced body image distress (Morrison et al 2004;Paxton et al 1999;Thompson et al 1999;van den Berg et al 2007).…”

Types of Pleasures Occurring through Paid Sexual Performances among Women Offering Escort Services

“…Being judged as bad, sex workers often get disrespectfully treated, both by intimates (Bradley, 2007) and by the society at large (Bruckert, & Chabot, 2010;Pryen, 1999). Some sex workers manage to maintain a good self-esteem in spite of this (Bernstein, 2007;Downs, James, & Cowan, 2006;Griffith, Mitchell, Hart, Adams, & Gu, 2012). However, many internalize this social perception that they are being bad and despicable, suffer a consequent loss of self-esteem and have to struggle to still maintain some good self-esteem (Benoit & Millar, 2001;Clouet, 2008;Orchard, Farr, Macphail, Wender & Young, 2012;Pryen, 1999;Sanders, 2004b).…”