Sex roles and body image

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Gender Studies
• Body Image Research

Background:

• Gender identity influences psychological well-being.
• Previous research suggests a link between traditional gender roles and body image concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the hypothesis that sex-typed women have less favorable body image than androgynous or cross-sexed women.
• To examine the relationship between gender identity classifications and body esteem in female undergraduates.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ) and the Body Esteem Scale (BES).
• Assessed 121 Euro-American female undergraduate psychology students.
• Classified participants into gender identity groups: Sex-typed, Androgynous, Cross-sexed, and Undifferentiated.

Main Results:

• Sex-typed and Undifferentiated women scored significantly lower on Sexual Attractiveness, Weight Concern, and Physical Condition than Androgynous and Cross-sexed women.
• Significant differences in mean body image profiles were found between these groups.
• Sex-typed women differed significantly from Androgynous women but not Cross-sexed women in body image profiles.

Conclusions:

• Gender identity significantly impacts women's body esteem.
• Traditional sex-typing and undifferentiated gender identities are associated with poorer body image.
• Androgynous and cross-sexed identities may be linked to more positive body image perceptions.