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- Alleva, Jessica M., et al.
(författare)
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What can my body do vs. how does it look?: A qualitative analysis of young women and men's descriptions of their body functionality or physical appearance
- 2019
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Ingår i: Body Image. - : Elsevier BV. - 1740-1445. ; 31, s. 71-80
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to explore the themes that emerge when individuals are asked to describe their body functionality, and those that emerge when individuals are asked to describe their physical appearance. Data were gathered from undergraduate women and men's (N = 75, Mage = 20.66) responses to a writing exercise (Alleva et al., 2014), wherein they were either asked to describe their body functionality or their physical appearance. Through thematic analysis, six themes were identified from participants’ descriptions of their body functionality (ordered by frequency): (a) evaluating the functionality of the body, (b) positive body-self connection, (c) resilient body, (d) comparisons to the norm, (e) body behind the scenes, and (f) enjoyment of body functions. Five themes were identified from participants’ descriptions of their physical appearance (ordered by frequency): (a) comparisons to the norm, (b) evaluating the appearance of the body – own evaluations, (c) evaluating the appearance of the body – other people's evaluations, (d) the body project, and (e) appearance appreciation. Overall, the findings suggest that the themes that emerge when people are asked to reflect on their body functionality tend to be more positive, as they can be linked to positive embodiment, gratitude, and less self-objectification.
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- Holmqvist Gattario, Kristina, 1981, et al.
(författare)
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From negative to positive body image: Men's and women's journeys from early adolescence to emerging adulthood
- 2019
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Ingår i: Body Image. - : Elsevier BV. - 1740-1445. ; 28, s. 53-65
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study examined the developmental journeys of individuals who have overcome negative body image in early adolescence and developed positive body image on their way to emerging adulthood. Interviews were conducted with 15 women and 16 men (aged 26–27) recruited from a large longitudinal sample. Results demonstrated different patterns of positive body image development, but most participants had overcome their negative body image by age 18. Factors contributing to their negative body image in early adolescence included negative peer influence and discontent with life in general. Turning points included finding a new social context, experiencing agency and empowerment, and using cognitive strategies to improve body image. Characteristics of the participants’ current positive body image coincided with established features of positive body image; novel findings were that the women were more likely to think of positive body image as needing constant work to maintain and were also more likely to have a feminist identity, whereas the men were more likely to try to improve their body shape and perceive their body as resembling the ideal. In conclusion, body image interventions need to target not only matters related to physical appearance but also adolescents’ general sense of belonging, agency, and empowerment. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd
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- Holmqvist Gattario, Kristina, 1981, et al.
(författare)
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How Is Men's Conformity to Masculine Norms Related to Their Body Image? Masculinity and Muscularity Across Western Countries
- 2015
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Ingår i: Psychology of Men & Masculinity. - : American Psychological Association (APA). - 1524-9220 .- 1939-151X. ; 16:3, s. 337-347
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Previous research has suggested that men's conformity to masculine norms (CMN) is an important correlate of men's drive for muscularity. The present study aimed to further delineate the relationship between masculinity and men's body image by examining various dimensions of CMN in relation to various dimensions of men's body image (muscularity, leanness, and fitness) in a cross-national sample. Participants comprised young men from the United States (n = 192), the United Kingdom (n = 141), Australia (n = 160), and Sweden (n = 142). Multigroup path analyses showed that CMN was related to drive for muscularity, leanness, and fitness in all 4 countries, but there were differences across countries in which dimensions of CMN predicted men's body image. Whereas conformity to the masculine norm of winning was a salient predictor across the 4 countries, conformity to the norm of risk-taking was linked to Australian men's body image, and conformity to the norm of violence to British men's body image. The findings support previous research suggesting that men's endorsement of the male gender role plays a significant role in their desire for an ideal body, but the results uniquely document that this relationship may differ across countries.
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| 8. |
- Holmqvist Gattario, Kristina, 1981, et al.
(författare)
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"She's good at winning fashion shows". Young girls' play with Barbie: A qualitative and quantitative study
- 2016
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Ingår i: Appearance Matters 7, London, Storbritannien, 28-30 juni.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Previous research has shown that playing with gender stereotyped and sexualized toys, for example Barbie, may restrict young girls’ views of themselves and their future possibilities. In this study, we aimed to replicate and extend these findings by investigating the stories Swedish girls create about Barbie, and the relationships between playing with Barbie and girls’ views on future careers options and beliefs about physical abilities. As a comparison to Barbie, we used a newly developed doll called myIdolls (www.myidolls.se), with more realistic physical features than Barbie. Methods: Interviews with 30 girls, age 5-7, were conducted. Half of them played with a Barbie doll, and half of them played with a myIdolls doll. Interviews included telling a story about the doll. Participants were also asked about their views on future career options for themselves and for boys. Finally, questions focusing on participants’ beliefs about girls’ and boys’ physical abilities (e.g., running fast, lifting something heavy) were posed. Results: A thematic analysis of the story-telling data showed that the stories told by the Barbie group revealed a more stereotypical feminine role (involving features of appearance, shopping, and not being part of working life). The stories told by the myIdolls group, on the other hand, were more varied and imaginative. Multivariate analyses showed no effect of doll condition for future career options, although girls’ playing with Barbie reported slightly fewer future career options for themselves. Regardless condition, girls’ reported significantly fewer future career options for themselves than for boys, especially for male-dominated occupations. Participants also reported that girls were able to do fewer physical tasks than boys. Discussion: The results indicate that Barbie may encourage play that revolves around the stereotypical feminine role, whereas playing with a more realistic doll may encourage a wider range of play stories and imagination. While we did not replicate previous findings showing that Barbie may restrict young girls’ future occupational aspirations, there were tendencies in the expected direction. Also, considering that the Swedish cultural context is among the most gender equal worldwide, it is alarming that these young girls reported fewer future career options for themselves than for boys and that girls were able to do fewer physical tasks than boys.
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- Kling, Johanna, 1986, et al.
(författare)
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Swedish women’s perceptions of and conformity to feminine norms
- 2017
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. - : Wiley. - 0036-5564 .- 1467-9450. ; 58:3, s. 238-248
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The relatively high gender equality in the Swedish society is likely to exert an influence on gender role construction. Hence, the present research aimed to investigate Swedish women’s perceptions of and conformity to feminine norms. A mixed methods approach with two studies was used. In Study 1, young Swedish women’s gender role conformity, as measured by the Conformity to Feminine Norms Inventory 45 (CFNI-45), was compared to the results from previously published studies in Canada, the United States, and Slovakia. Overall, Swedish women displayed less conformity than their foreign counterparts, with the largest difference on the subscale Sexual fidelity. In Study 2, focus group interviews with young Swedish women added a more complex picture of feminine norms in the Swedish society. For instance the results indicated that Swedish women, while living in a society with a strong gender equality discourse, are torn between the perceived need to invest in their appearances and the risk of being viewed as non-equal when doing so. In sum, despite the fact that traditional gender roles are less pronounced in Sweden, gender role conformity is still a pressing issue. Since attending to the potential roles of feminine norms in women’s lives previously has been proposed to be useful in counseling and therapeutic work, the present research also offers valuable information for both researchers and practitioners.
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- Lunde, Carolina, 1979, et al.
(författare)
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”On and off the pitch”: Young female athletes and the balancing act between the performing and objectified body
- 2016
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Ingår i: Appearance Matters 7, London, Storbritannien, 28-30 juni..
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Participating in sport has many positive effects on physical and mental health. For adolescent girls, who are socialized into judging themselves based on physical appearance, it has even been suggested that the sport environment may serve as a protective factor against the development of body image concerns. On the other hand, some sports may expose young women to additional appearance pressures by a strong emphasis on the importance of leanness, weight, or aesthetics for performance. In this study, focus group interviews were used to shed light on young female athletes’ views and experiences in relation to the body in- and outside of sport. Methods: Seven focus group interviews with adolescent girls in Sweden (maximum five participants per group, 15-20 years of age) were done. Participants were part of a follow-up research project, focusing on sport participation and physical activity among adolescent girls. Focus group participants were selected on basis of their frequent involvement in their respective sport (i.e., soccer, swimming or equestrian, which are among the most popular sports for Swedish girls). Findings: A thematic analysis showed that while the girls raised many positive aspects of the body in relation to sport participation, there was also a conflict in the intersection between the sport culture (emphasizing physical performance) and the broader culture outside of sport (emphasizing physical appearance). Four themes were created to summarize the struggle to balance between these two cultures: 1) Agency and empowerment versus restricting gender stereotypes, 2) The performing body versus the objectified body, 3) Food as fuel versus source of shame, and 4) Appreciation of diversity versus appearance prejudice. Discussion: While engaging in sport seems to have many benefits for girls’ body image, for example by encouraging a sense of embodiment, young female athletes may find themselves in a constant balancing act between contradictory expectations and messages about the body. Empowering young female athletes by providing knowledge and support to help them balance norms and expectations “on and off the pitch” is an important objective.
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| 14. |
- Skoog, Therése, et al.
(författare)
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Study Protocol for the PRISE project: a longitudinal study on sexual harassment in Swedish middle schools
- 2019
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Ingår i: BMC Psychology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2050-7283. ; 7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Sexual harassment is a widespread problem with serious consequences for individuals and societies. It is likely that sexual harassment among peers has its main onset during the transition from late childhood to early adolescence, when young people enter puberty. However, there is a lack of systematic research on sexual harassment during this developmental period. Thus, there is very little information about the prevalence of sexual harassment during this important transition, its consequences, and how to effectively intervene against and prevent the problem. The primary objective of the described project, entitled Peer Relations In School from an Ecological perspective (PRISE), is to examine sexual harassment and its developmental correlates during the transition from late childhood to early adolescence.Methods The PRISE study has a longitudinal design over 3 years, in which a cohort of children ( N = 1000) and their main teachers ( N = 40) fill out questionnaires in grades 4, 5, and 6. The questionnaires assess aspects of peer sexual harassment and potential correlates including biological (e.g., pubertal development), psychosocial (e.g., resilience, self-image, peer relations), and contextual (e.g., classroom climate, norms) factors. In addition, we will examine school readiness and policies in relation to sexual harassment and collect register data to assess the number of reports of sexual harassment from the participating schools.Discussion The PRISE study will enable the researchers to answer fundamental, unresolved questions about the development of sexual harassment and thus advance the very limited understanding of sexual harassment during the transition from childhood to adolescence - a central period for physical, sexual, and social development. Due to the sensitive nature of the main research concepts, and the age of the participants, the ethical aspects of the research need particular attention. Ultimately, the hope is that the PRISE study will help researchers, policy makers, and practitioners develop, and implement, knowledge that may help in combating a major, current societal challenge and adverse aspect of young people’s developmental ecologies.
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