Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans appearance and embodiment: A critical review of the psychological literature

Clarke, Victoria; Hayfield, Nikki; Huxley, Caroline

Abstract

This paper provides a review of the psychological literature on LGBT appearance and embodiment. Research on ‘outsider’ perceptions of LGBT appearance and embodiment has focused on the links between perceptions of physical attractiveness and homosexuality, and physical attractiveness and transsexuality, and on the detection of homosexuality from visual cues. ‘Insider’ research has examined LGBT people’s body image, and appearance and adornment practices in non-heterosexual communities. We identify three major limitations of LGBT appearance research: (i) the reliance on a gender inversion model of homosexuality; (ii) the marginalisation of bisexual appearance and embodiment; and (iii) the focus on trans as a diagnostic category and the resulting exclusion of the subjectivities and lived experiences of trans people.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2012
• Deposit Date: Dec 10, 2012
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 15, 2016
• Journal: Psychology of Sexualites Review
• Print ISSN: 2047-1467
• Publisher: The British Psychological Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 51-70
• Keywords: adornment, body image, clothing, gaydar, gender inversion, homophobia, lesbian, bisexual, psychology, literature
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/946712
• Publisher URL: http://www.bpsshop.org.uk/Psychology-of-Sexualities-Review-Vol-3-No-1-Autumn-2012-P2592.aspx
• Contract Date: Nov 15, 2016