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An exploration of bisexual, lesbian, and heterosexual women's body dissatisfaction, and body hair and make-up practices

Hayfield, Nikki; Halliwell, Emma; Clarke, Victoria

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Authors

Emma Halliwell Emma.Halliwell@uwe.ac.uk
Associate Professor in Psychology

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Dr Victoria Clarke Victoria.Clarke@uwe.ac.uk
Associate Professor in Qualitative & Critical Psychology



Abstract

Body image pressures for heterosexual women are well established. However, lesbian body image is less well understood, while bisexual women have largely been overlooked with the psychological literature. Further, women's investment in ‘traditional’ appearance practices associated with femininity are underexplored. The current study explored differences between 472 heterosexual, lesbian, and bisexual women on measures of body satisfaction, body hair practices, and cosmetics use. While there were no significant differences between body satisfaction scores, lesbian and bisexual women had more positive attitudes to body hair, and were less likely to remove hair from particular parts of their bodies, than heterosexual women. Cosmetics use was highest among heterosexual women, significantly lower among bisexual women, and lowest among lesbians. We argue that these results highlight the importance of exploring the distinctiveness of bisexual, lesbian and heterosexual women's appearance concerns and appearance practices.

Citation

Hayfield, N., Halliwell, E., & Clarke, V. (2017). An exploration of bisexual, lesbian, and heterosexual women's body dissatisfaction, and body hair and make-up practices. Psychology of Sexualities Section Review, 8(2), 55-67

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 25, 2017
Publication Date Dec 31, 2017
Deposit Date Aug 1, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Psychology of Sexualities Section Review
Print ISSN 2047-1467
Publisher British Psychological Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 8
Issue 2
Pages 55-67
Keywords appearance, bisexuality, body image, LGBT+, make-up, sexuality
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/876810
Publisher URL https://shop.bps.org.uk/publications/publication-by-series/psychology-of-sexualities-review/psychology-of-sexualities-review-vol-8-no-2-winter-2017.html

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