The Effect of Feminist Identity on Women's Conceptualizations of Beauty and Body-Based Stigma: A Conceptual Replication and Extension
Abstract
Research in the area of feminist identity and body image has produced mixed results. Some evidence suggests that feminist identity may be protective against negative body image in women. The current study was an independent partial conceptual replication and extension of Roy et al. (2007) and examines the experimental effect of feminist self-identification on forms of internalized body stigma. After completion of baseline measures, undergraduate women (N = 149) were assigned to one of three experimental conditions and read about either a positive portrayal of feminists, negative portrayal of feminists, or non-feminist-related topic. Participants then completed measures of feminist self-identification, endorsement of feminist ideology, body shame, anti-fat attitudes, and broad conceptualization of beauty. Overall, the hypotheses were not supported – levels of feminist self-identification and scores on the internalized body stigma variables did not significantly vary across conditions. Discussion centers on the study’s limitations and future directions for feminist self-identification research.