2013/01/07 by Caroline Huxley, Victoria Clarke, Emma Halliwell · 1 citation
Psychology · Health Professions · Medicine · #Eating Disorders and Behaviors #Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies #Obesity and Health Practices #Dieting #Lesbian #Human sexuality #Sociocultural evolution #Thematic analysis #Psychology #Qualitative research #Gender studies #Social psychology #Social pressure #Resistance (ecology) #Developmental psychology #Sociology #Medicine #Obesity #Weight loss
paper · doi:10.1177/1359105312468496
openalex publication_date 2013/01/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11
Heterosexual women in Western cultures are known to experience body image concerns, dieting and disordered eating as a result of intense social pressures to be thin. However, it is theorised that lesbian and bisexual women belong to a subculture that is 'protective' of such demands. Fifteen non-heterosexual women were interviewed about their experiences of social pressure. Thematic analysis of their accounts suggests that such theorising may be inaccurate, because these lesbian and bisexual women did not feel 'protected' from social pressures and experienced body dissatisfaction. While they might attempt to resist thin idealisation, resistance is not centred around their sexuality.