Exploring the conceptualization of body image for Asian American women.

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 296-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie N. Wong ◽  
Brian TaeHyuk Keum ◽  
Daniel Caffarel ◽  
Ranjana Srinivasan ◽  
Negar Morshedian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Asian American ◽  
Asian American Women ◽  
American Women

Asian American Women’s Body Image Experiences

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 479-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Brady ◽  
Aylin Kaya ◽  
Derek Iwamoto ◽  
Athena Park ◽  
Lauren Fox ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Body Dissatisfaction ◽  
Asian American ◽  
Identity Management ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Body ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Asian American Women ◽  
American Women ◽  
Women's Body Image

The purpose of our study was to explore Asian American women’s body image experiences from an intersectional framework. Utilizing grounded theory methodology, we sought to understand how gender and race intersect with unique experiences of oppression to contribute to body dissatisfaction among Asian American women. Twenty Asian American undergraduate women born in the United States participated in semi-structured interviews. The core category “body image” was composed of attitudes and perceptions about body weight, shape, and size; facial features (e.g., eye size); and skin complexion or tone. Five categories emerged that informed the body image experiences of Asian American women: (1) navigating cultural beauty norms, (2) experiences of sexism and racism, (3) parental influences, (4) peer influences, and (5) identity management processes. Each of these categories appeared to have both positive and negative consequences for appearance evaluation, ranging from self-consciousness to confidence. Participants also described coping strategies for managing these experiences. We encourage psychologists and clinicians to consider culture-specific beauty standards for Asian American women as well as salient racial and cultural factors (e.g., perceived discrimination and biculturative stress) that may influence body image beliefs. Our results offer a new model for understanding Asian American women’s body dissatisfaction as rooted in experiences of racism and sexism. Online slides for instructors who want to use this article for teaching are available on PWQ' s website at http://journals.sagepub.com/page/pwq/suppl/index

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