Award Date

1-1-2007

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

First Committee Member

Marta Meana

Number of Pages

96

Abstract

Submission to the desires of others and an objectified relationship to one's body have been identified as two major components of femininity ideology. Research suggests that over-adherence to feminine ideals may result in reduced well-being, the extremes of which can be depression, anxiety, eating disordered behavior, low self-esteem and academic performance deficits. This study examined the (1) extent to which adherence to femininity ideology, as defined by the aforementioned two components, was related to well-being and academic performance and, (2) ethnic differences in adherence to femininity ideology and its correlates in 162 college women, 80 of which self-identified as Hispanic American, and 82 as European American. Results indicated that adherence to both self-abnegation and objectification of one's body was negatively related to well-being. Furthermore, Hispanic women scored higher than European American women on both aspects of femininity ideology and there were no group differences in the extent to which adherence to either component of femininity ideology were associated with well-being deficits. Acculturation was not significantly related to either measure of femininity ideology or to measures of well-being, with the exception of a small negative association between acculturation and depression. Results are interpreted to indicated that Hispanic may be at higher risk for well-being difficulties as a consequence of their adherence to hyperfemininity.

Keywords

Adherence; American; College; Correlates; European; Femininity; Hispanic; Ideology; Psychological; Women

Controlled Subject

Clinical psychology; Women's studies; Hispanic Americans--Study

File Format

pdf

File Size

2631.68 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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