Sex-role ideology and body esteem among women

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between sex-role ideology and body image among women of various ages. Theorists have suggested that poor body image may be related to the experience of being female in contemporary society. This study attempted to objectively test this theory by determining whether or not feminist women, due to less restrictive notions of their rights and roles in contemporary society, might demonstratemore positive relationships with their bodies than women with more traditional attitudes.such a relationship (between feminist sex-role ideology and body esteem) would apply across age categories.Five hundred seventy-five female faculty, staff, retirees, and students completed a demographic profile, the Body Esteem Scale, and the Simplified Attitudes Toward Women Scale. Correlational analysis of data provided no support for the proposed hypotheses. Further study is recommended.Institute for WellnessThesis (M.S.