1-154 - Gender Norms, Gender Identity, and Appearance Concerns Across Development

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Young children develop a preoccupation with appearance as early as age three (Halim et al., 2018). Concern with appearance may be a precursor to making one’s self-worth contingent on attractiveness, which has been associated with psychological distress and disordered eating in young adults (Hyde et al., 2008), and, may contribute to body dissatisfaction and self-objectification. Researchers in this symposium investigate associations among gender norms, gender identity, and appearance-concerns (body dissatisfaction, self-objectification) in preschoolers through emerging adults. The following gaps are addressed: (a) the relation between gender identity and appearance-related concerns in young girls, and (b) the developmental implications of self-objectification and body dissatisfaction in boys and young men. Paper 1 examines high levels of appearance preoccupation in 3- to 7-year-old girls and whether early gender identity development includes a desire to look beautiful. Paper 2 reports that felt similarity to other girls and pressure to conform to gender norms are positively associated with endorsing appearance stereotypes in 6- to 11-year-old girls. Furthermore, perceived similarity to other girls is positively associated with body satisfaction when pressure to conform is low. Paper 3 considers self-objectification as a risk factor among sixth grade boys and documents differential correlates (i.e., gender identity) of objectification dependent upon source (e.g., male peers, female peers). Paper 4 explores positive associations among media consumption, body image, and gender norm adherence in 18- to 25-year-old males. Collectively, the four papers provide evidence that children through young adults are concerned with appearance, with implications for gender identity and psychological well-being.

Sub Unit

• Sex, Gender

Chairs

• Christia Spears Brown, University of Kentucky

• Shayla Holub, University of Texas at Dallas

Individual Presentations

• “Because You Have to be Pretty”: Children’s Gender Identity Development and Preoccupation with Physical Appearance - Presenting Author: May Ling Halim, California State University Long Beach; Non-Presenting Author: Brenda Celina Gutierrez, University of California at Santa Cruz; Non-Presenting Author: Danielle N. Bryant, California State University - Long Beach; Non-Presenting Author: Maria Arredondo, California State University - Long Beach; Non-Presenting Author: Kiyo Takesako, California State University - Long Beach

• Gender Typicality, Stereotypes, and Body Image in 6- to 11- Year Old Girls - Presenting Author: Flora Farago, Stephen F. Austin State University; Non-Presenting Author: Sarah Savoy, Stephen F. Austin State University

• Beyond Body Image: Exploring Social, Emotional, Academic, and Gender Identity Correlates of Male Objectification - Presenting Author: Matthew G Nielson, Arizona State University; Non-Presenting Author: Carol Lynn Martin, Arizona State University; Non-Presenting Author: Deborah Tolman, City University of New York (CUNY) Hunter College

• Superman & Average Joe: Analyses of Superhero Media Preferences & Gendered Outcomes in Young Men - Presenting Author: Lee W Essig, Bringham Young University; Non-Presenting Author: Sarah Coyne, Brigham Young University