Gender Role Conformity in College Women: Psychological Consequences of Feminity
Date of Award
3-27-2017
Document Type
Undergraduate Capstone Project
Degree Name
Psy.D.
Organizational Unit
Graduate School of Professional Psychology
First Advisor
Laura Meyer
Second Advisor
Thomas Barret
Third Advisor
Dina Matic
Keywords
College women, Feminist self-identification, Self-esteem, Interpersonal submissiveness
Abstract
The aim of this study was to build upon past research on how contemporary college women are psychologically affected by gender role expectations, with specific interest in the expectation of being interpersonally submissive. Participants were 191 female undergraduate students who completed an online survey consisting of three empirically-validated instruments that measure facets of feminine gender-role conformity, elements of interpersonal submissiveness, and self-esteem. Results indicated that pursuing a thin body ideal, investment in appearance, sexual fidelity, and all dimensions of interpersonal submissiveness were negatively correlated with self-esteem. A regression analysis revealed that two dimensions of gender role norms, together with feminist self-identification, account for 45% of the variance in self-esteem for this population. Finally, potential risk and protective factors for self-esteem in college women were identified in the study. The potential protective factors included rejecting the following gender norms: judging the self by external standards, inhibiting self-expression and action to avoid conflict, presenting oneself as compliant in order live up to gender role expectations, pursuing a thin body ideal, and keeping sexual intimacy contained within one committed relationship. Practical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.
Extent
29 pages
Recommended Citation
Shlachter, Jenna, "Gender Role Conformity in College Women: Psychological Consequences of Feminity" (2017). Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects. 226.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/capstone_masters/226