Lipstick and Granola: Perceptions of Feminism

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Title: Lipstick and Granola: Perceptions of Feminism
Author: Mycah L Harrold
Faculty Sponsor: Debi Brannan; Joel Alexander
Abstract: The current study explored perceptions of feminists by comparing them to perceptions of non-feminist women using both a fictitious target woman and a measure of traditionally feminine and masculine traits. 40 undergraduate students (mean age of 23, S.D. = 7.18) were presented with one photograph of a young woman (dressed-up, or dressed down) and one paragraph (describing her as, among other things, a feminist or not) and then completed a measure of traditionally feminist traits. It was found that scores on this questionnaire were significantly different based on self-labeling, such that participants who were told the woman in the photograph self-labeled as a feminist perceived her to be more adhering to traditional feminist stereotypes. Participants also completed the Bem Sex Role Inventory (Bem, 1981) as they believed a “Typical Feminist” or a “Typical Woman” would. A “Typical Woman” was perceived to be fairly androgynous, while a “Typical Feminist” had more extreme masculine and feminine scores. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that the feminist stereotype may be changing and that “typical women” can also be perceived to possess traits in accordance with the feminist stereotype.
Description: The author would like to acknowledge and thank Dr. Joel Alexander for guidance and valuable suggestions regarding the design of the current study and Dr. Debi Brannan for her extensive support throughout the entire process. I would also like to thank Lindsey Thompson for her contribution.
Subject: Psychology; Social Psychology; Feminism; Stereotypes; Gender Roles
Rights: Western Oregon University Library has determined, as of 06/01/2023, this item is in copyright, which is held by the author. Users may use the item in accordance with copyright limitations and exceptions, including fair use. For other uses, please ask permission from the author.; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Type: Text
volume: 3
Date Published: 5/28/2014
Note: Debi Brannan; Joel Alexander
Identifier: pure/vol3/iss1/7
Language: eng