The F Word: Is Feminism Incompatible with Beauty and Romance?
- 1 June 2007
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Psychology of Women Quarterly
- Vol. 31 (2) , 125-136
Abstract
Three studies examined the predictive utility of heterosexual relationship concerns vis-à-vis support for feminism. Study 1 showed that beauty is perceived to be at odds with feminism, for both genders. The stereotype that feminists are unattractive was robust, but fully accounted for by romance-related attributions. Moreover, more attractive female participants (using self-ratings) showed decreased feminist orientations, compared with less attractive counterparts. Study 2 compared romantic conflict with the lesbian feminist stereotype and found more support for romantic conflict as a negative predictor of support for feminism and women's civil rights. Study 3 showed that beliefs about an incompatibility between feminism and sexual harmony negatively predicted support for feminism and women's civil rights. In concert, the findings indicate that a marriage between research on romantic relationships and the factors underlying sexism is overdue for understanding gender inequities.Keywords
This publication has 31 references indexed in Scilit:
- A model of (often mixed) stereotype content: Competence and warmth respectively follow from perceived status and competition.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2002
- Is There a Gender Difference in Strength of Sex Drive? Theoretical Views, Conceptual Distinctions, and a Review of Relevant EvidencePersonality and Social Psychology Review, 2001
- Sexual Motives, Gender, and Sexual BehaviorArchives of Sexual Behavior, 2000
- Gender-Stereotypic Images of Occupations Correspond to the Sex Segregation of EmploymentPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1999
- "I Am Not a Feminist, but...": College Women, Feminism, and Negative ExperiencesPolitical Psychology, 1996
- Development and Testing of the Attitudes Toward Feminism and the Women's Movement (FWM) ScalePsychology of Women Quarterly, 1994
- Women's Studies: A Study of Feminist Identity Development in WomenPsychology of Women Quarterly, 1991
- The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1986
- From Passive Acceptance to Active CommitmentThe Counseling Psychologist, 1985
- What is beautiful is good.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1972