A critical exploration of lesbian perspectives on eating disorders

Jones, Rebecca; Malson, Helen

doi:10.1080/19419899.2011.603349

Cited by 22 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Minority stress and internalised heterosexism is associated with poorer mental health outcomes (Cochran, Sullivan, & Mays, 2003;Herek & Garnets, 2007;Lewis, Derlega, Berndt, Morris, & Rose, 2002), and increased risk for suicide (King et al, 2008;Wichstrøm & Hegna, 2003). Sexual minority women also display higher levels of eating pathology and body dissatisfaction (Austin et al, 2009;Hadland, Austin, Goodenow, & Calzo, 2014), due to low levels of self-esteem, depression, and body shame from internalised heterosexism (Huxley, 2013;Jones & Malson, 2011).…”

Section: Involvement Withmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body image and sexual orientation: The experiences of lesbian and bisexual women

2017

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Western cultures promote a thin and curvaceous ideal body size that most women find difficult to achieve by healthy measures, resulting in poor body image and increased risk for eating pathology. Research focusing on body image in lesbian and bisexual women has yielded inconsistent results. In total, 11 lesbian and bisexual women were interviewed regarding their experiences with body image. Interpretative phenomenological analysis revealed that these women experienced similar mainstream pressures to conform to a thin body ideal. Furthermore, participants perceived additional pressure to conform to heteronormative standards of beauty since the normalisation of homosexuality and the increase in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender representation in mainstream media.

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Section: Involvement Withmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body image and sexual orientation: The experiences of lesbian and bisexual women

2017

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“…It is thought that the higher prevalence of disordered eating and body dissatisfaction among women is driven by the desire to appear attractive to men, however, research with lesbian women indicates pursuing a male partner is not necessary for body dissatisfaction to develop (Kozee and Tylka, 2006 ; Peplau et al, 2009 ). While lesbian culture is generally considered to be a feminist and body-positive social influence, and thus protective of disordered eating (e.g., by rejecting heteronormative behavior) (Kozee and Tylka, 2006 ), lesbians with diagnosed eating disorders report that issues related to sexuality (e.g., coming out) may negate the protectiveness of this positive social influence (Jones and Malson, 2013 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The relationship of sex and sexual orientation to self-esteem, body shape satisfaction, and eating disorder symptomatology

et al. 2013

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There is increasing interest in understanding what role, if any, sex and sexual orientation play in body dissatisfaction, its correlates to distress, and its relationship to disordered eating. The goals of the present study were to examine: (a) differences in sex and sexual orientation in internalization of societal pressure to modify physical appearance, components of body image dissatisfaction, self-esteem, and eating disorder symptomatology and (b) whether the internalization-eating disorder symptomatology was mediated by the different components of body image dissatisfaction and low self-esteem. The present data support several key trends in the literature: men generally reported less body dissatisfaction, internalization of socio-cultural standards of beauty, drive for thinness, and disordered eating, but a greater drive for muscularity than women; results also indicated that different components of body image dissatisfaction and low self-esteem partially mediated the relationship between internalization and eating disorder symptomatology. Gay men reported significantly more body dissatisfaction, internalization, eating disorder symptomatology, drive for thinness, and drive for muscularity than heterosexual men. Compared to heterosexual women, lesbians reported increased drive for muscularity, lower self-esteem, and lower internalization; however, they did not significantly differ on body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness or disordered eating. Correlation coefficients between body shape dissatisfaction and several aspects of mental distress were significantly larger for gay men than heterosexual men; the same coefficients did not differ between lesbian women and heterosexual women. Results of path analyses indicated that the relationship between internalization and disordered eating differs for gay and heterosexual men but not for lesbian and heterosexual women. These results call attention to lesbians as a generally understudied population.

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“…This differs from the possible regression to ‘childlike’ ways in both appearance and behaviour that may be otherwise assumed (Marlow ). Indeed, Jones and Malson suggest that the thin body of the anorexic woman may signify ‘the petite fragility, self‐denial and child‐like status of traditional femininity’ (Jones & Malson , p. 64). Yet the findings of this study suggest that the women, although physically fragile and dependent upon the workers for care and for feeding, were aware of a maternal‐style relationship that they acknowledged was temporary.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternalism: a healthy alliance for recovery and transition in eating disorder services

Wright

2015

Psychiatric Ment Health Nurs

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Accessible summary• The therapeutic relationship is pivotal to mental health nursing but very little is known about how it is experienced in adult eating disorder services.• This paper reports on research project which sought to discover how the therapeutic relationship is experienced between care workers and women with anorexia nervosa (AN) in an adult eating disorder service.• Both care workers and women spoke of a relationship that had similarities to the mother-daughter relationship, that it felt therapeutic and that it was in keeping with a professional and compassionate nursing approach.• These findings provide new insight. 'Maternalism' is seen as a positive, nurturing and transient relationship that ensures the safety of the person and promotes recovery and transition to eventual independence. AbstractThis paper reports on a U.K. interpretative phenomenological research study which aimed to explore the lived experience of the relationship between women with anorexia and their care workers in the context of a specialist eating disorder unit. Here, the concept of maternalism as a phenomenon occurring within the therapeutic relationship in specialist eating disorder units is discussed. Consideration is given to the parallel roles of the health care worker whose duty it is to protect, preserve life and to promote health and that of a mother/ guardian. Although seemingly simplistic, the comforting, soothing and nurturing techniques that are used by the workers to diffuse distress and help the person feel cared for, have many similarities to 'mothering'. Hence a maternalistic approach which provides a sense of security and nurturing can be a compassionate way to facilitate hope and a route out of their anorexia into recovery, in the same way that good parenting can facilitate maturation and independence.

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A critical exploration of lesbian perspectives on eating disorders

Cited by 22 publications

References 22 publications

Body image and sexual orientation: The experiences of lesbian and bisexual women

Body image and sexual orientation: The experiences of lesbian and bisexual women

The relationship of sex and sexual orientation to self-esteem, body shape satisfaction, and eating disorder symptomatology

Maternalism: a healthy alliance for recovery and transition in eating disorder services

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