Every Woman is Beautiful in Her Own Way: A Qualitative Study on Broad Conceptualization of Beauty in Thai Female Undergraduates
Keywords:
Broad conceptualization of beauty, positive body image, qualitative research, female undergraduatesAbstract
The present study aimed to study the concept of broadly conceptualizing beauty perceived by female adolescents who had positive body image and to synthesize the broad conceptualization of beauty themes in Thai context. The qualitative study was conducted using in-depth interview technique with female undergraduates. Seventeen key informants who was classified as high positive body image were recruited for semi-structured interview. Data were analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis. ‘Broad conceptualization of beauty’ perceived by Thai adolescents were categorized by 3 themes and 12 sub-themes including 1) external beauty: broad view of physical beauty, body-care, personal dressing styles 2) intrapersonal characteristics: self-confidence, self-acceptance, inner soul and spirituality, intelligence and 3) desirable interpersonal characteristics: nice gestures, positive communal traits, positive attitude towards others, optimism, and positive emotions. The results can be beneficial guideline to involved health professions as well as relevant organizations for treating body image problems and enhancing healthy body image by broadening the conceptualization of beauty. These findings also suggest the conceptual framework of broad conceptualization of beauty contributing to scale development and future studies in Thai women.
References
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2021). One size fits all? What counts as quality practice in (reflexive) thematic analysis? Qualitative Research in Psychology, 18(3), 328-352. https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2020.1769238
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2022, Feb 25). Quality in reflexive TA research: Should someone else check my coding? https://www.thematicanalysis.net/faqs/
Denzin, N. K. (1978). Sociological methods: A sourcebook. McGraw-Hill.
Frisén, A., & Holmqvist, K. (2010). What characterizes early adolescents with a positive body image? A qualitative investigation of Swedish girls and boys. Body Image, 7(3), 205-212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2010.04.001
Holmqvist, K., & Frisén, A. (2010). Body dissatisfaction across cultures: Findings and research problems. European Eating Disorders Review: The Professional Journal of the Eating Disorders Association, 18(2), 133-146. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.965
Holmqvist, K., & Frisén, A. (2012). I bet they aren’t that perfect in reality: Appearance ideals viewed from the perspective of adolescents with a positive body image. Body Image, 9(3), 388-395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2012.03.007
Junqueira, A. C. P., Tylka, T. L., Almeida, S. D. S., Costa, T. M. B., & Laus, M. F. (2021). Translation and validation of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the broad conceptualization of beauty scale with
Brazilian women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 45(3), 351-371. https://doi.org/10.1177/03616843211013459
Keery, H., van den Berg, P., & Thompson, J. K. (2004). An evaluation of the tripartite influence model of body dissatisfaction and eating disturbance with adolescent girls. Body Image, 1(3), 237-251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2004.03.001
Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic Inquiry. Beverly Hills, Calif: Sage Publications.
Luo, Y. J., Niu, G. F., Kong, F. C., & Chen, H. (2019). Online interpersonal sexual objectification experiences and Chinese adolescent girls' intuitive eating: The role of broad conceptualization of beauty and body appreciation. Eating Behaviors, 33, 55-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2019.03.004
McHugh, T. L. F., Coppola, A. M., & Sabiston, C. M. (2014). I’m thankful for being Native and my body is part of that: The body pride experiences of young Aboriginal women in Canada. Body Image, 11(3), 318-327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.05.004
Menzel, J. E., Sperry, S. L., Small, B., Thompson, J. K., Sarwer, D. B., & Cash, T. F. (2011). Internalization of appearance ideals and cosmetic surgery attitudes: A test of the tripartite influence model of body image. Sex Roles, 65(7), 469-477. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-011-9983-7
Parker, S., Nichter, M., Nichter, M., Vuckovic, N., Sims, C., & Ritenbaugh, C. (1995). Body image and weight concerns among African American and White adolescent females: Differences that make a difference. Human Organization, 54(2), 103-114. https://doi.org/10.17730/humo.54.2.06h663745q650450
Rongmuang, D., Corte, C., McCreary, L. L., Park, C. G., Miller, A., & Gallo, A. (2011). Salience of physical appearance characteristics among young women in Thailand. Body Image, 8(4), 396-403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2011.05.004
Sasitorn, P. (2010). Acceptance and denial of the ladies socialization process of female youth in the modern Thai schools: A case study of Rajinibon School (Master’s thesis). Chulalongkorn University. http://cuir.car.chula.ac.th/handle/123456789/19955. [in Thai]
Swami, V., Frederick, D. A., Aavik, T., Alcalay, L., Allik, J., Anderson, D., Andrianto, S., Arora, A., Brännström, Å., Cunningham, J., Danel, D., Doroszewicz, K., Forbes, G. B., Furnham, A., Greven, C. U., Halberstadt, J., Hao, S., Haubner, T., Sup, C., … Zivcic-Becirevic, I. (2010). The Attractive Female Body Weight and Female Body Dissatisfaction in 26 Countries Across 10 World Regions: Results of the International Body Project I. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36(3), 309–325. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167209359702
Thompson, J. K., & Stice, E. (2001). Thin-ideal internalization: Mounting evidence for a new risk factor for body-image disturbance and eating pathology. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 10(5), 181-183. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.00144
Tiggemann, M. (2015). Considerations of positive body image across various social identities and special populations. Body Image, 14, 168-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.03.002
Triandis, H. C. (1995). Individualism and collectivism. Boulder, Colo: Westview Press.
Tylka, T. L. (2018). Overview of the field of positive body image. In E. A. Daniels, M. M. Gillen, & C. H. Markey (Eds.), Body Positive: Understanding and Improving Body Image in Science and Practice (pp. 6–33). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108297653.002
Tylka, T. L., & Iannantuono, A. C. (2016). Perceiving beauty in all women: Psychometric evaluation of the Broad Conceptualization of Beauty Scale. Body Image, 17, 67-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.02.005
Tylka, T. L., & Wood-Barcalow, N. L. (2015a). What is and what is not positive body image? Conceptual foundations and construct definition. Body Image, 14, 118-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.04.001
Tylka, T. L., & Wood-Barcalow, N. L. (2015b). The Body Appreciation Scale-2: Item refinement and psychometric evaluation. Body Image, 12, 53-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.09.006
Wheeler, L., & Kim, Y. (1997). What is beautiful is culturally good: The physical attractiveness stereotype has different content in collectivistic cultures. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 23(8), 795-800. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167297238001
Wood-Barcalow, N. L., Tylka, T. L., & Augustus-Horvath, C. L. (2010). But I like my body: Positive body image characteristics and a holistic model for young-adult women. Body Image, 7(2), 106-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2010.01.001
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Journal of Behavioral Science for Development
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
