‘Policing’ the female body: understanding how constructions of femininity are regulated via social practices

Dann, C. and Smith, L.-A. (2017) ‘Policing’ the female body: understanding how constructions of femininity are regulated via social practices. Paper presented to: British Psychological Society (BPS) Psychology of Women Section Annual Conference 2017, Windsor, Berkshire, 12-14 July 2017.

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Conference Presentation (1MB)

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Abstract:	Purpose: We are primarily interested in how women are continuously required to discipline themselves in ‘body work’ focusing on the areas of pubic hair removal and the regulation of tattoos, to avoid the consequences of negative social interactions. Background: The pressure on females to conform to prevailing societal norms encompassing the idealised body of beauty is largely circumscribed via dieting regimes, continuous hair and facial maintenance and visible body attributes. Arguably, these notions of idealised beauty are malleable and can be generationally specific depending upon the cultural norms and social influences at a given time in history. Methods: Drawing from qualitative methodologies, we undertook one-to-one, semi-structured interviews with women. Our analysis uses a discursive-narrative approach. Conclusions: Our research projects have raised issues concerned with the ways in which ideals of femininity are continuously constructed in contemporary society and how these notions of femininity are both embodied and self-regulated (via surveillance) by women.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Femininity, surveillance, bodywork, culture, patriarchy
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology > HM621 Culture > HM636 Human body. Social aspects H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Women > HQ1101 Women. Feminism
Creators:	Dann, Charlotte and Smith, Lesley-Ann
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes:	University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology Faculties > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
Date:	13 July 2017
Date Type:	Publication
Event Title:	British Psychological Society (BPS) Psychology of Women Section Annual Conference 2017
Event Dates:	12-14 July 2017
Event Location:	Windsor, Berkshire
Event Type:	Conference
Language:	English
Status:	Published / Disseminated
Refereed:	No
Related URLs:	Conference
URI:	http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/9690

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