Negotiating Gender Roles to Enact Body Appreciation and Positive Embodiment

Abstract

In American culture, men experience greater body appreciation and less body dissatisfaction than women. To help explain these findings, this chapter examines theory and data concerning the relationship between gender role expectations and women’s and men’s embodiment. Data show that traditional feminine roles promote a focus on appearance and self-objectification that is negatively associated with body empowerment, while traditional masculine roles promote more functional body experiences associated with greater embodiment. This chapter discusses how gender roles can be changed to promote positive embodiment. According to social role theory, traditional gender roles result from, and help support, a gender unequal society. Feminism has led to some change in gender roles, but more change is needed, such as encouragement of caretaking among boys and men and instrumental traits and roles for girls and women. There is also the need to render people less vulnerable to body image pressures, supporting body empowerment during development.