UNIMELB_ANGELOPOULOS-Felicity_VYT-LOCAL-2024

This presentation is a summary of my PhD overview, and was created as part of the 2024 Visualise Your Thesis competition.

My research focuses on a relatively understudied community – lesbian women. I am conducting a range of quantitative and qualitative studies that explore the body image of these women and the anti-fat attitudes which exist in the community. The aim of this research is to interrogate a number of longstanding, appearance-related stereotypes affecting lesbian women, which have acted as obstacles towards research efforts with the community. Developing a deeper understanding of lesbian women’s attitudes towards their own bodies and their community is essential in not only confronting negative, ingrained stereotypes about lesbian women, but also in building the necessary foundations for future clinical intervention research.

TRANSCRIPT

Lesbian women experience ongoing discrimination through the form of harmful, appearance-related stereotypes.

Concerningly, these stereotypes have seeped into research, with academics relying on outdated theories to support their work.

But these theories are unsubstantiated. Lesbian women, like all women, experience appearance-related pressures from numerous sources.

We argue that these stereotypes are driving the lack of research on lesbian women, by creating a false perception that everything is okay.

This is highly concerning, given the severity of disordered eating behaviours found within the community.

I aim to challenge these stereotypes by exploring the body image of lesbian women, whilst promoting research efforts towards this community. Above all, I hope to amplify the voices of these women who continue to be neglected due to deeply ingrained stereotypes.