Body image and self-esteem: A comparison of African-American and Caucasian women

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess how women's perceptions of themselves and their bodies vary by race/ethnicity and class. One hundred and fourteen female students (45 African-American, 69 Caucasian) from two Connecticut community colleges were surveyed. We predicted that African-American women will report higher levels of self-esteem and a more positive body image than Caucasian women. These predictions were supported. Also as predicted, African-American women report possessing more masculine traits and that men of their race tend less to prefer thin, small figured women. Controlling for these "protective factors" substantially reduces the relationship between race/ethnicity and self-concept. African-American women's racial identity and exposure to the dominant culture did not relate to self-concept measures.