African American body image: Identity and physical self-acceptance

This study addresses the sodal and community factors affecting acceptance of African American ethnic featitres (physical racial identity). The primary research questions considered: 1) whether there were sex differences in the acceptance of African American ethnic features (skin color, facial features, hair characteristics, etc.) and 2) identification of social factors in the acceptance of African American ethnic featitres. The plysical racial identity subscale of the African American Racial Identity Scale (Thompson Sanders 2003) was used to measure acceptance of African American ethnic features. Results indicated that African American acceptance of the range of physical attributes noted among those of African descent is high. Differences in preferences for African specific features by sex were minimal. Male ratings of attractiveness mere more likely to be affected by income and female ratings by racial socialisation. The results suggest a lessened significance of European physical features among African Americans.