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What is she eating? The effects of meal size on impressions of a female eater

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Abstract

How does what a woman eats affect others' impressions of her? One hundred and thirteen male and female college students, mainly White and middle class, watched a videotape of a female student eating one of four meals that varied in size and gender connotations. Results showed that meal size significantly affected ratings of the woman's social appeal. Thus, eating lightly appears to be socially advantageous for a woman, a phenomenon that may contribute to women's high rates of eating disorders.

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Author notes

  1. Diane Kobrynowicz

    Present address: University of Kansas, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, Lafayette College, 18042-1781, Easton, Pennsylvania

    Susan A. Basow & Diane Kobrynowicz

Authors
  1. Susan A. Basow
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  2. Diane Kobrynowicz
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Additional information

Portions of this paper were presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Boston, August 10–14, 1990.

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Basow, S.A., Kobrynowicz, D. What is she eating? The effects of meal size on impressions of a female eater. Sex Roles 28, 335–344 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00289889

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