Question

How do EACH of the three different levels of sexism (internalized, interpersonal and institutional/systemic) affect the disproportionate rates of eating/exercise disorders among women?

Answer 1

There are documented disparities in physical health behaviors and conditions, such as physical activity and obesity, with regard to both race/ethnicity and sexual orientation. One potential contributing factor toward poorer health might be internalization of negative societal attitudes toward one’s own minority group (internalized stigma).

The unequal distribution of health, called “health disparities,” has been described by Healthy People 2020 as “a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage,” such as institutionalized sexism, racism, and heterosexism.

Health disparities have further been documented within women across sexual orientation and race/ethnicity. Racial/ethnic minority women (e.g., Latina, Asian American, Native American) experience poorer health than white women; the most well-documented differences have been found between white and African American women, with African American women reporting lower vegetable intake and physical activity as well as greater rates of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

In systems of oppression (e.g., sexism, racism, heterosexism), several levels of stigma exist and may impact individual health, including institutional, interpersonal, and internalized.

Internalization of negative societal attitudes described above toward one’s own minority group (internalized stigma) may also negatively impact the health behaviors and conditions of marginalized communities. The most well-studied type of internalized stigma with regard to physical health behaviors and conditions is internalized racism among African American populations. Internalized racism has been linked to obesity and glucose levels, an important indicator of diabetes.

There are at least two types of internalized stigma that apply to LB ( lesbian and bisexual) women across race/ethnicity: internalized homophobia (antihomosexual attitudes toward the self) and internalized sexism (sexist attitudes toward the self). Internalized homophobia has been empirically linked to poorer psychological outcomes and greater alcohol use among women. Similarly, internalized sexism has been found to be related to poorer mental health among LB women.

It is also meaningful that many psychological traits and disorders resulted from internalized sexism, including anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, PTSD, and self-esteem. Accumulation of sexist experiences across their lives manifested in medical symptoms and illness. These included weight gain, lowered immunity as a result of increased stress, exhaustion, and maladaptive behavioral coping skills such as increased eating, smoking, and drinking.