A Study on Sociocultural Attitudes and Appearance Management Behavior in accordance with Gender Role Identity

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to classify types in sense of gender role identity and to figure out the difference among sociocultural attitude, benefits of clothing pursuit, and appearance management behaviors by sense of gender role identity types. Questionnaires were administered to 455 people in their twenties and thirties living in Daegu and Kyoungbuk area. Data were analyzed by using frequency, factor analysis, credibility, X2-test, ANOVA, Duncan-test, and t-test. The findings are as follows. First, Men of androgyny group showed the highest rate of 38.5% followed by undifferentiation(22.9%), masculineness(21.0%), and feminineness(17.6%). Women of undifferentiation group showed the highest rate of 33.2% followed by feminineness (25.2%), androgyny(22.0%), and masculineness(19.6%). Second, factors of sociocultural attitude were internalization and recognition. Benefits of clothing pursuit consists of the factors such as consciousness of others, personality, and vogue pursuit. Factors of appearance management behaviors were dressing, skin management, plastic surgery management, weight management, health management, and hair management. Third, the result from the difference between sociocultural attitude and benefits of clothing pursuit by sense of gender role identity types, men of androgyny and feminineness showed highest in recognition while women of androgyny showed highest in internalization and recognition. The result of the difference in benefits of clothing pursuit by sense of gender role identity shows that both men and women of androgyny group have high tendency for being conscious of others, personality pursuit, and vogue pursuit while men of undifferentiation and masculineness have low interest in dressing in relationship with others. Fourth, the examination of the difference in appearance management behavior by sense of gender role identity types found men of androgyny group managed dressing, skin, weight, health and hair most while women dress and health most. Men of undifferentiation group managed dressing and weight least, while men of masculineness health, and men of feminineness hair least.