The Impact of Role Models on Sexual Minority Women: A Qualitative Interview Study
2024

The Impact of Role Models on Sexual Minority Women

Sample size: 17 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Mann Khushi, Tesfamichael Salina, Rimes Katharine A., Meads Catherine

Primary Institution: King’s College London

Hypothesis

How do role models affect the self-esteem of sexual minority women?

Conclusion

Role models can significantly enhance the self-esteem and personal growth of sexual minority women.

Supporting Evidence

  • Participants identified the importance of role models in enhancing self-esteem and personal growth.
  • Many participants felt empowered by role models who shared similar characteristics.
  • The lack of diverse role models contributed to feelings of isolation among participants.

Takeaway

Having role models who are similar to you can help you feel better about yourself and grow as a person.

Methodology

Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 17 sexual minority women, and thematic analyses were used to identify key themes.

Potential Biases

Participants may have been influenced by perceived similarities with the interviewers, affecting their responses.

Limitations

The study had a small sample size and lacked diversity in participant demographics, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.

Participant Demographics

{"age_range":"19-55","mean_age":31,"gender":{"woman":15,"non-binary":2},"sexual_orientation":{"lesbian":4,"bisexual":5,"queer":3,"pansexual":3},"ethnicity":{"white_british":7,"white_welsh":1,"white_european":3,"mixed_black_caribbean":1,"british_indian":2,"asian":1}}

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3390/bs14121119

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