Sex, Sex-Role, Facial Attractiveness, Social Self-Esteem and Interest in Clothing

Abstract

This study investigated the relationships among sex, sex-role, perceived facial attractiveness, social self-esteem, and interest in clothing. Women, compared to men, indicated greater interest in clothing, while there were no significant sex differences on scores of perceived facial attractiveness or social self-esteem. Androgynous women scored higher than the feminine and undifferentiated women on their perceived facial attractiveness, social self-esteem, and interest in clothing. This finding supported the presupposition that androgynous women perceive themselves as having higher scores on social effectiveness and interest in clothing. Scores on perceived facial attractiveness were significantly related to women's and men's scores on social self-esteem and interest in clothing, implying that one's interest in clothing might be interpreted as a form of social skill which is associated with one's social self-esteem and one's facial attractiveness.