Abstract
This paper reports on a study that investigated body-image perceptions and the beauty practices, such as skin lightening, black-henna application and purposively induced weight gain, of young, educated Sudanese women. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 female students from universities across Khartoum. Participants came from Christian and Muslim families and, regardless of their origin, were all city-residents. The interviews were conducted and transcribed in Arabic, translated into English, and examined using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that beauty-related behaviours serve various potential purposes, including improvement in economic standing, increased social esteem and the preservation of a strong Sudanese national identity. Although the data was collected in 2006, recent evidence shows these practices remain of importance to young women; there remains a need to explore the range of drivers behind such practices and how best to address their harmful impacts (Yousif et. al 2014).
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 40-47 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Diversity and Equality in Health and Care |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 26 Feb 2015 |
Keywords
- Sudan
- Socio-cultural
- Body image
- Beauty practices
- Health risks
- qualitative research