The Effect of Hair Loss on Women's Identity Performances
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“PETALS FALLING OFF A ROSE”: THE EFFECT OF HAIR LOSS ON WOMEN’S IDENTITY PERFORMANCES A Dissertation presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School University of Missouri-Columbia In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by PRIYA DUA Dr. Joan Hermsen, Dissertation Supervisor MAY 2011 © Copyright by Priya Dua 2011 All Rights Reserved The undersigned, appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School, have examined the dissertation entitled “PETALS FALLING OFF A ROSE”: THE EFFECT OF HAIR LOSS ON WOMEN’S IDENTITY PERFORMANCES Presented by Priya Dua A candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy And hereby certify that in their opinion it is worthy of acceptance. Professor Joan Hermsen Professor Wayne Brekhus Professor Ibitola Pearce Professor Mary Jo Neitz To my parents. Thank you for your love, support, patience, and always being there for me. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Dr. Joan Hermsen for being a fantastic mentor to me throughout this process. Thank you for always pushing me beyond my comfort zone so that I can grow personally and professionally. Your infinite patience, ability to resolve the most difficult problems, and unwavering support helped this project come to fruition. You always seem to know when I need a nudge in a right direction and when to step back and let me run with my ideas. You have made me a better scholar by teaching me how to take intellectual ownership of my work and have confidence in my abilities. Thanks to Dr. Wayne Brekhus for being enthusiastic about my paper on women’s hair loss in your seminar on Culture, Identity, and Interaction because it helped me realize what I wanted to write my dissertation about. Your unique insight into and boundless curiosity about the world amazes and inspires me. You have taught me to question what we take for granted and appreciate the mundane in a new way. Thanks to Dr. Tola Pearce, for reminding me to think about the broader implications of my work and teaching me to always remember that we are interconnected. Thanks to Dr. Mary Jo Neitz, for nurturing my voice by providing such a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere in your seminar on Feminist Research and encouraging me to think deeply, carefully, and critically. You taught me that qualitative researchers have a responsibility—ethical, moral, and personal—to the people that let us into their lives. I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Amit Prasad for introducing me to the joys of sociological theory and stimulating my intellectual curiosity by teaching me the importance (and the benefits) of experimenting with theory. Dr. Debra Oliver deserves special recognition for inviting me to work with her and her research team, for patiently answering all of my questions, and allowing me to observe when it means to be a sociologist doing applied research. I appreciate all the practical advice you have given ii me on how to make a successful transition from graduate school to researcher. Special thanks to Dr. Marilyn James-Kracke for taking the time out of her busy schedule to talk to me about the relationship between nutrition and hair loss. Thanks to Dr. Linda Lindsay, a professor at Maryville University of St. Louis for being a longtime friend and colleague. You have been a great mentor to me over the years. Thank you for introducing me to the wonders of sociology when I was an undergraduate. Without you, I might never have gone to graduate school! Thanks to Veronica Medina for being a wonderful and true friend. You have always been there for me, cheering me on and supporting me throughout this journey, offering support when needed, and patiently listening to me share my triumphs and frustrations with you over our lunches. You have made this experience unforgettable. I hope that our friendship continues to become deeper, stronger, and broader in the future. Thanks to Todd Platts for being a great friend since our days in Culture and Mass Media, for sharing your unique perspective of the world with me, and being a great storyteller. Thanks for taking time to read and offering invaluable feedback on drafts of dissertation chapters. Your unique blend of humor, down-to-earth personality, and support has made this experience so much more fun and less stressful than I thought it would be. I would also like to thank Mark Youngblood for his friendship and our thought- provoking early morning conversations. Veronica, Todd, and Mark, thank you for making our department seem like home to me. Special thanks go to Vicki Kalabokes of the National Alopecia Areata Foundation and Thea Chassin of Bald Girls Do Lunch for not only helping me recruit participants for this project but more importantly for their incredible work in increasing public awareness of alopecia and supporting individuals with alopecia. The women that participated in this project deserve special recognition sharing their stories with me and providing a glimpse into what it means to be a woman with hair loss. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables ................................................................................................................. vii Abstract .......................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter One Introduction ............................................................................................... 3 Research Questions ................................................................................................... 5 Preview of Chapters .................................................................................................... 6 Chapter Two Theoretical Frameworks ............................................................................ 9 The Interaction Order .................................................................................................10 Social Interaction and Impression Management .........................................................16 Disciplining Bodies .....................................................................................................19 Realigning Appearance and Identity ..........................................................................23 Appearance Work in the American Context................................................................25 Taking Care of the Self ..............................................................................................27 Chapter Three Methodology ..........................................................................................34 Recruiting Participants ...............................................................................................34 Interview Style and My Presentation of Self ...............................................................37 Email Interviews .........................................................................................................40 Data Analysis .............................................................................................................43 Reflexivity ..................................................................................................................44 Description of Sample ................................................................................................45 Chapter Four "You Really Appreciate the Recovery": Women with Temporary Hair Loss ......................................................................................................................................49 Anticipating and Reacting to Hair Loss .......................................................................51 Appearance Strategies ..............................................................................................55 A New Attitude ...........................................................................................................62 Chapter Summary and Conclusion ............................................................................66 iv Chapter Five "Hair Doesn’t Determine Destiny" or Does It?: Women with Thinning Hair ......................................................................................................................................68 Looking Professional and Acceptable ........................................................................69 Looking Presentable ..................................................................................................77 Chapter Summary and Conclusion ............................................................................84 Chapter Six "It's Something That…Controls My Life": Women with Alopecia .................86 Gender, Femininity, and Beauty .................................................................................88 Normality and Health .................................................................................................91 Hiding Hair Loss ........................................................................................................96 Telling Others ..........................................................................................................103 Being Discredited .....................................................................................................107 Chapter Summary and Conclusion ..........................................................................111 Chapter Seven Analysis and Discussion .....................................................................113 Summary of Findings ...............................................................................................113