profile

Vanessa Cecil
PhD student
Washington Singer 301
Washington Singer Laboratories, University of Exeter, Perry Road, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK
Overview
I am conducting PhD research under the supervision of Drs. Louise Pendry, Katherine Ashbullby and Jessica Salvatore (in the US) researching the effects of age stigma on older women who find they are subject to conflicting societal messages about the changes in their appearance as they age.
When ageism, sexism and lookism intersect women face a triple jeopardy. They find themselves expected to both age gracefully (never be 'Mutton dressed as lamb') and simultaneously to remain forever young (do not 'Let yourself go'). I am interested in how they negotiate these pressures, the prevailing stereotypes, and stigmas and whether online support helps or hinders the process.
Broad research specialisms:
- Gendered Ageism,
- Stereotyping,
- Stigma concealment
- Appearance,
- Online communities,
- Social identity,
- Intersectionality,
- Aesthetic labour.
Qualifications
MSc Psychological Research Methods (Distinction) (Exeter)
BA Social Science and Art (Distinction) (Exeter)
Research group links
Research
Research interests
Publications
Cecil, V., Pendry, L. F., Ashbullby, K., & Salvatore, J. (2022). Masquerading their way to authenticity: Does age stigma concealment benefit older women? Journal of Women & Aging, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2022.2128245
Cecil, V., Pendry, L. F., Salvatore, J., Mycroft, H., & Kurz, T. (2021). Gendered ageism and gray hair: must older women choose between feeling authentic and looking competent? Journal of Women & Aging, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2021.1899744
Cecil, V., Pendry, L., Kurz, T., & Salvatore, J. (2018). Women’s grey hair as an abomination of the body: Conceal and pass, or reveal and subvert. In Barak-Brandes, S. & Kama, A. (Eds.) Feminist Interrogations of Women's Head Hair: Crown of Glory and Shame. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429505430-9
Publications
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Publications by category
Journal articles
Publications by year
2021
Vanessa_Cecil Details from cache as at 2023-09-24 05:10:08