Modern Malaysian-based students perceive Southeast Asian jungle environments as places of high risk and discomfort
- Authors: Loft, Marisa , Lee, Christina , Tagg, Brendon , Loo, Jasmine
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ecopsychology Vol. 8, no. 1 (2016), p. 35-44
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- Description: While the interaction between people and their environments has long been a focus of psychological research, there is need for more understanding of how non-Westerners relate to natural and urban environments, including areas of dense jungle. For this study we conducted focus group discussions with 19 individuals from the urban Southeast Asian city of Kuala Lumpur and 19 individuals from the rural Malaysian state of Terengganu centered on their experiences of both urban and natural environments. Three themes relating to the natural and urban settings' potential to promote a sense of restoration emerged, namely: "risk perception," "comfort," and "place attachment." While individual preferences varied, participants from both settings described a strong sense of dependence on the conveniences of the modern world. Elements from within each environment, sociocultural factors, and the temporal dimension seemed important for determining whether the environment was considered restorative. In this regard, these participants' views of the natural environment seem broadly analogous to those of people living in major Western metropolises such as Chicago, New York City, or London. A new nonlinear approach to understanding restoration in tropical environments is proposed. Key Words: Urban environments - Natural environments - Preference - Restoration - Place attachment - Risk perception - Comfort. © Copyright 2016, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2016.
Cultural values and higher education choices: Chinese families
- Authors: Lee, Christina , Morrish, Sussie
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Marketing Journal Vol. 20, no. 1 (2012), p. 59-64
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- Description: Research on the marketing of higher education institutions has mainly been concerned about the selection criteria used in the decision making process, this research fills a gap in the literature by exploring how in-grained cultural values influence a Chinese student's decision to study abroad. Twenty interviews were conducted among participants who were in the process of deciding on higher education abroad. Nine of the participants were Chinese parents, and eleven were students. The themes which emerged from the interviews are discussed by linking it to the literature to provide insights. The decision making process is strongly influenced by traditional values rooted in Confucianism, and child-centredness due to China's one-child policy and modern Western values. The article concludes with a discussion on the implications for the marketing of international higher education institutions. © 2011 Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy.
Leveraging the power of online social networks: A contingency approach
- Authors: Yap, Sheau , Lee, Christina
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Marketing Intelligence and Planning Vol. 32, no. 3 (2014), p. 345-374
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- Description: Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine online community loyalty through an extension of the theory of planned behaviour by incorporating motivational drivers of enjoyment and compatibility and the moderating role of consumer traits. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected using an online survey of 382 Facebook users in Malaysia. Structural equation modelling was used to assess the hypothesised relationships. Findings: Findings reveal that individuals' attitude towards social network usage is associated with three factors: social influence, compatibility and enjoyment; attitude and usage behaviour are the determinants of online community loyalty. In addition, moderating effects are found in innovativeness and social network user experience. Research limitations/implications: Generalisation of the results to other contexts or populations should be made with caution given the study's focus on Facebook and its use of non-probability sampling. Future research can cross-validate or extend the theoretical model across different samples and/or virtual community settings. Practical implications: This study highlights the importance of designing online brand community web sites which are not only appealing and enjoyable but also acts as an outlet for its members to build upon their experiences and showcase their innovativeness. Originality/value: This research contributes to a better understanding of how personal factors can either strengthen or attenuate a member's loyalty to his or her online community. The research framework developed in this study can serve as a springboard for future research to examine other virtual community engagement such as blogging, online advertising and online public relation activities. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Neighbourhood identities and household location choice: Estate agents' perspectives
- Authors: Levy, Deborah , Lee, Christina
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Place Management and Development Vol. 4, no. 3 (2011), p. 243-263
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- Description: Purpose – Previous research suggests that household location choice is determined by factors, such as affordability, family life cycle, distance from work and accessibility to the city centre. The purpose of this paper is to understand other psychological factors that may influence this decision, and specifically the effects of self identity and neighbourhood identity. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative methodology using an interpretive approach is adopted, seeking to understand the complex nature of reality. In-depth interviews were carried out with eight experienced real estate agents working in two affluent suburbs close to Auckland's central business district in New Zealand. Findings – Findings suggest that, subject to factors such as affordability and availability of appropriate accommodation, individual identity and suburb identity play an important role in determining neighbourhood choice. In addition to these findings, the paper proposes a conceptual model of the construction and manifestation of suburb identity incorporating both the results of the study and an understanding of the extant literature. Research limitations/implications – The study is not an attempt to generalise its results and therefore further research into neighbourhood branding and how it links to suburb choice is recommended Social implications – The study also adds a further behavioural dimension to the understanding of a collective interpretation of cities. Since part of the unique character of a city is reflected through its residents, planners need to understand what attracts different types of people to a city. Originality/value – Whilst preliminary, the implications of this study emphasise the importance for valuers and real estate agents of understanding the type of people who are attracted to particular neighbourhoods, how these individuals perceive themselves and why they are attracted to specific locations. © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Nature as extended-self: Sacred nature relationship and implications for responsible consumption behavior
- Authors: Kunchamboo, Vimala , Lee, Christina , Brace-Govan, Jan
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Business Research Vol. 74, no. (2017), p. 126-132
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- Description: This study explores alternate ways to conceptualize the relationship between the self and nature. Specifically, how does nature in general, rather than specific places in nature, becomes part of the extended self? While the theory of the extended self has been applied to understanding relationships with tangible possessions, the theory's application to intangible objects such as nature remain scant. The ethnographic data reveals three dimensions of the self-nature relationship: the relational extended self, the encapsulated self, and the assimilated self. These dimensions illustrate the intensity to perceive nature as part of self. This study provides theoretical insights into understanding how consumers relate to nature, and the processes they employ to view nature as part of their extended self to develop concern for nature, thus encouraging responsible consumption behavior. These dimensions of the self-nature relationship help explain why attitudes and responsible consumption behavior differ among consumers. © 2016 Elsevier Inc.
Network externalities and the perception of innovation characteristics: Mobile banking
- Authors: Ewe, Soo , Yap, Sheau , Lee, Christina
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Marketing Intelligence and Planning Vol. 33, no. 4 (2015), p. 592-611
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- Description: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to clarify the relationship between the sub-components of network externalities (NE), investigates the mediating role of the perception of innovation characteristics and explores the potential moderating effects of technology anxiety within an integrative framework using the theories of diffusion of innovation (DOI) and NE on the behavioural intention of mobile banking services. NE theory explains the impact of an increase in number of users and complementary services on perceived value of product innovation. Design/methodology/approach – This study clarifies the relationship between the sub-components of NE, investigates the mediating role of the perception of innovation characteristics and explores the potential moderating effects of technology anxiety within an integrative framework using the theories of DOI and NE on the behavioural intention of mobile banking services. NE theory explains the impact of an increase in number of users and complementary services on perceived value of product innovation. Findings – Empirical results support the positive relationship between perceived number of users and availability of complementary services. The results lend support to the hypothesized mediating role of perceived compatibility and perceived complexity on the influence of indirect NE on the intention to use mobile banking. Finally, technology anxiety did not moderate any of the paths postulated in the hypothesized model. Practical implications – The findings suggest that the willingness to adopt mobile banking may be increased by providing and promoting a wide range of complementary services because the availability of complementary services gives the impression that mobile banking is easy to use and is compatible with their lifestyles. Originality/value – This study contributes to the literature on DOI by using NE theory, a theory borrowed from Economics to explain an underlying motivation to adopt an innovation. This is an original study which tests the proposition that NE may influence the perception of innovation characteristics and intention to adopt an innovation. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Country of origin as a source of sustainable competitive advantage: the case for international higher education institutions in New Zealand
- Authors: Morrish, Sussie , Lee, Christina
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Strategic Marketing Vol. 19, no. 6 (2011), p. 517-529
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- Description: The lucrative higher education market has intensified the competition among higher education providers as they aggressively promote their institutions to international students. In this study, we explore the factors which are important to Chinese international students when deciding on a study destination and higher tertiary education (ITE) institution. The results of this study provided the impetus to understand the factors which can be a source of sustainable competitive advantage for New Zealand and its ITE providers in the highly competitive Chinese market. Strategically, the results revealed New Zealand must maintain its position as a provider of quality higher education and build upon two unique distinctive capabilities: its comparatively low cost and reputation of being a safe country. Additionally, it would be strategically advantageous to build close collaborations between the Government and the institution to attract overseas students. © 2011 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
Social capital and health risk : An integrative review
- Authors: Yap, Sheau-Fen , Kim, Jae-Eun , Lee, Christina , Xu, Yingzi , Kim, Jungkeun
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Marketing Journal Vol. 27, no. 1 (2019), p. 24-31
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- Description: The impact of health risk behaviours on the social and economic fabric of society is of concern to social marketers and policy makers. Current research suggests social capital, that is, the positive benefits gained from a relationship with others in the community, plays a key role in addressing health risk behaviours. The current literature on social capital and health is fragmented, and the field has yet to produce an up-to-date synthesis of past findings to help researchers understand the current status of this research area. This article fills this gap with an integrative review of empirical research based on rigorous criteria. Boolean search was used to limit the search to only those articles containing the keywords ‘social capital’ and ‘health risk’ but no limits were applied for country or population of interest or publication start date. Two researchers screened through the title, abstract and introduction of every retrieved article independently according to the inclusion criteria. A total of 105 articles were eligible for further analyses. This article contributes by: (1) providing a structured overview with an aim to disentangle the findings of varied past studies addressing the theme; (2) identifying important gaps in current knowledge; (3) presenting a research agenda that flows logically from the theoretical gaps identified; and lastly (4) proposing a theoretical framework upon which social capital interventions can be designed and executed to mitigate health risk. We hope that the key issues and new directions presented in this paper will provide new impetus in this area of research.
How does the theory of consumption values contribute to place identity and sustainable consumption?
- Authors: Lee, Christina , Levy, Deborah , Yap, Sheau
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Consumer Studies Vol. 39, no. 6 (2015), p. 597-607
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- Description: The importance of consumers' role in sustainable consumption is reflected in the vision of the Sustainable Development Education Panel: To educate consumers to make informed consumption decisions, to take responsibility for their actions and to realize the impact of consumption decisions on future generations. However, educating and informing consumers alone is unlikely to change deeply entrenched unsustainable consumption behaviour. A multi-faceted approach is required - enforcing sustainable development initiatives through legislation, promoting corporate social responsibility programs on the part of business, and (most importantly), supporting communities that engage in sustainable consumption. This study examines the proposition that individuals who identify with their community (i.e. the residential suburb or a locality where identity is understood geographically) are more likely to engage in sustainable consumption. Specifically, it examines how consumption value (i.e. the perceived value of living in a particular residential suburb) contributes to place identity and to environmental attitudes and sustainable consumption behaviour. Structural equation modelling is used to verify the conceptual model using data from a telephone survey of 561 residents from two inner city suburbs in Auckland, New Zealand. The results support the proposition that environmental attitude and sustainable consumption behaviour is enhanced by consumption values through place identity. Residents who enjoy living in their community, value a clean and healthy environment and believe their suburbs are unique tend to develop a stronger identity with their residential suburb, and are more positive towards sustainable consumption. The results have important implications for social marketers, property marketers and city councils who strive to encourage sustainable consumption among its citizens. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
University student engagement in learning: Insights from academic fieldtrips in the Malaysian tropical rainforests
- Authors: Lau, Patricia , Lee, Christina , Ho, ChyeKok
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Education and Training Vol. 61, no. 3 (2019), p. 342-358
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- Description: Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore how university fieldtrips progressively deepen student engagement, and explain that stage-by-stage using the organismic integration theory. Design/methodology/approach: Using reflective logs, follow-up focus groups after two years and facilitator observations, this Malaysian qualitative study followed 12 business students across two three-day rainforest fieldtrips. Findings: Students progressed toward greater – and enduring – engagement, and transferable socio-cognitive skills, via three thematic stages. Voice and self-reflection – motivated by protecting group harmony – were key, enabled by facilitator and peer encouragement. Research limitations/implications: This exploratory study invites research in specified education cultures. Further, a longitudinal, quantitative study could be designed to examine the conceptual framework developed in Figure 1. Practical implications: University curricula, especially in collectivist high power distance cultures, should include fieldtrips as a particularly powerful form of experiential learning. Benefits of deeper engagement extend beyond present to future courses and the workplace. Higher student attraction/retention and employability may follow. Intrinsic motivation grows through the student–instructor interaction, watching theoretical principles in action, and having eureka moments through reflection, expression and exchange of ideas. Originality/value: The research fills a gap by mapping student engagement progressively from extrinsic to intrinsic motivation along with socio-cognitive competencies. The authors reveal the centrality of voice and reflection to promote group harmony, explain the roles of facilitators and peers and show long-lasting transferable benefits to learning. Novelly, the authors provide empirical support for existing conceptual frameworks but also extend these.
Place identity and sustainable consumption: implications for social marketing
- Authors: Lee, Christina , Yap, Sheau , Levy, Deborah
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Strategic Marketing Vol. 24, no. 7 (2016), p. 578-593
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- Description: Place identity is a self-identity dimension related to a physical setting. This study measured place identity relating to residential neighborhood, based on levels of attachment, continuity with personal past, perception of familiarity, cohesion and social acceptance. The study examined the proposition that people with strong place identity are committed to their neighborhoods, in turn leading to positive sustainable consumption attitude and behavior. Structural equation modeling empirically verified a theoretical model developed from the environmental psychology, consumer behavior and marketing literatures. A telephone survey was conducted of 409 residents in two suburbs in the Kuala Lumpur metropolitan area, Malaysia. The finding that place identity and commitment to the residential suburb are strong motivational drivers of sustainable consumption-related attitude and behavior has important implications for social marketing. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Does personality matter in exercise participation?
- Authors: Yap, Sheau , Lee, Christina
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Consumer Behaviour Vol. 12, no. 5 (2013), p. 401-411
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- Description: This research extends previous work by demonstrating how the relationships between social cognition and exercise are influenced by different personality types. The theory of planned behaviour forms the basis of our theoretical model, and the Big Five personality framework was used to determine personality types. Data were collected from a quota sample of 512 Malaysian adults. The results suggest that an individual's personality can prevent him or her from exercising. For example, an extrovert is likely to be driven by affect and self-confidence in their capability to exercise, and thus are more likely to participate in exercise. Those who are more conscientious (and less neurotic) feel more in control and thus possess a greater ability to exercise in comparison with their less conscientious and more neurotic counterparts. Our findings demonstrate the importance of considering personality factors in exercise research and caution us about underestimating the relationship between perceived control, attitude and its potential behavioural outcomes that could lead to a misinterpretation of its true impact. Our core contribution lies in identifying the underlying causes of social cognition differences in a moderating capacity, which has potential to yield important theoretical and practical implications. This study sets the ground for social marketers to improve their understanding of exercise behaviour and, in turn, consumer welfare. Ultimately, they could be in a better position to develop effective health intervention and educational programmes. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How to stop binge drinking and speeding motorists: Effects of relational-interdependent self-construal and self-referencing on attitudes toward social marketing
- Authors: Martin, Brett , Lee, Christina , Weeks, Clinton , Kaya, Maria
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Consumer Behaviour Vol. 12, no. 1 (2013), p. 81-90
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- Description: How can marketers stop speeding motorists and binge drinking? Two experiments show that the beliefs consumers have about the degree to which they define themselves in terms of their close relationships (i.e., relational-interdependent self-construal (RISC)) offer useful insights into the effectiveness of communications for two key social marketing issues-road safety (Study 1, New Zealand sample) and alcohol consumption (Study 2, English sample). Further, self-referencing is a mechanism for these effects. Specifically, people who define themselves in terms of their close relationships (high-RISCs) respond most favorably to advertisements featuring a dyadic relationship (two people), and this favorable response is mediated by self-referencing. In contrast, people who do not include close relationships in their sense of self (low-RISCs) respond most favorably to self-reference advertisements featuring solitary models. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Undergraduates' perception on causes, coping and outcomes of academic stress: Its foresight implications to university administration
- Authors: Poon, Wai-Ching , Lee, Christina , Ong, Tee-Pei
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy Vol. 8, no. 4 (2012), p. 379-403
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- Description: This study aims to identify the causes, outcomes, and coping strategies of academic stress among undergraduates. Using a sample of 480 business students from eight universities in Klang Valley, results reveal that the major causes of academic stress are due to conflicts and pressures that ultimately cause a detrimental effect on health and performance. While undergraduates most often tend to use avoidant-focused coping strategies to reduce stress, problem-focused and emotion-focused strategies are the preferred choice to alleviate stress. Results provide university administrators with some proactive insights into student services and curriculum design to address excessive levels of academic stress among students. Copyright © 2012 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
The meaning of nature and its implications for individual consumption behavior
- Authors: Kunchamboo, Vimala , Lee, Christina
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Advances in Consumer Research Vol. 40, no. (2012), p. 395-402
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- Description: The article presents a study which examined the influence of nature and nature-related views on consumer behavior, which utilizes an interpretivist approach and grounded theory method. The study offers a definition of nature and its relationship with humans, a description of nature lovers and the relationship of nature with the concept of self. The authors hypothesize that the mutual relationship between nature and man would lead to an environment-friendly consumption that is geared towards nature conservation.
E-Service quality: An Empirical investigation
- Authors: Poon, Wai-Ching , Lee, Christina
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Asia-Pacific Business Vol. 13, no. 3 (2012), p. 229-262
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- Description: This study examines seven dimensions pertinent to e-service quality using 225 respondents conducted in Klang Valley. Results reveal that the efficiency of e-service quality mainly depends on the consumer's perception of the efficiency (which offers speedy and reliable responses) and trustworthiness of the e-service provider (which offers assurance of protection, security of the users' identity and personal information), and is not reliant on offers of convenience and personalization. Other than formulating policies and operating procedures based on customer needs, Websites should be well organized with succinct up-to-date, in-depth information and instruction because these are physical evidence of efficiency and trustworthiness. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
Regulatory focus and investment advisers' recommending behavior
- Authors: Ewe, Soo , Lee, Christina , Gul, Fedinand
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Bank Marketing Vol. 39, no. 1 (2020), p. 107-126
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- Description: Purpose: This study examines the effect of a regulatory-focused prime (i.e. a brochure with a picture and message) on the recommending behavior of investment advisers in the context of an investment decision. Design/methodology/approach: Three experiments were conducted with 468 participants, mostly from the financial services industry. Study 1 examined the direct effect of a regulatory-focused prime on an investment adviser's recommending behavior, whereas Study 2 examined the moderating role of regulatory fit on such behavior. Study 3 validated the findings. Findings: The results provide evidence that a message using visual and textual cues based on a promotion and prevention regulatory focus may trigger a preference in an investment adviser's product recommendation. A promotion (prevention)-focused framed message will trigger the recommendation of an investment plan with a higher but riskier (safe and stable) potential return. However, when the same prime is presented with details of a performance incentive scheme, the effect of the prime is reduced when there is a regulatory nonfit between the prime and the message relating to the performance incentive scheme. Practical implications: The findings highlight the importance of understanding how regulatory-focused stimuli may subconsciously influence the recommendation of investment advisers as heuristics used in decision-making, thereby influencing their clients' investment decisions. Originality/value: Past studies have focused on how regulatory-focused visual and message cues influence consumer decision-making. This study provides empirical evidence regarding the influence of regulatory-focused prime on an investment adviser's behavior when providing investment advice. © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited.
Understanding students' choice of electives and its implications
- Authors: Ting, Ding , Lee, Christina
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Studies in Higher Education Vol. 37, no. 3 (2012), p. 309-325
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- Description: The aim of this study is to examine the attributes which influence students' selection of electives as part of their university degree programme. Marketing students at a public university in Malaysia participated in the research. Conjoint analysis was used to understand the trade-offs between three attributes when selecting elective subjects. These are perceived difficulty, perceived interest and future career skills. The results suggest that students are most concerned about the perceived difficulty of the elective and will avoid enrolling in such an elective. The results have significant implications for educators in the design of electives, and in the communication of their offerings, as well as for university administrators in the allocation of space and teaching resources. The article also discusses the implications of the results and offers future research direction. © 2012 Society for Research into Higher Education.
Cultivating nature identity and ecological worldviews : a pathway to alter the prevailing dominant social paradigm
- Authors: Kunchamboo, Vimala , Lee, Christina , Brace-Govan, Jan
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Macromarketing Vol. 41, no. 3 (2021), p. 484-505
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- Description: The worsening environmental problems demand a shift from the prevailing Dominant Social Paradigm to the New Ecological Paradigm. Yet, little is known on the conditions necessary for societal adoption of conservation behaviour. This qualitative study explores the social-psychological aspects and processes cultivating ecological identity and worldviews by uncovering the activities, interpretation of experiences that capture mental thoughts, emotions and symbolic meanings within the richness of lived experiences. The findings theorise the process of ecological identity building and offers in-depth insights into the motivations and stages of ecological identities and worldviews that support pro-environmental behaviour. The insights extend the identity theory to illustrate the process of nature identity development to include the stages of identity activation, creation and synthesis; reveal Asian values and beliefs that consumers use to rationalise their consumption behaviour; and provide implications for macromarketing, education and sustainability initiatives, and policy making. © The Author(s) 2021.
Malay muslim religious ideology : representations of gendered beauty ideals in women’s magazines
- Authors: French, Juliana , Lee, Christina , Brace-Govan, Jan
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Macromarketing Vol. 40, no. 4 (2020), p. 459-474
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- Description: Responding to Drenten and McManus (2016) call on the lack of scholarship on the intersections of macromarketing and religion, this article uses magazines to demonstrate how beauty discourses reinforce or contest religious ideology in Malaysia. We draw from institutional logics to show how magazine discourses present macrolevel belief systems that can both shape and constrain the micro level behaviour of women. We identify three dialectical tensions of gendered beauty ideals as firstly both something that is embraced and something that is imposed; secondly it is collectively and individually displayed in fashion and thirdly offers contradictory discourses over blending-in versus standing-out in physical appearance. This study supplements the very limited literature on how the media as an institutional and social structure injects religious ideology to gendered representations of beauty ideals. © The Author(s) 2020.