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I'm up here! Sexual objectification leads to feeling ostracized
Maayan Dvir1, Janice R Kelly1, James M Tyler1
1Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|August 14, 2020
Summary
Sexual objectification of women, by ignoring their internal attributes, leads to feelings of ostracism. This experience negatively impacts women's fundamental need satisfaction, including belonging and self-esteem.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Gender Studies
Background:
- Sexual objectification involves viewing women as objects, focusing on physical features while ignoring internal attributes.
- Existing research extensively covers the negative effects of sexual objectification but not the "ignoring" component.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the "ignoring" aspect of sexual objectification and its connection to ostracism.
- To examine how sexual objectification impacts women's fundamental need satisfaction.
Main Methods:
- Four studies were conducted to test the hypothesis.
- Participants experienced either sexual objectification or control conditions.
Main Results:
- Women who experienced sexual objectification reported feeling objectified, leading to increased feelings of ostracism.
- Sexual objectification and resulting ostracism significantly threatened and lowered women's need satisfaction (belonging, control, self-esteem, meaningful existence).
Conclusions:
- Sexual objectification involves ignoring internal attributes, akin to partial ostracism.
- Women subjected to sexual objectification experience adverse consequences of both objectification and ostracism, impacting their psychological well-being.
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