Self-objectification is (Still) gendered: A meta-analysis across measures and societal contexts
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Self-objectification remains a gendered experience, with women reporting it more than men. Paradoxically, this gender gap widens in more gender-equal societies, highlighting complex sociocultural influences.
Area Of Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Gender Studies
Background
- Self-objectification, the internalization of an observer's perspective on one's body, is a significant area of research in understanding gendered experiences.
- Previous research suggests self-objectification is more prevalent among women, but its persistence and nuances in contemporary, diverse societies require updated investigation.
Purpose Of The Study
- To determine if self-objectification continues to be a gendered experience in contemporary societies.
- To investigate moderators of gender differences in self-objectification, including measurement type and societal gender equality.
Main Methods
- A three-level meta-analysis was conducted, synthesizing 158 effect sizes from 78 studies.
- The analysis included data from 74,216 participants across 16 countries, employing multivariate models to examine moderating effects.
Main Results
- A robust gender difference was found (d = 0.35), with women reporting higher self-objectification than men.
- The gender gap was significantly moderated by measurement type (body surveillance showing larger gaps) and societal gender equality (larger gaps in more equal societies).
- Cultural orientation, sample age, and publication year did not significantly moderate the effect.
Conclusions
- Self-objectification remains a deeply gendered phenomenon.
- Sociocultural progress, particularly increased gender equality, may paradoxically amplify appearance-based disparities in some contexts.
- There is a need for gender-sensitive measurement tools and culturally informed theoretical frameworks to understand self-objectification globally.
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