Self-objectification is (Still) gendered: A meta-analysis across measures and societal contexts

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.