Queer Asian American men's self-objectification: A test of racially relevant factors

Queer Asian American men face pervasive experiences of racial discrimination within the queer community and the broader society, which may critically impact their body image outcomes. While some studies have documented how racially relevant factors may shape body image attitudes among queer Asian American men, no studies have investigated the racialized experience of self-objectification among this under-researched subgroup. Hence, the present study adopts Cheng et al.'s (2017) racially expanded model of objectification theory among Asian American college women and applies a strengths-based approach to examine the associations between resistance and empowerment against racism (REAR), internalized racism, pride in Asian features, and self-objectification. Thus, among a sample of 265 queer Asian American men, analyses of indirect effects revealed that REAR was indirectly associated with lower self-objectification via greater pride in Asian features, whereas internalized racism was not indirectly associated with self-objectification via pride in Asian features. Furthermore, internalized racism was directly associated with greater self-objectification and lower pride in Asian features. Our findings contribute to the limited yet growing literature on the racialized experience of body image among queer Asian American men, underscoring the nuanced ways in which resistance against racism and internalization of racial oppression are associated with self-objectification. Social justice-informed implications are discussed, including efforts to deconstruct the internalization of White supremacist ideologies and empower queer Asian American men to engage in resistance through future research, clinical interventions, and prevention programs.