Objectification theorists posit that exposure to sexually objectifying behavior, images, etc., leads women in particular to adopt an objectifying self-perspective. State self-objectification (SSO) (i.e., the internalization of the objectifying gaze) is theorized to usurp individuals' cognitive resources by diverting attention to their bodies. The objective of this paper is to systematically review the literature surrounding self-objectification and cognitive performance. Six databases retrieved 1,779 relevant articles. Studies were deemed eligible for inclusion if they (a) quantitatively investigated the relationship between SSO and cognitive performance using valid and reliable measures, (b) were published in a peer-reviewed journal between 1997 and 2019, inclusive, and (c) were available in English. Nine studies fulfilled all inclusion criteria. As the heterogeneity of the literature precluded meta-analysis, narrative synthesis was employed to review the results. While the quality of the studies was mixed, the results of our review support the contention that self-objectification impairs cognitive functioning. Appearance monitoring, actual-ideal self-discrepancies, negative self-conscious emotions, gender schema activation, and stereotype activation are evaluated as potential mechanisms behind the relationship between state self-objectification and cognitive performance, while chronic (trait) self-objectification is evaluated as a potential moderator.

In addition to reflecting gender‐targeted media content, men's and women's media habits may reflect a host of complex motivations and consequences, in step with larger cultural norms regarding gender roles. For example, men's greater interest in violent and/or sexually explicit media content may reflect gendered socialization practices that inhibit women from seeking out such traditionally male‐dominated genres, as well as sexist or sexually objectifying content that may decrease women's interest in such genres. In some domains, such as social media use, gender differences are not as notable, although women are more likely to use platforms such as Facebook, and engage in photo‐based behavior than men. Work on intersectional identities (intersections between gender and race, gender and sexuality, etc.) and media use focuses on navigation of stereotypic content, although some research has documented the benefit of new media (Internet and user‐generated content) for sexual and gender minorities in particular.