Objectifying Women’s Bodies is Acceptable from an Intimate Perpetrator, at Least for Female Sexists

Abstract

Objectification of the female body is generating much research. Nevertheless, this has revealed little about whether women’s evaluations depend on the level of psychological intimacy with the perpetrator of that objectification. Intimacy theory predicts that objectifying comments would seem more acceptable coming from a close partner, especially for sexist women. The present study begins to fill these gaps by analyzing responses from 301 heterosexual/bisexual adult women in the United States (Mage = 37.02, range = 18–72) to appearance and sexual body comments made by four different male perpetrators: strangers, colleagues, friends, or partners. Measures assessed women’s perceptions of objectification, as well as reported enjoyment of these comments. As long as they were not negative, comments from heterosexual partners were perceived as the least objectifying and enjoyed the most; comments from colleagues, strangers, and friends were linked with greater objectification and less enjoyment. Additionally, sexist attitudes toward men and women—but more clearly toward men—linked with objectification and enjoyment. Future research directions and practical implications are discussed.

The Social Interaction Model of Objectification: A process model of goal‐based objectifying exchanges between men and women

“…As another example, depending on whether the source is a stranger or boyfriend, women may interpret the same objectifying comment (e.g., 'hey beautiful') differently, leaving the former while staying with the latter. Consistent with the idea that the relationship will influence women's involvement in objectifying exchanges, positive appearance and sexual body comments from male intimate partners are seen as less objectifying and enjoyed more by women while the same comments from strangers, colleagues, and friends are seen as more objectifying and enjoyed less (Lameiras-Fernández, Fiske, Fernández, & Lopez, 2018;Meltzer, 2019). Beyond different types of relationships, the content and outcomes of objectifying interactions may also depend on the specifics of the relationship.…”

“…Indeed, behaviors are central to the SIMO. Most objectification studies that have focused on behaviors, including questionnaire measures (Calogero & Thompson, 2009;Gervais, Davidson, et al, 2018;Kozee et al, 2007) or vignettes containing hypothetical scenarios Lameiras-Fernández et al, 2018), suffer from inherent limitations including biases in retrospective and introspective self-reports (Baumeister, Vohs, & Funder, 2007). For example, previous research shows that women overestimate how frequently they will confront sexist and objectifying commentary when they anticipate versus actually encounter such conduct (Swim & Hyers, 1999).…”

Sexual objectification increases retaliatory aggression

“…Similarly, relationships with the source of objectification may potentially moderate our observed results. When people encounter threatening situations within interpersonal relationships, the value and closeness of relationships with the potential sources of threats could predict behavioral responses, such that the closer the relationship, the less negative people would perceive the threat (Lameiras‐Fernández, Fiske, Fernández, & Lopez, 2018; Riemer, Chaudoir, & Earnshaw, 2014; Smart Richman & Leary, 2009). We believed that women objectified by their intimate romantic partner (e.g., receiving compliments for their body shapes and appearance) may feel vulnerable but may not have hostile intent attributions and aggression because women may perceive the sexual objectification experience as relatively more acceptable.…”

Women Can Benefit From Sexual and Physical Valuation in the Context of a Romantic Relationship

“…In highlighting this critical role of the relationship context, the current studies join a growing body of research demonstrating that the implications of various interpersonal processes are not inherently positive or negative but instead depend on contextual nuance (see McNulty & Fincham, 2012; Reis, 2008). Future work may benefit from considering the extent to which other processes assumed to be inherently positive or negative have alternative implications in interpersonal contexts (for a related discussion, see Lameiras-Fernández, Fiske, Fernández, & Lopez, 2018).…”

“… 1. Although sociometer theory does not specifically posit that women should react negatively to acceptance and praise from strangers, objectification theory does. Indeed, research in support of objectification theory often assesses or manipulates sexual and physical valuation from male strangers (Calogero, 2004; Moradi & Huang, 2008; but also see Lameiras-Fernández, Fiske, Fernández, & Lopez, 2018), who often have no other information about their female targets other than those targets’ physical appearance and thus can only value them for their bodies. …”