Understanding Sexual Objectification: A Comprehensive Approach Toward Media Exposure and Girls' Internalization of Beauty Ideals, Self-Objectification, and Body Surveillance

Abstract

The relationship between exposure to sexually objectifying music television, primetime television programs, fashion magazines, and social networking sites and the internalization of beauty ideals, self-objectification, and body surveillance was examined among adolescent girls (N = 558). A structural equation model showed direct relationships between sexually objectifying media and the internalization of beauty ideals, and indirect relationships between sexually objectifying media and self-objectification, and body surveillance through the internalization of beauty ideals. The direct relationships between sexually objectifying media and the internalization of beauty ideals, self-objectification, and body surveillance differed across the types of sexually objectifying media. The discussion focuses on the implications of these findings to explain self-objectification among girls.

Sex-Related Online Behaviors and Adolescents’ Body and Sexual Self-Perceptions

“…The awareness of other people' s scrutiny and judgment may make adolescents more self-conscious about their looks. 6,44 Second, adolescents may be more likely to make social comparisons with age-mates than with glamorous media models. Here, it is important to note that adolescent girls have been found to create biased realities or "ideal selves" on SNS by deleting pictures of themselves when these do not conform to beauty ideals.…”

“…3,4 One frequently expressed fear is that one-sided, glamorized portrayals of sexuality on the Internet negatively influence adolescents' perceptions of their own bodies and sexual lives. [5][6][7][8] Negative body and sexual self-perceptions may be manifested as low physical self-esteem, high body surveillance (ie, monitoring of one' s appearance), and dissatisfaction with one' s sexual experience. Because these self-perceptions have been linked to serious physical and mental health problems such as eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression, [9][10][11][12][13] it is important to critically examine their potential antecedents.…”

“…19,20 Consistent with these theories, previous studies have indicated that adolescents' exposure to sexual content (offline and online) is related to more body surveillance and body image concerns and to less satisfaction with one' s sexual experiences. [5][6][7][8]21,22 In most studies, sex-related Internet use was operationalized as adolescents' use of sexually explicit Internet material (SEIM). However, sex-related Internet use may incorporate a range of receptive and interactive online behaviors, functioning as entertainment, information seeking, communication, and cybersex (virtual sexual activity).…”

Beauty, Body Image, and the Media

“…When women passively view mock social media proiles versus models in magazines, there appears to be no diference between the media types in terms of subsequent increases in appearance comparison and body image dissatisfaction [22]. Although some researchers ind that adolescent girls' time spent on the Internet is positively correlated with internalization of the thin ideal, body surveillance, and drive for thinness, experimental studies suggest that mere exposure to one's own social media account does not negatively or immediately impact young women's appearance concerns [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31].…”

Predictors of Drive for Muscularity Among Adolescent Males

“…When individuals are constantly presented with idealized body images and often unattainable standards of beauty and attractiveness, they may come to view themselves as objects to be admired and used by others, rather than as individuals with unique interests, abilities and drives (Vandenbosch & Eggermont, 2013). Body shame is a result of one's body not meeting what one perceives to be the ideal body type for a particular culture (Tylka & Sabik, 2010).…”