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Objectification theorists argue that routine sexual objectification, experienced interpersonally and via the media, encourages women and adolescent girls to value their external appearance and sexiness above other bodily experiences and competencies. Commonly, tests of this theory have linked exposure to sexualizing media content (i.e., TV, music videos, social media) to self-objectification and subsequently to consequences such as disordered eating among predominantly White samples. Do these analyses extend to U.S. girls of color and to broader well-being consequences? Using structural equation modeling, we tested theorized connections among 884 adolescent girls aged 13–18, including 391 White girls, 248 Black girls, and 245 Asian American girls. Participants completed surveys assessing their use of several social media platforms, social media engagement, self-sexualization, mental health symptoms, self-esteem, and body shame. We also examined age, racial identity, and racial composition of peer group as moderators. The model worked as expected for the full sample, with social media use and engagement predicting greater self-sexualization, which in turn was associated with diminished well-being. However, the model fit was worse for the White girls than for girls of color, and some constructs operated differently. Implications for future research with girls and possible media interventions are discussed. • Social media use is linked with greater self-sexualization across race for teen girls. • Self-sexualization is associated with lower well-being across race for teen girls. • Findings support tenets of objectification theory for Black and Asian teen girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past research has found that sexualized women are often dehumanized (i.e., attributed reduced human qualities). However, the mechanisms contributing to such dehumanization remain poorly understood. In this pre-registered experiment involving a within-subject, placebo-controlled, cross-over design, we tested whether testosterone contributes to men's (N = 120, age range: 18–38 years) dehumanization of women. After administration of intranasal testosterone or placebo gel, men watched a video of a woman wearing either modest (i.e., conservative) or revealing (i.e., sexualized) clothing (between-subjects factor) and then completed three subtle dehumanization tasks, measuring emotion-based, personality-based, and perceptual dehumanization. We hypothesized that testosterone would increase dehumanization, especially for men who watched the "sexualized-clothing" video. Instead, we found that, while men engaged in emotion-based dehumanization toward the sexualized woman both when they had testosterone and placebo, testosterone increased emotion-based dehumanization toward the conservatively dressed woman. Other forms of dehumanization were not affected by testosterone. We also explored whether personality (e.g., dominance) and biological (e.g., CAG repeat polymorphism) traits that have been found to moderate the effects of testosterone on some social behaviors also moderated the effects examined here, but we did not find any significant moderations. Overall, this experiment revealed a novel physiological mechanism affecting emotion-based dehumanization. • Sexualized women are often dehumanized (i.e., attributed reduced human qualities). • We tested if T affects men's dehumanization of sexualized vs. non-sexualized women. • We ran a placebo-controlled within-subject single-dose T administration experiment. • T increased men's emotion-based dehumanization toward a non-sexualized woman. • Other measures of dehumanization were not affected by T administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study systematically separated the effects of body size and sexualisation in social media images on women's body image. Young women (18–25 years, N = 194) viewed 10 social media images of either (1) sexualised women in larger bodies; (2) non-sexualised women in larger bodies; (3) sexualised women in smaller bodies; or (4) non-sexualised women in smaller bodies. Participants completed pre- and post-exposure measures of body image and related constructs. Thin ideal internalisation was examined as a moderator of those effects. The body size of the women in the images was more influential than how sexualized their bodies were presented. Regardless of sexualisation, viewing images of women with smaller bodies was negative for appearance satisfaction, negative mood, and body appreciation, and viewing women with larger bodies was positive for body appreciation and neutral for appearance satisfaction and mood. The impact of body size on appearance satisfaction was stronger for those high in thin ideal internalisation. Women with larger bodies were perceived more positively than those with smaller bodies. However, participants' self-objectification increased in all conditions. Thus, while viewing images of women with larger bodies provides promise for improving social media, further research is needed before it is recommended broadly. • Viewing images of women with smaller (thin) bodies was negative for all outcomes. • Viewing images of women with larger bodies was positive or neutral for body image. • The level of sexualisation in the images had little impact on women's body image. • Women formed more positive impressions of those with larger than smaller bodies. • Women's self-objectification increased in all conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile Dating Applications (MDAs) are integral to young adults' lives, serving as a platform for romantic and sexual self-presentation during the search for potential partners. Despite its potential link to adverse outcomes including body shame, the prevalence of sexualized self-presentation remains understudied. This pre-registered linkage study addresses this gap by documenting sexualized self-presentation while considering individual differences related to gender, sexual orientation, and body image. Young adults donated MDA (Tinder, Bumble) profile screenshots (n biographies = 443, n pictures = 1277; M age = 23.15, SD = 2.94; 72.20 % women). Of those 443 participants, 237 additionally completed a body image linkage survey (M age = 23.36, SD = 2.90; 71.30 % women). Sexualized self-presentation appeared in 4.30 % of biographies and 56.80 % of profile pictures, mainly through sexualized facial expressions. Women, non-heterosexual users, and those holding a more negative body image engaged more in sexualized self-presentation. Platform type and positive body image indicators did not relate to engagement in sexualized self-presentation. Future research is recommended to explore whether the extensive presence of sexualized self-presentations on MDAs impacts users' personal and relational well-being. • This study adopts an innovative methodological approach by using linkage analyses. • Sexualized self-presentation was present in over half of dating app profiles. • Gender, sexual orientation and negative body image related to sexualized self-presentation. • Platform type and positive body image were not related to sexualized self-presentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past research suggests that sexualized women are dehumanized and viewing sexualized images negatively impacts viewers' body image; however, plus-size women are mostly absent from this research. The current studies investigate how sexualization impacts dehumanization of plus-size women and participants' body image. In Study 1 (N = 277, M age = 19.52, SD =1.77) men and women viewed images of plus-size and thin sexualized and non-sexualized women and rated the women on traits linked to dehumanization. Results indicated that sexualized thin targets were perceived as less human than plus-size sexualized and non-sexualized targets. Plus-size sexualized targets were also perceived as less human than plus-size non-sexualized targets. In Study 2 (N = 500, M age = 18.98, SD = 1.51) we investigated the impact of viewing sexualized images on participants' feelings about their own body. Results indicated that sexualization, but not body size, impacted women's objectified body consciousness. Men's body esteem was impacted by the body size of the image. Perceived race of the image also impacted feelings of body control for both men and women. Taken together these results highlight that sexualization, at any body size, impacts women's views about themselves and sexualized women, at any body size, are dehumanized. • Sexualization prompted dehumanization of women, regardless of their body-size. • Perceptions of sexualized women seems to differ based on their body-size. • Sexualized images increased objectified body consciousness of women. • Body size did not impact body esteem of women but did impact men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research increasingly explores body positive (BoPo) messaging and diverse model representation in advertising. Fashion and beauty brands are incorporating diverse models in traditional media to address criticisms of promoting narrow appearance ideals, yet their social media communications remain understudied. This content analytical study (n = 460 models, 16 brands) analyzes BoPo messages and diverse model representation in fashion and beauty brands' Instagram posts. Variations according to the brands' reputation, posts' framing, and posts' popularity were considered. Results showed that although diverse models appeared to be prominently featured in the brands' Instagram posts (71.50 %; n = 329), the majority of these posts displayed only one aspect of diversity. Racial diversity was the most represented diversity trait (76.29 %, n = 251), while body (32.80 %, n = 151), facial (12.10 %, n = 38), and generational diversity (22.50 %, n = 73) were limited. The sexualization frame (88.70 %, n = 408) prevailed over the empowerment frame (32.40 %, n = 149). Positive changes were noted with the empowerment frame significantly relating to the representation of diverse models. Yet, this study also highlighted that such positive messages still co-occur with negative messages as an empowerment frame co-occurred with a highly prevalent sexualization frame. • Most of the models in brands' Instagram posts were diverse. • Most of the diverse models merely portrayed one diversity trait (mainly racial). • Body-,facial-, and generational diversity were less portrayed. • Diverse models were frequently portrayed within a sexualization frame. • The empowerment frame significantly related to the presence of diverse models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectification scholarship highlights how traditional media portrayals oftentimes direct attention toward women's bodies and away from their faces which communicate important social information. This study sought to investigate how thin-ideal, white women's facial expression potentially attenuates the negative effects of appearing in a sexually objectifying manner using validated imagery. In a 2 × 3 between-subjects experiment (N = 1001 U.S. adult women; M age = 42.56, SD age = 12.72), portraits of women varied in their sexualization (non-sexualized vs. sexualized) and facial expression (neutral expression, low-intensity smiling, high-intensity smiling) to better understand how these factors influence dimensions of social cognition (competence, warmth, authenticity), self-promotional attributions, and viewers' own self-objectification. Results revealed that viewers rated sexualized (vs. non-sexualized) women lower in competence and authenticity, as well ascribed more self-promotional explanations for their behavior. Moreover, exposure to sexualized women heightened viewers' self-objectification, regardless of facial expression. Results also indicated that smiling intensity positively influenced viewers' ratings of social cognition. However, there is little evidence that smiling intensity overrides the negative effects of sexualization. Implications for the sexual objectification of women are discussed. • An experiment examined how sexualization and facial expression affect social judgments. • Sexualized (vs. non-sexualized) women were judged more harshly by other women. • Smiling intensity positively influenced viewers' ratings of social cognition. • Sexualized women heightened viewers' self-objectification, regardless of facial expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sexualized female pictures posted on Instagram lead to greater body dissatisfaction. • Appearance comments have no effect on body dissatisfaction. • Instagram addiction predicts greater cosmetic surgery intentions. • Instagram addiction moderates the condition's effects on cosmetic surgery intentions. Instagram is a visually centered social media that involves the presence of sexualized imagery posted by users. Such Instagram sexualization may have a negative impact on women's body image. The present study examined whether exposure to Instagram sexualization, namely posts of sexualized women along with appearance-related comments, affected women's body satisfaction and cosmetic surgery intentions. In doing so, it also considered the moderating role of Instagram Addiction Proclivity (IAP). Young Italian female participants (N = 247) were randomly exposed to one of four video conditions resulting from the combination of either sexualized or non-sexualized women's pictures on Instagram, paired with appearance or neutral comments. In the sexualized picture condition participants' body dissatisfaction increased compared to pre-exposure levels and to the non-sexualized picture condition. The type of comments did not affect participants' body satisfaction. Moreover, IAP predicted cosmetic surgery intentions and moderated their reactions to Instagram content. Indeed, the higher the IAP, the higher the cosmetic surgery intentions of participants viewing sexualized pictures with neutral comments and non-sexualized pictures with body appearance comments. These findings suggest that female Instagram users should be aware of the negative impacts of viewing sexualized imagery as well as the role that IAP may play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Body-positive images shared on social media can enhance positive body image. • We experimentally document how the beneficial effects of these images can be diminished. • Sexualized images led to more support of traditional beauty ideals and self-serving reasons. • Sexualized images also instigated other-objectification. • Images thought to be digitally modified were less effective and more negatively evaluated. The body positive movement on social media seeks to challenge narrow conceptualizations of beauty that media outlets traditionally perpetuate and reinforce. Through a 2 × 2 between-subjects online experiment, we examined how the nature and authenticity of body-positive imagery on social media affects female viewers and their evaluations of body-positive content (N = 425, M age = 35.47, SD age = 13.52). Specifically, participants viewed and reacted to a series of 10 body-positive images of women on social media varying in their degree of sexualization (sexualized vs. non-sexualized) and evidence of digital photo modifications (modification icons vs. no modification icons). A control group that featured landscape images was also included. Results indicate body-positive images that are considered sexualized and are believed to be digitally modified can undercut the movement's intended aims: Participants who viewed body-positive images that were sexualized (vs. non-sexualized) and included photo modification icons (vs. no modification icons) reported greater endorsement of traditional beauty ideals (e.g., thinness) and thought the images were shared for self-serving reasons (e.g., to gain likes/shares/endorsements); these relationships were mediated by the extent to which viewers believed these images were sexualized and digitally modified. Further, results indicate that sexualized body-positive images can instigate sexual objectification of others and oneself. Those who viewed control images (vs. experimental body-positive images) produced significantly fewer sexually objectifying words about others and themselves. Implications for both viewers and producers (e.g., individuals, corporations) of body-positive imagery on social media are discussed in light of objectification theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media platforms like Instagram enable users to share, view, and provide feedback on images, including photographs of oneself (e.g., selfies). In a 3 × 2 between-subjects online experiment, we investigated how women evaluate and react to photographs of their peers on social media and the role that feedback might play in both objectification of others and oneself. U.S. adult young women (N = 256; M age = 20.06, SD age = 1.57) viewed social media images of sexualized peers, non-sexualized peers, or landscapes (control). Then, they provided feedback on the images via social media hashtags (#) or not (tagging vs. no tagging). Results revealed that participants who viewed sexualized peers demonstrated the highest levels of state self-objectification and were more likely to dehumanize the women in the photos. Hashtags generated by participants indicated that those who viewed sexualized peers engaged in greater appearance-related objectification, specifically related to body parts, and sexual objectification than those who viewed non-sexualized peers. In addition, generating hashtags that specifically focused on body parts heightened viewers' state self-objectification. These findings illustrate the complexities of social media content production and consumption, particularly for young women. • We experimentally tested how women react to sexualized peers on social media. • Exposure to sexualized peers on social media heightened viewers' self-objectification. • Viewers dehumanized sexualized peers on social media to the greatest extent. • Sexualized peers received more appearance-related and sexually-objectifying hashtags. • Appearance-related hashtags given to sexualized peers specifically focused on body parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the interplay of race and gender in shaping the journeys of Asian female digital nomads who navigate the realms of travel and work simultaneously, through the lens of post-colonial feminism. Through our qualitative exploration, we contend that prevailing discourses constrain understandings of Asian women's lived experiences. While our respondents' narratives align with existing knowledge, our original contribution lies in our nuanced examination of the intersecting power dynamics of gender and race. These women's accounts highlight the pervasive influence of internalized racism, sexualized and racialized hegemonic norms, and the differential treatment of Westerners within digital nomadism. These revelations challenge idealized portrayals of digital nomadism, revealing the racial and gender-based discrimination that these Asian women confront on their journeys. [Display omitted] • Explores critical drivers shaping Asian women digital nomads' travel experiences • Employs post-colonial feminist standpoint • Critiques western feminist and mobilities discourses of digital nomadism • Argues extant explorations of digital nomads are gender and racially blind • Presents intersectionality to acknowledge the diversity of female experiences [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Self-objectification occurs when women view their bodies as objects, existing for the pleasure of others. Individual differences in trait-based self-objectification are associated with negative psychological outcomes, including an increased risk of poor body image. Recent research has revealed that narcissism moderates the pathway between self-objectification and body image concerns, but research has yet to explore the moderating role of the remaining members of the dark triad. This study presents evidence from a cross-sectional study of young Australian women (age range: 18–30 years) in which we explored the potential for each dark triad traits (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism) to differently act as a risk or a protective factor for body image concerns, or to be a moderator in the relationship between self-objectification and body image concerns. Specifically, participants responded to explicit (self-report) and implicit (associative) measures of self-objectification, the dark triad, and measures of body shame and discrepancies in actual-ideal weight. A somewhat unexpected pattern of findings emerged from regression analyses - narcissism was a protective factor, while Machiavellianism was a risk factor in the development of body image concerns through self-objectification. Psychopathy was mostly unrelated to body image concerns. The implicit measure of self-objectification was unrelated to all other measures. Highlights • We contribute evidence to the literature on the link between explicit self-objectification and body image concerns. • This paper is the first to explore implicit self-objectification. • Implicit self-objectification is unrelated to both the dark triad and body image concerns. • Narcissism is a protective factor in the relationship between body image concerns and self-objectification. • Machiavellianism is a risk factor in the relationship between body image concerns and self-objectification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women frequently send sexualized nude images to men (i.e., nudes), but women's motivations for sending nudes are unclear because there are methodological limitations in the ways that cyber sexual activity has been defined and measured. To address these gaps in the literature, we employed a mixed method triangulation design to assess young women's motivations for sending nudes to men, and how motivations compare when measured qualitatively and quantitatively. Across our qualitative and quantitative data, we found that women endorsed a plethora of motivations for sending nudes to men—far more than any one approach captured. The open-ended responses revealed positive sexual motives otherwise missing from the quantitative scales, which tended to overrepresent negative motivations. We also identified several critical discrepancies between endorsement of similar motivations in the qualitative versus quantitative responses, especially when it came to the idea of sending nudes for fun. Based on these findings, we suggest future researchers consider using more specific, and less stigmatizing language when assessing women's motivations for sending nudes. • Women endorsed many motives for sending nudes to men—far more than any one qualitative or quantitative approach captured. • The motives, violence perpetration, drug/alcohol use, and proving something were unique to the quantitative responses. • The positive motives, sexual exploration, felt cute, and foreplay were uniquely identified in the qualitative responses. • Endorsement frequency of comparable motivations differed in the qualitative versus quantitative responses. • Some women sent nudes to gain predictability/control, consistent with a nuanced application of objectification theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence suggests that the sexualization of girls has increased and become more explicit in recent years. However, most of the research conducted to date has focused on sexualization in adults. To address this research gap, this study explored how young Australian girls respond to and describe sexualized and non-sexualized depictions of their peers. Results from 42 girls aged 6–11 years revealed that sexualization was a perceptually salient attribute, with participants readily classifying sexualized girls as a subgroup. Participants also made distinct trait attributions based on the differences between sexualized and non-sexualized girls. The results suggest that young girls respond differently to sexualized and non-sexualized depictions of their peers and are beginning to develop stereotypes based on these depictions. As such, the implementation of media literacy programs in adolescence may be too late and efforts may be required to address this issue among younger children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite widespread public concern about the early sexualization of young girls, as yet there has been little empirical examination of potential negative effects. In the present study a sample of 300 6–9 year-old girls completed individual interviews assessing exposure to sexualized media, internalization of sexualized messages (measured via preference for sexualized clothing), and body image attitudes (body esteem, body dissatisfaction). Exposure to sexualized media was found to be correlated with internalization of sexualization messages, itself correlated with negative body image. The findings provide preliminary evidence that sexualized messages appear to be internalized by very young girls which, in turn, has negative implications for how they feel about their bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is widespread concern about young girls displaying 'grown up' or sexualized behaviours, as well as experiencing body image and appearance concerns that were previously thought to only impact much older girls. The present study examined the influence of three maternal attributes, self-objectification, materialism and parenting style, on sexualized behaviours and appearance concerns in young girls. A sample of 252 Australian mothers of 5-8year old girls reported on the behaviours and appearance concerns observed in their daughters and also completed measures of their own self-objectification, materialism and parenting style. It was found that a significant proportion of young girls were engaging with 'teen' culture, using beauty products and expressing some degree of appearance concern. Maternal self-objectification was related to daughters' engagement in teen culture, use of beauty products and appearance concern. Maternal materialism was related to girls' engagement in teen culture and appearance concern, while an authoritative parenting style was negatively related to girls' use of beauty products. The findings suggest that maternal self-objectification and materialism play a role in the body image and appearance concerns of young girls, and in so doing, identify these maternal attributes as novel potential targets for intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two studies combining cross-sectional and daily experience methods tested whether watching sexualizing reality television is associated with self-objectification in women. In Study 1, an online survey of 495 undergraduate women, we demonstrated that watching sexualizing reality television was associated with higher levels of trait self-objectification. In Study 2, an online daily experience study of 94 undergraduate women, we extended the results from Study 1 by focusing on state self-objectification and showed that changes in daily exposure to sexualizing reality television correspond to fluctuations in the importance participants attached to appearance, but were unrelated to the importance attached to body-competence. The results of these two studies with multiple methods provide support for the influence of exposure to sexualizing reality television to the development of an objectified self-concept but also underline differences in how exposure to sexualizing reality television relates to trait and state self-objectification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether video games with sexualized content do or do not relate to mental health and body image problems in players, and/or sexualization and hostility toward women, is an issue of broad public interest. However, evidence from empirical studies has generally been mixed. To examine this issue, we explored the degree to which sexualization in games was related to both well-being/body dissatisfaction and sexism/misogyny among players in two separate meta-analyses. Results revealed that sexualization in games was neither related to well-being/body dissatisfaction (r = 0.082, k = 10, n = 2,010, p =.066) nor sexism/misogyny (r = 0.040, k = 15, n = 15,938, p =.070). Better designed studies, and those that showed less evidence for researcher expectancy effects (for sexism/misogyny outcomes), tended to find less evidence for effects. As appears commonly in other realms of media effects, the evidence is weak that sexualized games influence player attitudes and behavior. • Whether sexualization in video games causes negative outcomes is a matter of concern. • Meta-analysis examined sexualization effects on misogynistic and mental health outcomes. • Exposure to sexualization in games was not found to be associated with negative outcomes. • Better quality studies were less able to find evidence for effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely accepted that the sexualization of girls has increased markedly over time. The overall aim of the present study was to offer a description of the behaviours of young girls, with a particular focus on potentially sexualized behaviours and appearance concern. A sample of 815 mothers of 4–10 year-old girls completed a questionnaire about a range of behaviours exhibited by their daughters, in addition to measures of their own self-objectification and material concern. It was found that many girls engaged with teen culture and used a variety of beauty products, but few exhibited more overtly sexualized behaviours. Involvement with teen culture, using beauty products, attention to clothes, and personal grooming were all associated with the measure of appearance concern, as were maternal self-objectification and material concern. It was concluded that young girls do engage in ‘grown up’ behaviours and that such engagement is not benign for their development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Vaccine development is a core component of pharmaceutical industry activity and a key site for studying pharmaceuticalization processes. In recent decades, two so-called cancer vaccines have entered the U.S. medical marketplace: a vaccine targeting hepatitis B virus (HBV) to prevent liver cancers and a vaccine targeting human papillomavirus (HPV) to prevent cervical and other cancers. These viruses are two of six sexually transmissible infectious agents (STIs) that are causally linked to the development of cancers; collectively they reference an expanding approach to apprehending cancer that focuses attention simultaneously “inward” toward biomolecular processes and “outward” toward risk behaviors, sexual practices, and lifestyles. This paper juxtaposes the cases of HBV and HPV and their vaccine trajectories to analyze how vaccines, like pharmaceuticals more generally, are emblematic of contemporary pharmaceuticalization processes. We argue that individualized risk, in this case sexual risk, is produced and treated by scientific claims of links between STIs and cancers and through pharmaceutical company and biomedical practices. Simultaneous processes of sexualization and pharmaceuticalization mark these cases. Our comparison demonstrates that these processes are not uniform, and that the production of risks, subjects, and bodies depends not only on the specificities of vaccine development but also on the broader political and cultural frames within which sexuality is understood. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] This review compares body image among collegiate female athletes to non-athletes. [•] More versus less competitive athletes might be at greater risk for BIC. [•] Athletes in feminine sports report at least similar levels of BIC as non-athletes. [•] Athletes in endurance sports appear to have better body image than non-athletes. [•] Research among athletes on how BIC is related to sexual objectification is lacking. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Those who have examined tourism for India’s Northeast have primarily focused on issues of development. However, as a contested, postcolonial space, wherein multiple groups produce contending knowledge claims about political history and belonging, I examine the political implications of tourism for the Northeast. Specifically, I examine the histories offered within state-produced tourism websites for the seven states historically comprising the Northeast. I compare these to twelve corporate tourism websites for the Northeast. I argue that the state websites especially obscure competing knowledge claims and advance the hegemonic narrative of the nation. In doing so, they also reaffirm the state’s racialized, sexualized production of knowledge about the Northeast. Ultimately, a focus on the political underscores the complexity of tourism for complex, postcolonial spaces such as India’s Northeast. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]