Beyond Body Image: Exploring Social, Emotional, Academic, and Gender Identity Correlates of Male Objectification

• In Event: 1-154 - Gender Norms, Gender Identity, and Appearance Concerns Across Development

Integrative Statement

A meta-analysis indicates that physical objectification of boys is becoming more pervasive over time (Blashill, 2011). Similar to the negative outcomes girls face when objectified, empirical studies indicate that men and boys also face negative physical (Blashill, 2011) and mental (Olivardia et al., 2004) effects when emphasis and value is placed on physical appearance. However, the literature on male objectification is still developing, and is marked by two limitations: a) mixed results concerning the relations between objectification and depression (Grabe, Hyde, & Lindberg, 2007), anxiety (Choma et al., 2010), or self-esteem (Olivardia et al., 2004), and b) most studies have focused on negative effects only in the physical domain (disordered eating, body dysmorphia) and mental/emotional domain (depression, lowered self-esteem) (Blashill, 2011). Accordingly, this study had three main goals. First, is to replicate the recent research that finds mental/emotional correlates for male objectification. Second, we examined whether the effects of male objectification on adolescents extend to social, academic, and gender identity domains. Third, we explored how sources of pressure differentially influence correlates of self-objectification that adolescent boys feel. Participants were 263 male sixth grade students (Mage=11.44 years, SD=.56, 92% participation rate) from eight elementary schools in an urban, southwestern city who participated in a larger study about gender attitudes and social behavior. Children came from relatively ethnically diverse backgrounds (53% White, 13% Latino/Hispanic, 5% African American, 5% Asian American, 4% Native American, 1% Pacific Islander, 20% other). The majority (68%) of children came from two-parent households, with 76% of mothers and fathers reporting having at least some college education (median income =$76–100,000). Results indicated that social anxiety, depression, academic motivation, and similarity to own gender were not significantly correlated with objectification pressure from any source (rs below = .06, ps above = .344) and thus were not included in the final model. We found that when all sources of pressure were entered into the same model, each source did indeed relate to different correlates. Pressure to objectify from the self was significantly associated with public regard (β = .16, p < .05) and gender centrality (β = -.14, p < .05). Pressure to objectify from female peers was significantly associated with masculinity (β = .12, p < .05), presentation pressure from other gender (β = .48, p < .001), and endorsement of female objectification (β = .23, p < .01). Pressure to objectify from male peers was significantly associated with private regard (β = -.11, p < .05), similarity to other gender (β = .15, p < .05), and presentation pressure from own gender (β = .18, p < .05). Finally, pressure to objectify from fathers was significantly, associated with endorsement of female objectification (β = .23, p < .01) and self-esteem (β = -.16, p < .001). Discussion will focus on the role of the self and peer interactions in objectification outcomes, as well as what can be gained by analyzing the unique influence of different sources of pressure.

Authors

• Matthew G Nielson, Arizona State University
  Presenting Author

• Carol Lynn Martin, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Deborah Tolman, City University of New York (CUNY) Hunter College
  Non-Presenting Author