A Test of Objectification Theory: The Effect of the Male Gaze on Appearance Concerns in College Women
- 1 March 2004
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Psychology of Women Quarterly
- Vol. 28 (1) , 16-21
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.2004.00118.x
Abstract
This study extends the research on objectification theory by examining the effect of anticipating a male or female gaze on appearance-related concerns in 105 female undergraduates. Gaze anticipation was manipulated by having participants believe they would be interacting with a man or woman before completing several self-report measures. Results demonstrated that anticipating a male gaze produced significantly greater body shame and social physique anxiety than anticipating a female gaze, while no differences were observed for dietary intent. Discussion centers on the pervasiveness of the experience of self-objectification and the implications of these findings for future research.Keywords
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