Exploring the bidirectional connection between belonging and women’s self-sexualization

ABSTRACT

Women’s self-sexualization and belonging may be inextricably connected. Self-sexualization, or intentionally engaging in activities to appear sexually appealing to others, may carry intrapersonal costs but also interpersonal benefits. Integrating objectification, belonging, and ostracism theories, we tested whether social exclusion increases women’s self-sexualization and whether self-sexualization reduces anticipated social exclusion. First, we considered whether actual or anticipated social exclusion at interpersonal (Study 1) or intergroup (Study 2) levels led to greater self-sexualization. Second, we examined whether self-sexualization increased anticipated inclusion (Study 3). Results indicate that belonging drives women’s self-sexualization behavior (Studies 1–2) and this behavior increases anticipated belonging, but only when it is agentically chosen (Study 3). This preliminary work contributes to self-sexualization research through novel theoretical integration and methodological advances.

KEYWORDS:

• sexual objectification
• self-sexualization
• impression management
• belonging
• ostracism
• backlash effects

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Notes

1. Condition differences are emphasized here with italics, but these differences were not made salient during the experimental manipulation.

2. Participants varied widely on their knowledge of the SIMS game (with responses across the entire scale from 1 (not at all familiar) to 7 (very familiar); M = 3.85, SD = 2.16). When the covariate was excluded, the pattern of results remained consistent (Belonging Threat X Appearance Focus interaction; F(1,119) = 2.87, p =.09).

3. We collected data from an additional 27 participants who failed to pay attention to instructions, did not complete the procedure as directed, or were suspicious of our cover story. These cases were excluded from analysis.

4. Pilot testing with a separate sample of women (n = 39) demonstrated that the backlash exclusion condition caused backlash against the female candidate. Specifically, using the same manipulation, pilot study participants rated the female candidate as less likeable (M = 3.41, SD = 1.22), hireable (M = 5.38, SD = 0.95), and able to succeed (M = 3.27, SD = 1.12) than the male candidate (likable: M = 4.08, SD = 1.20; hireable: M = 6.04, SD = 0.80; able to succeed: M = 4.86, SD = 1.19; ts(39) > −1.73, ps <.046). We infer that because women in the pilot study demonstrated backlash against the female versus male candidate, women who reviewed the negotiation with the female candidate in the present study would similarly be more aware of potential for being excluded due to backlash.

5. Forty-eight undergraduate women rated each article of clothing for attractiveness (i.e., cute, like it, would buy it) and sexiness. All items were found to be equally attractive, but to differ with regard to sexiness.

6. Participants also completed a Stroop task, which did not differ according to threat condition, t(116) = 0.24, p =.81. The threat condition (r = −.08, p =.37) and self-sexualization were not correlated with Stroop performance (r = −.08, p =.38), and thus will not be discussed further.

7. We also assessed self-conscious emotions with nine items (embarrassed, nervous, self-conscious, distressed, insecure, ashamed, anxious, worried, humiliated) on a 1 (very slightly or only a little) to 5 (extremely) scale (α =.98). We assessed self-humanization with four items (polite, thorough, broad-minded, humble) on a 1 (much less than average) to 5 (much more than average) scale (α =.87; Haslam et al., 2005). The extent to which participants felt distracted was assessed with a single item on a 1 (very slightly or not at all) to 5 (extremely) scale. All measures were highly interrelated (r = |.53-.76| range, ps <.001).

8. We also found that a constrained sexualized outfit (versus a constrained professional outfit) decreased self-humanization and increased both self-conscious emotions and distraction among women. When women chose to self-sexualize versus adopt more professional clothing, doing so was unrelated to distraction, self-conscious emotions, and self-humanization.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities; Department of Psychology.