Self-objectification, sexual subjectivity, and identity exploration among emerging adult women

ABSTRACT

As a result of the consistent sexual objectification of women across cultures, theorists have noted women objectifying themselves. Given the dehumanizing aspects of self-objectification, this process threatens the holistic development of the self. The present cross-sectional survey study examined how self-objectification is related to sexual subjectivity and identity exploration, among emerging adult women. We found that self-objectification negatively impacts the self-concept domains of self-esteem and sexual subjectivity. Self-esteem was found to mediate the association between self-objectification and identity exploration. Our results draw attention to the detrimental outcomes of self-objectification, highlighting the potential for educators and practitioners to aid young women in examining their self-concept within our broader culture to ensure a healthy trajectory of development of the self.

KEYWORDS:

• Self-objectification
• identity exploration
• sexual subjectivity
• emerging adulthood
• body surveillance
• body shame

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.