Women feel unsafe when objectified but may still self-sexualize for attractive or wealthy men
Women feel unsafe when objectified but may still self-sexualize for attractive or wealthy men
Why it matters
- Study shows complex interplay between safety concerns and social/economic incentives.
- Highlights how women navigate objectification in romantic contexts.
By the numbers
- 147 women in first experiment, 181 in second.
- Safety anxiety increased with objectifying gaze but did not reduce self-sexualization if the man was attractive or wealthy.
The big picture
- Women weigh safety concerns against potential social/economic benefits.
- Findings suggest cultural and contextual factors influence self-sexualization.
What they're saying
- Commenters note similarity to cost/benefit analysis.
- One comment points out the role of attractiveness in perception of harassment vs. flirtation.
Caveats
- Study relied on imagined scenarios and self-report measures.
- Sample limited to young Chinese women, may not generalize.
What’s next
- Further research needed to explore real-world behavior and generalizability.