Self-Objectification and That “Not So Fresh Feeling”

Roberts, Tomi-Ann; Waters, Patricia L.

doi:10.1300/j015v27n03_02

Cited by 58 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Focusing on body appearance may have made the appearance dimension more salient, encouraging women to see their bodies as objects (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997;Fredrickson et al, 1998;Quinn, Kallen, & Cathey, 2006). When seeing their bodies as objects, women may be less likely to perceive their body functionality positively (Roberts & Waters, 2004). It is also important to note that this decrease in functionality satisfaction even persisted at 1-week followup, which may reflect the overall, longer term negative impact of seeing the body as an object.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research has shown that, through this predominant focus on appearance, women may eventually separate themselves from their bodily functioning (Moradi & Huang, 2008;Roberts & Waters, 2004). In other words, their experience of their bodies becomes more about ''How do I look?''…”

Section: Self-objectification and Body Dissatisfactionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…and ''What am I capable of?'' (Roberts & Waters, 2004). This shift is important, because bodily functioning comprises the unobservable dimension of the body (e.g., health, fitness, physical strength) that forms a substantial part of the experience of the body (Franzoi, 1995;Franzoi & Shields, 1984;Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997).…”

Section: Self-objectification and Body Dissatisfactionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Body Language

Alleva

Martijn

Jansen

et al. 2013

Psychology of Women Quarterly

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With the current studies, we aimed to improve body satisfaction by inducing a functionality-based focus on the body. Objectification theory was used as a guiding framework for this approach. In Study 1, 59 female and 59 male undergraduates and, in Study 2, 118 women between the ages of 30 and 50 years completed a writing assignment to experimentally manipulate their body focus. The writing assignment instructions were to describe what one's body can do (functionality focus) or what one's body looks like (appearance focus); a control writing task was also included. Functionality and appearance satisfaction, as well as global self-esteem, were measured at baseline, on test-day, and at a 1-week follow-up. In Study 1, male undergraduates in the functionality condition experienced an increase in functionality satisfaction from baseline to test-day; female undergraduates in the appearance condition experienced a decrease in functionality satisfaction both from baseline to test-day and from baseline to follow-up. In Study 2, women in the functionality condition experienced an increase in functionality satisfaction from baseline to follow-up. The current studies are the first known to experimentally manipulate the functionality-based approach to the body and to investigate its effects on body image-serving to suggest perceived functionality as a potentially fruitful focus for further research and intervention.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Self-objectification and Body Dissatisfactionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Self-objectification and Body Dissatisfactionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Body Language

Alleva

Martijn

Jansen

et al. 2013

Psychology of Women Quarterly

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“…Alleva et al (2015) proposed that focusing on body functionality may improve body satisfaction by encouraging women to positively "reframe" how they view their body, from a potentially negative (appearance-focused) orientation to a positive (functionality-focused) orientation. Focusing on body functionality may reduce self-objectification because a functionality-based focus on the body is "antithetical" to self-objectification (Roberts & Waters, 2004) -it entails viewing the body as active and instrumental, rather than passive and aesthetic (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997). Such a focus might also foster body appreciation by helping women realise the importance of their body for leading a normal and fulfilling life.…”

Section: Functionality Focus and The Thin Ideal 3 A Pilot Study Invesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A pilot study investigating whether focusing on body functionality can protect women from the potential negative effects of viewing thin-ideal media images

Alleva

Veldhuis²,

Martijn

2016

Body Image

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“…The view that older women are likely to be less vulnerable to the effects of idealized images of the female body on their mental health is voiced in literature emanating from the USA, England and Australia (Roberts and Waters 2004; Ussher 1997; Victorian Government Family and Community Development Committee 2005). One rationale offered for this view is that women post-midlife, “within a culture that equates ageing with decreased sexual desirability, are more willing and able to step outside the objectification limelight” (Roberts and Waters 2004, p. 8).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In the Margins: The Impact of Sexualised Images on the Mental Health of Ageing Women

Hine

2011

Sex Roles

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This paper describes key findings of a study exploring how a cohort of 16 rural Australian women aged over 60 years think, feel and respond to the prevalence of sexualised imagery in the media. The qualitative research framework was informed by Feminist Standpoint Theory. Participants in three focus groups responded to semi-structured questions and prompts, interspersed with viewing examples of sexualised images. Five strong thematic categories emerged: concern for the harmful impacts of sexualised images on the vulnerable, the media’s portrayal of sexual content with a focus on physical appearance and youth, descriptions of the impact of viewing sexualised images, moderators of the impact of sexualised images on well-being, and marginalisation of women in the media. Findings from this research indicate that sexualised images in the media do have an impact on older women’s self image and mental health in numerous ways and in a range of situations. Emotional impacts included sadness, anger, concern, envy, desensitisation, marginalisation, and discomfort that their appearance was being judged by others. A strong sense of self apart from appearance, feeling valued by family and community, ignoring or overlooking media content, and being aware that media images are not real and attainable helped buffer the link between sexualised images and well-being. Another important finding is that the impact is variable: women may experience different responses to similar sexualised content depending on a range of social, health and lifestyle factors affecting them at any given time.

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Self-Objectification and That “Not So Fresh Feeling”

Cited by 58 publications

References 32 publications

Body Language

Body Language

A pilot study investigating whether focusing on body functionality can protect women from the potential negative effects of viewing thin-ideal media images

In the Margins: The Impact of Sexualised Images on the Mental Health of Ageing Women

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