Testing a Culture-Specific Extension of Objectification Theory Regarding African American Women's Body Image

Abstract

Objectification theory has emphasized objectification in terms of body shape and size. African American women may expect to be evaluated on additional physical attributes such as skin tone. Therefore, we extended previous research on objectification theory by adding separate measures of skin-tone concerns in a survey of 117 African American women. Results from a series of path analyses revealed that as hypothesized, habitual body monitoring of skin tone predicted specific skin-tone dissatisfaction as well as general shame regarding body shape and size. Contrary to theoretical predictions, self-objectification did not mediate links between habitual monitoring (of skin tone or of body size and shape) and body dissatisfaction. In terms of objectification theory, results suggest that skin tone is a relevant dimension of habitual body monitoring and dissatisfaction for some African American women.

Addressing Gender and Cultural Diversity in Body Image: Objectification Theory as a Framework for Integrating Theories and Grounding Research

“…Objectification theory was originally grounded in women's experiences and investigated with predominantly White college women (for review see Moradi and Huang 2008). But, the theory has been extended to examining sexual minority and heterosexual men's experiences (e.g., Hebl et al 2004;Martins et al 2007;Wiseman and Moradi 2010) as well as experiences posited to be uniquely salient for subgroups of women such as lesbian women (e.g., Kozee and Tylka 2006), African American women (e.g., Buchanan et al 2008), and Deaf women (Moradi and Rottenstein 2007). Objectification theory posits that gender socialization and sexual objectification experiences define women by their bodies and appearance.…”

“…For example, pressures about skin tone, hair color and texture, facial features, and shape and size of body parts may shape manifestations of body surveillance, body shame, and other objectification theory constructs and contribute to body image and eating problems for racial or ethnic minority women (e.g., Buchanan et al 2008;Greene 1994;Harris and Kuba 1997;Root 1990;Overstreet et al 2010). Marginalization and stress associated with adapting to conflicting cultures may shape internalization of dominant cultural standards of attractiveness and be linked with body image and eating problems for racial or ethnic minority women as well as Deaf women (e.g., Moradi and Rottenstein 2007;Perez et al 2002).…”

On Objects and Actions: Situating Self-Objectification in a System Justification Context

“…Patterns of sexual and self-objectification in relation to other outcomes (e.g., disordered eating, depression) have been shown to vary by sexual orientation (Kozee & Tylka, 2006;Martins, Tiggemann, & Kirkbride, 2007), gender (Calogero, 2009;Parent & Moradi, 2011;Tiggemann & Kuring, 2004), age (Augustus-Horvath & Tylka, 2009;Tiggemann & Lynch, 2001), and ethnicity (Buchanan, Fischer, Tokar, & Yoder, 2008;Harrison & Fredrickson, 2003). It is necessary to examine the extent to which the link between self-objectification and system justification is observed in subgroups of women as well as other lower status groups, as these groups will vary in the extent to which they are disadvantaged by the gender status quo and the wider prevailing system.…”

Racial Identity and Gender as Moderators of the Relationship Between Body Image and Self-esteem for African Americans

“…Intersectionality recognizes that the intersections of various social identities (such as African American women) result in a set of experiences that cannot be adequately understood by looking at each social identity in isolation. For instance, a number of authors have argued that African American women's attitudes regarding their body image and physical attractiveness can only be understood in the context of their racialized experience of gender (Buchanan et al 2008;Byrd 2005;Duke 2000;Henrickson et al 2010;Poran 2006). It is important to examine not only whether African American women and men differ in the association between body ideals and selfesteem, but also whether these differences are influenced by their racial identity attitudes.…”

“…This leads some women to link their sense of self-worth to their satisfaction with their own physical appearance. Buchanan and colleagues found partial evidence of the objectification process for a sample of African American women focusing specifically on their skin tone (Buchanan et al 2008). However, they did not investigate whether these processes differed for African American men.…”