Editing Sexual objectification (section)

==Objectification theory==
{{expert needed|Gender Studies|section|reason=The prose is jargon-filled, repetitive and nearly impenetrable to laypeople. The structure needs improvement|date=January 2015}}
Objectification theory is a framework for understanding the experiences of women in cultures that sexually objectify them, proposed by [[Barbara Fredrickson]] and Tomi-Ann Roberts in 1997.<ref>{{cite journal|last1 = Fredrickson|first1 = B. L.|author-link1 = Barbara Fredrickson|last2 = Roberts|first2 = T.-A.|year = 1997|title = Objectification Theory|journal = [[Psychology of Women Quarterly]]|volume = 21|issue = 2|pages = 173–206|doi = 10.1111/j.1471-6402.1997.tb00108.x|s2cid = 145272074}}</ref> Within this framework, Fredrickson and Roberts draw conclusions about women's experiences. This theory states that, because of sexual objectification, women learn to internalize an outsider's view of their bodies as the primary view of themselves. Women, they explain, begin to view their bodies as objects separate from their person. This internalization has been termed self-objectification. This theory does not seek to prove the existence of sexual objectification; the theory assumes its existence in culture. This self-objectification then, according to objectification theory, leads to increased habitual body monitoring. With this framework in mind, Fredrickson and Roberts suggest explanations for consequences they believe are the result of sexual objectification. The consequences suggested are: increased feelings of shame, increased feelings of anxiety, decreased peak motivational state, and decreased awareness of internal bodily states.

Sexual objectification has been studied based on the proposition that girls and women develop their primary view of their physical selves from observing others. These observations can take place in the media or through personal experience.<ref name=bartky>{{cite book |last=Bartky |first=Sandra Lee |author-link=Sandra Bartky |chapter=On Psychological Oppression |title=Femininity and Domination: Studies in the Phenomenology of Oppression |page=[https://archive.org/details/femininitydomina00bart/page/22 22]-32 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |location=New York |year=1990 |isbn=978-0-415-90186-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/femininitydomina00bart |url-access=registration }}</ref>{{rp|26}} Through a blend of expected and actual exposure, women are socialized to objectify their own physical characteristics from a [[Grammatical person|third-person]] perception, which is identified as self-objectification.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kaschak |first=Ellyn |author-link=Ellyn Kaschak |title=Engendered Lives: A New Psychology of Women's Experience |url=https://archive.org/details/engenderedlivesn00kascrich |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/engenderedlivesn00kascrich/page/12 12] |publisher=[[Basic Books]] |location=New York, New York |year=1992 |isbn=978-0-465-01349-4}}</ref> Women and girls develop an expected physical appearance for themselves, based on observations of others; and are aware that others are likely to observe as well. The sexual objectification and self-objectification of women is believed to influence social [[gender roles]] and inequalities between the sexes.<ref name=Goldenberg>{{cite book |last1=Goldenberg |first1=Jamie L. |last2=Roberts |first2=Tomi-Ann |chapter=The Beast within the Beauty: An Existential Perspective on the Objectification and Condemnation of Women |editor-last1=Greenberg |editor-first1=Jeff |editor-link1=Jeff Greenberg (professor) |editor-last2=Koole |editor-first2=Sander L. |editor-last3=Pyszczynski |editor-first3=Thomas A. |editor-link3=Tom Pyszczynski |title=Handbook of Experimental Existential Psychology |pages=71–85 |publisher=[[Guilford Press]] |location=New York |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-59385-040-1 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j_KMRe9wK2MC&pg=PA71 }}</ref>

===Self-objectification===

[[Self-objectification]] can increase in situations which heighten the awareness of an individual's physical appearance.<ref name=frederickson1.82>{{Cite journal |last1=Fredrickson |first1=Barbara L. |last2=Harrison |first2=Kristen |author-link1=Barbara Fredrickson |title=Throwing like a Girl: Self-Objectification Predicts Adolescent Girls' Motor Performance |journal=[[Journal of Sport and Social Issues]] |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=79–101 |doi=10.1177/0193723504269878 |year=2005 |s2cid=146312527 }}</ref>{{rp|82}} Here, the presence of a [[third-person (video games)|third-person]] observer is enhanced. Therefore, when individuals know others are looking at them, or will be looking at them, they are more likely to care about their physical appearance. Examples of the enhanced presence of an observer include the presence of an audience, camera, or other known observer.

===Women, girls, and self-objectification===
Primarily, objectification theory describes how women and girls are influenced as a result of expected social and [[gender roles]].<ref name=bartky/> Research indicates not all women are influenced equally, due to the [[anatomical]], [[hormonal]], and [[Genetics|genetic]] differences of the female body; however, women's bodies are often objectified and evaluated more frequently.<ref name=frederickson1.82 />{{rp|90–95}} Self-objectification in girls tends to stem from two main causes: the internalization of traditional beauty standards as translated through media as well as any instances of sexual objectification that they might encounter in their daily lives.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=McKay |first=Tajare' |title=Female self-objectification: causes, consequences and prevention |journal=[[McNair Scholars Research Journal]] |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=53–70 |year=2013 |issn=2166-109X |url=http://commons.emich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1065&context=mcnair }}</ref> It is not uncommon for women to translate their anxieties over their constant sense of objectification into obsessive self-surveillance. This, in turn, can lead to many serious problems in women and girls, including "body shame, anxiety, negative attitudes toward menstruation, a disrupted flow of consciousness, diminished awareness of internal bodily states, depression, sexual dysfunction, and disordered eating."<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Calogero |first1=Rachel M. |last2=Davis |first2=William N. |last3=Thompson |first3=J. Kevin |title=The Role of Self-Objectification in the Experience of Women with Eating Disorders |journal=[[Sex Roles (journal)|Sex Roles]] |volume=52 |issue=1 |pages=43–50 |doi=10.1007/s11199-005-1192-9 |year=2005 |url=http://brown.uk.com/eatingdisorders/calogero.pdf |citeseerx=10.1.1.413.8397 |s2cid=10241677 }}</ref>

Sexual objectification occurs when a person is identified by their sexual body parts or sexual function. In essence, an individual loses their identity, and is recognized solely by the physical characteristics of their body.<ref name=bartky/> The purpose of this recognition is to bring enjoyment to others, or to serve as a sexual object for society.<ref name=LeMoncheck /> Sexual objectification can occur as a [[Social constructionism|social construct]] among individuals.

Sexual objectification has been around and present in society for many but has increased with the introduction of social media according to “Objectification, Sexualization, and Misrepresentation: Social Media and the College Experience - Stefanie E Davis, 2018” This journal shows a clear explanation for how young girls are influenced by social media to be sexually objectified. The platform is meant to share a glimpse into a person's life through photos to share with friends, family and mutuals. For many individuals, social media applications like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) are used to glamorize and romanticize certain lifestyles. Examples of this can be young women using their platform (however big it may be) to pose as an older age by uploading provocative photos. This behavior promotes sexual objectification of young girls that participate on social media.

===Psychological consequences===
Objectification theory suggests both direct and indirect consequences of objectification to women. Indirect consequences include [[self consciousness]] in terms that a woman is consistently checking or rearranging her clothes or appearance to ensure that she is presentable. More direct consequences are related to sexual victimization. Rape and sexual harassment are examples of this.<ref name=fredrickson2 /> Doob (2012) states that sexual harassment is one of the challenges faced by women in workplace. This may constitute sexual jokes or comments, most of which are degrading.<ref name="Doob">{{cite book |last=Doob |first=Christopher B. |title=Social Inequality and Social Stratification in US Society |publisher=[[Pearson Education, Inc.]] |location=Upper Saddle River, New Jersey |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-205-79241-2}}</ref> Research indicates that objectification theory is valuable to understanding how repeated visual images in the media are socialized and translated into [[mental health]] problems, including psychological consequences on the individual and societal level.<ref name=fredrickson2 /> These include increased self-consciousness, increased body anxiety, heightened mental health threats ([[Clinical depression|depression]], [[anorexia nervosa]], [[bulimia]], and [[sexual dysfunction]]), and increased body shame.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Moradi |first1=Bonnie |last2=Huang |first2=Yu-Ping |title=Objectification Theory and Psychology of Women: A Decade of Advances and Future Directions |journal=[[Psychology of Women Quarterly]] |volume=32 |issue=4 |pages=377–398 |doi=10.1111/j.1471-6402.2008.00452.x |year=2008 |s2cid=144389646 }}</ref> Therefore, the theory has been used to explore an array of dependent variables including [[disordered eating]], [[mental health]], [[Clinical depression|depression]], motor performance, [[body image]], idealized body type, [[stereotype]] formation, sexual perception and sexual typing.<ref name=fredrickson2/><ref name=frederickson1.82/> Body shame is a byproduct of the concept of an idealized body type adopted by most Western cultures that depicts a thin, model-type figure. Thus, women will engage in actions meant to change their body such as dieting, exercise, eating disorders, [[cosmetic surgery]], etc.<ref name=fredrickson2 /> Effects of objectification theory are identified on both the individual and societal levels.

===Causes of depression===
[[Learned helplessness]] theory posits that because human bodies are only alterable to a certain point, people develop a sense of body shame and anxiety from which they create a feeling of helplessness in relation to correcting their physical appearance and helplessness in being able to control the way in which others perceive their appearance. This lack of control often results in depression.<ref name=fredrickson2 /> In relating to a lack of motivation, objectification theory states that women have less control in relationships and the work environment because they have to depend on the evaluation of another who is typically basing their evaluation on physical appearance. Since the dependence on another's evaluation limits a woman's ability to create her own positive experiences and motivation, it adversely increases her likelihood for depression.<ref name=fredrickson2 /> Furthermore, sexual victimization may be a cause. Specifically, victimization within the workplace degrades women. Harassment experienced every day wears on a woman, and sometimes this results in a state of depression.<ref name=fredrickson2 /><ref name="Doob"/>