The Beast of Beauty Culture: An Analysis of the Political Effects of Self-Objectification Sarah Oliver

Primary Question How does self-objectification affect internal and external political efficacy?

Objectification “Whenever a woman’s body, body parts, or sexual functions are separated out from her person, reduced to the status of mere instruments, or regarded as if they were capable of representing her.” (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997).

Examples

New Objectification Culture Normalization of female objectification in popular culture The new vogue of “consensual” objectification Idea that objectification is empowering Appropriation of female agency and power for male pleasure (the FFT)

BloodRayne

Self-Objectification “a key process whereby girls [and women] learn to think and treat their bodies as objects of others’ desires” (Zubriggen et al., 2007:2) When a woman integrates the image of herself as an object into her own value system.

Examples “The boys wear funny outfits to attract girls, and the girls wear risqué outfits to be attractive… A girl is walking down DP with her posse, all of whom are wearing scraps of fabric that cover their nipples and their genitals and nothing else - I know you’re supposed to be an Indian, but I can only tell from the feather on your head.” Dana Olson, October 31, 2007

Negative Effects of Self-Objectification Unipolar depression Habitual body monitoring Eating disorders Body shame Social physique anxiety Depressed cognitive functioning Sexual dysfunction Lower self-esteem Political efficacy?

Political Efficacy Internal Political Efficacy: An individual’s confidence to understand and participate effectively in politics. External Political efficacy: An individual’s beliefs about whether the government will respond effectively to the demands of its citizens.

Data and Measures Survey of 162 college students at Whittier College 26 different randomly-selected classes Sample was roughly representative of the respective college populations

Self-Objectification Measure Now we would like to know how much importance you place on different aspects of your body. Please rank each of these characteristics in ascending order in terms of importance, from most important (rank = 1) to least importance (rank = 12). Please use each number from 1 through 12 only once. a. Physical attractiveness _______ b. Muscular strength _______ c. Coloring _______ d. Physical coordination _______ e. Weight _______ f. Stamina _______ g. Sex appeal _______ h. Health _______ i. Measurements _______ j. Physical fitness _______ k. Muscle tone _______ l. Physical energy level _______

Political Efficacy Questions Please check the box that fits best for each response.

Levels of Self-Objectification Level of Self-Objectification Percentage (n=71) Low 30% Medium 49% High 21%

Levels of Internal Efficacy Level of Internal Political Efficacy Percentage (n=71) Low 45% Medium 44% High 11%

Levels of External Efficacy Level of External Political Efficacy Percentage (n=71) Low 32% Medium 49% High 19%

Self-Objectification and Internal Political Efficacy for Women Low Medium & High 38% 48% Medium 43% 44% High 19% 8% Gamma= -.242, p=.289

Self-Objectification and External Political Efficacy for Women Low Medium & High 25% 36% Medium 55% 47% High 20% 18% Gamma= -.145, p=.511

Self-Objectification and Internal Political Efficacy for Men Low & Medium High Low 43% 0% Medium 35% 78% 22% Gamma= .484, p=.034