New research published in the European Journal of Social Psychology provides evidence that self-objectification contributes to the “pleasure gap” between men and women during sexual activities. The findings suggest that women’s reduced sexual agency, or the ability to express and act on sexual desires and boundaries, plays a crucial role in this imbalance.
Self-objectification is a psychological phenomenon where individuals, particularly women, view themselves primarily through the lens of an external observer, valuing their appearance above their capabilities or inner qualities. This concept emerges from a societal context that heavily emphasizes physical attractiveness and judges women predominantly by their appearance. Such an outlook leads women to constantly monitor and critique their own bodies.
“Objectification is the rule not exception in many women’s lives,” explained study authors Rotem Kahalon and Verena Klein, an assistant professor at Bar-Ilan University and associate professor at the University of Southampton, respectively.
“We were interested in how self-objectification, the tendency to view oneself as an object which is evaluated based on one’s appearance, might impact women’s ability to enjoy sex and whether it contributes to sexual difficulties (e.g., pain during sex). Additionally, we investigated the psychological processes involved in this connection. Thereby we focused on sexual agency what is commonly understood as the the capability to express sexual desires and boundaries.”
“Understanding the factors influencing women’s sexual (dys)function is important both theoretically and practically. Practically, it’s a crucial step forward in improving interventions aimed at enhancing women’s sexual functioning, which is a fundamental aspect of their overall health and well-being.”
To investigate the relationship between self-objectification and sexual dysfunction, the researchers conducted two separate studies.
The first study included 404 Israeli women who were recruited via social media. To measure self-objectification, the researchers utilized the Self-Objectification Beliefs and Behaviors Scale (SOBBS), a tool considered superior to previous measures due to its broader and more nuanced assessment criteria. Ths scale includes items such as “I often think about how my body must look to others” and “My body is what gives me value to other people.”
Sexual dysfunction was evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index, a detailed questionnaire covering various aspects of sexual function, including desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Additionally, sexual agency was assessed through the self-efficacy subscale of the Female Sexual Subjectivity Inventory, and sexual entitlement through a set of items designed to gauge participants’ valuation of their own pleasure relative to their partners’.
The researchers found a clear association between self-objectification and sexual dysfunction. This direct correlation suggests that higher levels of self-objectification among women are linked to greater sexual dysfunction.
Additionally, the study found that self-objectification was negatively associated with sexual agency and entitlement to pleasure, indicating that women who view themselves through an external, objectifying lens may feel less capable of expressing their sexual desires and asserting their right to sexual satisfaction.
A key finding from Study 1 was the mediating role of sexual agency in the relationship between self-objectification and sexual dysfunction. This suggests that the detrimental effects of self-objectification on sexual health can be, in part, explained by diminished sexual agency.
On the other hand, sexual entitlement did not serve as a mediator in this context, indicating that while self-objectification affects how women perceive their right to sexual pleasure, this perception alone does not directly impact their experience of sexual dysfunction.
The second study included 366 women from the United States, recruited via the Researchmatch platform, a national health volunteer registry, and included the same measures used in Study 1. Furthermore, additional measures were introduced to assess body shame, appearance anxiety, awareness of internal bodily states, and the experience of flow.
The results from Study 2 echoed the findings from Study 1. This cross-cultural consistency underscores the pervasive impact of self-objectification on women’s sexual health across different societal backgrounds.
“Our research found that self-objectification is linked to having sexual dysfunction. Interestingly, being sexually agentic seems to play a role in how self-objectification is related to sexual dysfunction,” Kahalon and Klein told PsyPost. “This suggests that women high on self-objectification report more sexual dysfunction because they might struggle with expressing and communicating their sexual desires and preferences.”
“One possibility is that women who learned that their body represented their self are more aware of how their bodies look to others than of their desires. Yet awareness of one’s desires is crucial for communicating them to one’s partner. Another possibility is that women whose partners objectify may ultimately develop high self-objectification, which makes it harder for them to communicate their sexual needs.”
However, the study — like all research — is not without its limitations. Its cross-sectional design means causality cannot be inferred, and its focus on heterosexual women limits its applicability across the spectrum of sexual orientations and relationships.
The study, “Self-objectification and sexual dysfunction among women: Testing and extending objectification theory,” was authored by Rotem Kahalon, Verena Klein, Shani Alon, and Nurit Shnabel.