TY - JOUR
T1 - Depicting Women as Sex Objects in Television Advertising
T2 - Effects on Body Dissatisfaction
AU - Lavine, Howard
AU - Sweeney, Donna
AU - Wagner, Stephen H.
PY - 1999/8
Y1 - 1999/8
N2 - This study examined whether exposure to TV ads that portray women as sex objects causes increased body dissatisfaction among women and men. Participants were exposed to 15 sexist and 5 nonsexist ads, 20 nonsexist ads, or a no ad control condition. Results revealed that women exposed to sexist ads judged their current body size as larger and revealed a larger discrepancy between their actual and ideal body sizes (preferring a thinner body) than women exposed to the nonsexist or no ad condition. Men exposed to the sexist ads judged their current body size as thinner, revealed a larger discrepancy between their actual and ideal body size (preferring a larger body), and revealed a larger discrepancy between their own ideal body size and their perceptions of others’ male body size preferences (believing that others preferred a larger ideal) than men exposed to the nonsexist or no ad condition. Discussion focuses on the cognitive, attitudinal, and behavioral consequences of exposure to gender stereotypic television advertising.
AB - This study examined whether exposure to TV ads that portray women as sex objects causes increased body dissatisfaction among women and men. Participants were exposed to 15 sexist and 5 nonsexist ads, 20 nonsexist ads, or a no ad control condition. Results revealed that women exposed to sexist ads judged their current body size as larger and revealed a larger discrepancy between their actual and ideal body sizes (preferring a thinner body) than women exposed to the nonsexist or no ad condition. Men exposed to the sexist ads judged their current body size as thinner, revealed a larger discrepancy between their actual and ideal body size (preferring a larger body), and revealed a larger discrepancy between their own ideal body size and their perceptions of others’ male body size preferences (believing that others preferred a larger ideal) than men exposed to the nonsexist or no ad condition. Discussion focuses on the cognitive, attitudinal, and behavioral consequences of exposure to gender stereotypic television advertising.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84937183767&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1177/01461672992511012
DO - 10.1177/01461672992511012
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84937183767
SN - 0146-1672
VL - 25
SP - 1049
EP - 1058
JO - Personality and social psychology bulletin
JF - Personality and social psychology bulletin
IS - 8
ER -