HELD DOWN THROUGH THEIR BODIES: SEXUAL OBJECTIFICATION OF WOMEN AND THE LEGITIMIZATION OF PATRIARCHY

Abstract

Based on social dominance theory, I proposed that the belief that it is permissible to view women as sexual objects (i.e., the sexual objectification of women) serves as a legitimizing myth used in the maintenance of patriarchy. To examine this hypothesis, five studies were conducted. Study 1 found that social dominance orientation (i.e., SDO) is positively associated with sexually objectifying attitudes toward women. Studies 2 and 3 failed to find evidence that an experimental manipulation known to influence SDO levels directly impacts the sexual objectification of women. Study 4 found evidence that increasing levels of sexually objectifying behavior towards women increases patriarchy support among low SDO men. Finally, Study 5 failed to find evidence that the sexual objectification of women impacts patriarchy support, precluding further attempts at examining whether the sexual objectification of women mediates the relationship between SDO and patriarchy support. Studies 2, 3, and 5 failed to replicate established findings in the social dominance literature suggesting that SDO should be affected by the manipulations that were employed in these studies. Implications for the current theorizing, possible explanations for the current results, and future directions are discussed.