L. Monique Ward|Rita C. Seabrook|Petal Grower|Soraya Giaccardi|Julia R. Lippman
Sexual Object or Sexual Subject? Media Use, Self-Sexualization, and Sexual Agency Among Undergraduate Women
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
objectification theorists argue repeated exposure sexually objectifying media content leads higher levels selfobjectification although consequences selfobjectification womens sexual health sexual agency proposed efforts test connections infrequent yielded inconsistent results used structural equation modeling test connections exposure three media genres womens magazines lifestyle reality tv situation comedies selfsexualization four dimensions sexual agency among 754 heterosexual bisexual undergraduate women aged 1623 185 assessments sexual agency focused sexual assertiveness condom use selfefficacy sexual affect alcohol use feel sexual findings confirmed expectations frequent consumption womens magazines lifestyle reality tv programs situation comedies predicted greater selfsexualization turn predicted greater use alcohol feel sexual less condom use selfefficacy negative sexual affect discuss implications womens sexual wellbeing research media sexualization also offer suggestions practitioners parents educators disrupt associations among media use selfsexualization diminished sexual agency online slides instructors want use article teaching available pwqs website athttpjournalssagepubcompagepwqsupplindex