Primping, performing, and policing: Social media use and self-sexualization among U.S. White, Black, and Asian-American adolescent girls

Ward, L. Monique; Jerald, Morgan C.; Grower, Petal; Daniels, Elizabeth A.; Rowley, Stephanie

Abstract

Objectification theorists argue that routine sexual objectification, experienced interpersonally and via the media, encourages women and adolescent girls to value their external appearance and sexiness above other bodily experiences and competencies. Commonly, tests of this theory have linked exposure to sexualizing media content (i.e., TV, music videos, social media) to self-objectification and subsequently to consequences such as disordered eating among predominantly White samples. Do these analyses extend to U.S. girls of color and to broader well-being consequences? Using structural equation modeling, we tested theorized connections among 884 adolescent girls aged 13–18, including 391 White girls, 248 Black girls, and 245 Asian American girls. Participants completed surveys assessing their use of several social media platforms, social media engagement, self-sexualization, mental health symptoms, self-esteem, and body shame. We also examined age, racial identity, and racial composition of peer group as moderators. The model worked as expected for the full sample, with social media use and engagement predicting greater self-sexualization, which in turn was associated with diminished well-being. However, the model fit was worse for the White girls than for girls of color, and some constructs operated differently. Implications for future research with girls and possible media interventions are discussed.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 26, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jul 12, 2023
• Publication Date: Sep 30, 2023
• Deposit Date: Jan 9, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 13, 2025
• Journal: Body Image
• Print ISSN: 1740-1445
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 46
• Pages: 324-335
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.06.015
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11393752