Sex object vs. athlete: Boys’ and men’s responses toward sexualized male athletes

Daniels, Elizabeth A.; Linder, Jennifer Ruh

Abstract

Using a between-participants experimental paradigm, the present study investigated U.S. adolescent boys’ (n = 96) and college men’s (n = 194) attitudes toward media images of male athletes as well as their thoughts about the athletes. Participants viewed either sexualized (i.e., skin exposed, sexual pose) or performance (i.e., in uniform and in action poses on the field/court) images of male athletes. They then rated the athletes’ competence, esteem, and sexual appeal and completed a writing task about their reactions to the images. Male viewers rated the sexualized athletes lower in competence and esteem and higher in sexual appeal compared to the performance athletes. These results have implications for advocacy efforts calling for less sexualization in today’s media environment.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 14, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jul 21, 2021
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jan 9, 2024
• Journal: Sex Roles
• Print ISSN: 0360-0025
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-2762
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 85
• Issue: 9-10
• Pages: 528-541
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-021-01228-3
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11598427