The woman in the (rearview) mirror: Viewers’ attitudes toward objectified car selfies of black and white women

Daniels, Elizabeth A.; Jerald, Morgan C.; Ward, L. Monique

Abstract

Using an experimental methodology, the present study investigated the effect of objectified versus nonobjectified social media photos of Black and White young women on young Black and White people’s attitudes. An aim of the study was to examine whether Black women are penalized for an objectified self-presentation on social media in similar ways as White women. Another aim of the study was to investigate whether the race of the viewer affects attitudes toward targets. Young adults in the United States (n = 402) viewed mock Facebook profiles belonging to Black and White women with either an objectified or a nonobjectified profile photo. They then rated the women’s morality, warmth, competence, and sexual attractiveness. They also reported how much they liked the profiles. Findings indicate that a Black woman was not penalized significantly more than a White woman for an objectified selfpresentation on social media. The race of the viewer did not affect perceptions. These results contribute to the small body of research documenting the impact of objectification on Black women.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 21, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Dec 9, 2021
• Publication Date: Dec 9, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jan 9, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 15, 2024
• Journal: Psychology of Popular Media
• Print ISSN: 2689-6567
• Electronic ISSN: 2689-6575
• Publisher: American Psychological Association
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 217-226
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000363
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11598434