Sex Object vs. Athlete: Boys ’ and Men’s Responses Toward Sexualized Male Athletes

AbstractUsing 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 a nd 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 toda y’s media environment. 
Source: Sex Roles - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research