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Objectifying Sarah Palin: Evidence that objectification causes women to be perceived as less competent and less fully human

Heflick, Nathan A, Goldenberg, Jamie L (2009) Objectifying Sarah Palin: Evidence that objectification causes women to be perceived as less competent and less fully human. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 45 (3). pp. 598-601. ISSN 0022-1031. (doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2009.02.008) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:34029)

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Abstract

Although a great deal of research has examined the effects of objectification on women’s self-perceptions and behavior, empirical research has yet to address how objectifying a woman affects the way she is perceived by others. We hypothesize that focusing on a woman’s appearance will promote reduced perceptions of competence, and also, by virtue of construing the women as an “object”, perceptions of the woman as less human. We found initial experimental evidence for these hypotheses as a function of objectifying two targets – Sarah Palin and Angelina Jolie. In addition, focusing on Palin’s appearance reduced intentions to vote for the McCain–Palin ticket (prior to the 2008 US Presidential election). We discuss these findings in the context of the election and the objectification of women.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.jesp.2009.02.008
Uncontrolled keywords: Objectification of women, Political psychology, Infrahumanization
Subjects: H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: Nathan Heflick
Date Deposited: 02 Jun 2013 17:34 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:11 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/34029 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Heflick, Nathan A.

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