Yet Another Reason...

Just in case you needed a reason today to change how you see yourself and how the world sees you...

Women subject to objectifying gazes show decreased math ability


ScienceDaily (Feb. 4, 2011) — Women who are looked at as sexual objects not only react as sexual objects, they also exhibit less proficiency with math, according to a new study published in the March 2011 issue of the journal Psychology of Women Quarterly.
The study examined the effect of the objectifying gaze (the visual inspection of one's body by another person) on undergraduates' math performance. Motivation to interact with the objectifying person in the future was also measured as well as body image outcomes, including body surveillance, body shame, and body dissatisfaction.
One hundred and fifty undergraduates (67 women and 83 men) from a large U.S. Midwestern university participated in the study.
Researchers found that the objectifying gaze lowered women's math performance, but not men's. The objectifying gaze also increased women's, but not men's, motivation to have further interactions with their partner. Finally, the research found that an objectifying gaze did not influence body surveillance, body shame, or body dissatisfaction for women or men.
"The objectifying gaze is particularly problematic for women," write authors Sarah J. Gervais, Theresa K. Vescio, and Jill Allen. "And it may lead to a vicious cycle in which women are first objectified and, as a result, underperform, confirming the notion that women's looks are more important than what they can do."

My favorite part is the ...research found that an objectifying gaze did not influence ... body shame, or body dissatisfaction for women or men. I see... I would love to know if they were planning on looking at the long term effects of these "gazes". I am thinking thiat if Gervais, Vescio and Allen are correct, then these gazes are most certainly going to have long term body image impact.
So what d we do about it? There is no easy answer... The good part is, this was a small sample of university students so maybe it a/ isn't valid and b/does not apply to the general population (let's be honest, undergrads ALL think about sex!).

Best advice, prove them wrong and show them that a woman CAN have it all - looks and brains- and give whatever you do 100%.

xoxo - S