The Existential Perspective on the Objectification and Condemnation of Women

"creatureliness"

Three Examples of History Attempting to Transcend Human Animal Nature

• the soul seen as eternal
• ability to exert will over temptation distinguishes humans from animals
• sexual ecstasy as a vehicle through which the body can transcend into enlightenment

Two Ways to Defend Against Threatening Aspects of Human Physicality

• deny, conceal, devalue creaturely features
• give creaturely features symbolic and cultural meaning and value so they can be embraced with little threat

Denying, Distancing, Devaluing Creaturliness Example Study - MS Increases Disgust to Body Products and Animals - Independent and Dependent Variables

• IV - association of physical aspects of sex with animal (essay describing similarities between humans and animals/essay describing differences between humans and animals) after ms
• DV - reported appeal for physical aspects of sex

Note: Not clear if there was an ms group and control group or only ms group

Denying, Distancing, Devaluing Creaturliness Example Study - MS Increases Disgust to Body Products and Animals - Results

• after reading essay in which people were reminded of their similarities to other animals and mortality was made salient, participants showed a decreased reported appeal for the physical aspects of sex

Giving Symbolic and Cultural Meaning to Creatureliness and Value to Minimize Threat Example Study - Embracing Romantic Aspect of Sex - Independent and Dependent Variables

• IV - association of physical aspects of sex with animal (essay describing similarities between humans and animals/essay describing differences between humans and animals) after ms
• DV - reported appeal for physical aspects of sex

Note: Not clear if there was an ms group and control group or only ms group

Giving Symbolic and Cultural Meaning to Creatureliness and Value to Minimize Threat Example Study - Embracing Romantic Aspect of Sex - Results

• after reading essay reminding participants of their distinction from other species, ms had no significant effect on appeal of physical aspects of sex and even showed trend towards increased appeal in this condition showing we give more romantic aspects of sex (those that make humans distinct from animals) symbolic meaning so to minimize physical nature

The Beast - "Nature's Burden"

Five Ways Women Are Perceived As Being Connected to Nature or Associated With Animals Rather Than Gods

• reproduction
• childbirth
• lactation
• menstruation
• hormones

Two Historical Views of Reproduction

• built and mercilessness affected by hormones
• education was limited because women were only expected to reproduce and because their sickness made them unfit for intellectual work

Five Historical Views of Menstruation

• disgusting
• fear
• toxic
• isolation
• "hygienic crisis"

The Beauty

Objectification

Two Reasons Why Women Are Objectified

• strips women of connection to nature which produces anxiety due to relationship to animal nature and hence death
• symbolic drapery transforming threat and transforming natural woman into "object" of beauty and desire serving as anxiety buffer

Objectification Theory

Three Examples of How Our Culture Objectifies Women

• porn industry
• beer sales
• car sales

Three Certain Contexts Women's Body Seen Beautiful in America

• youthful
• slim
• white

Overall Context That Women Are Seen As Beautiful Across Cultures

Two Most Symbolically Removed Body Parts of Women

• breasts
• genitalia

Breasts "Symbolic" and "Nature"

• "beautiful breasts" are objects of desire and considered sexual
• lactating or maternal breasts are NOT sexualized and hidden and distanced from

Vagina "Symbolic" and "Nature"

• symbolic in that it is desirable to extent of its transformation away from reminders of "animal pleasures"
• natural in that if it isn't transformed to remove pleasure or hair or scent it reminds of us animal nature and is thus seen negatively

Beauty vs. Beast Study Example - Objectification As Defense  Against Threatening Animal Nature - Independent and Dependent Variables

• IV - degree of creatureliness (tampon or hair Barette)
• DV - reaction to woman (positive - negative)
• DV - description of expectations of women's body (physical appearance - health)

Beauty vs. Beast Study Example - Objectification As Defense  Against Threatening Animal Nature - Results

• negative responses to women who dropped tampon as opposed to hair barrette
• physical appearance especially important relative to health and functioning of women who dropped tampon

Why Do Women Self-Objectify Themselves?

Five Gains of Self-Objectification

• existential protection
• interpersonal gains  
• economic outcomes
• popularity
• more marriage opportunities

Self-Objectification Study Example - Corporeal and Creaturely Body Damns Women More Than Men - Independent and Dependent Variable

• IV - gender (male or female experimenter)
• IV - where experimentor excused themselves to (bathroom or to get paperwork)
• DV - rating of experimenter (positive or negative)

Self-Objectification Study Example - Corporeal and Creaturely Body Damns Women More Than Men - Results

• participants rated female experimenter more negatively in the bathroom condition than control, but no differences found for male experimenter

Four Costs of Self-Objectification

• damaging to self-esteem (inability to live up to unrealistic standards of beauty)
• psychological and monetary cost of surgery
• monetary cost of dieting
• psychological cost of dieting

Self Objectification - Two Things MS Leads To in Women Who Self-Objectify

• restricting food consumption
• placing physical appearance over health

Four Reasons Why Women Perhaps Bear Brunt as Targets For Condemnation of Creatureliness and Symbolic Worship

• historical patriarchal society
• size of men with respect to women
• men exert power and control over women because they fear their power
• sexual hostility for unsatisfaction or frustration

Men's Sexual Arousal As Existential Threat Study Example - Animal Desires Threatens Human Transcendence - Independent and Dependent Variables

• IV - level of existential threat (lust or excitement at sporting event)
• IV - aggression (male aggressed woman or male aggressed male)
• DV - rating of how severe penalty should be in response to situations

Note: Not clear if all participants were exposed to MS

Men's Sexual Arousal As Existential Threat Study Example - Animal Desires Threatens Human Transcendence - Results

• MS reminders led men to be more lenient to male who aggressed woman but not male who aggressed male indicating defense can include derogatory attitudes and aggressions towards women

Hostile vs. Benevolent Sexism