The relationship between perceived parental influence on young adults' self-objectification and objectification of others

Abstract

Objective: The goal was to explore the relationship between perceived parental objectification of women and men and young adults' self- and other objectification. Background: Objectification and self-objectification are both learned processes, with media, peers, and parents being attributed as most influential. However, the literature has predominantly explored parental influence in relation to mothers' and daughters' self-objectification. This study extends understanding of parental influence to daughters' and sons' objectification of others. Method: Using convenience sampling (N = 138), young adults were recruited to complete a survey including measures of self-objectification, objectification of women and men, parental care, and perceived parental objectification. Results: Perceived maternal objectification of women predicted daughters', but not sons', objectification of women whereas perceived paternal objectification was not a significant predictor. At high levels of maternal care, low perceived maternal objectification of women protected against daughters' self-objectification. Perceived paternal objectification of women predicted daughters' self-objectification independent of paternal care. Conclusion: Our findings fill a gap in the literature as they suggest that perceived parental objectification of women may impact daughters' self-objectification and objectification of other women. We discuss the need for future research to examine causal relationships and influences on sons' experiences of objectification. Implications: This research suggests that not only mothers' own self-objectification impacts upon daughters' self-objectification, but more broadly parental commentary on other women may be internalized by daughters. This highlights the important role parents play in shaping the way in which young women perceive not only themselves but other women.