Gender differences in memory perspectives: Evidence for self-objectification in women

This study tests Fredrickson and Roberts' (1997) assertion that cultural practices of sexually objectifying women's bodies socialize women to internalize an observer's perspective on their physical selves. Autobiographical memories can contain images from two perspectives: the original, first person perspective (field images) and that of an outside observer (observer images) (Nigro & Neisser, 1983). We collected autobiographical memories for events in general and for specific, potentially objectifying situations from a predominantly European-American sample of 138 female and 104 male students at a private university. Results demonstrated that female participants reported more observer imagery than male participants both for memories in general and for memories of certain situations wherein women are likely to be sexually objectified. Women's and men's emotional responses to these situations were also different, with women reporting more negative affect, including shame and anxiety, and less positive affect.