New study links sexual objectification at home to young women’s difficulty saying no to unwanted sex

A recent study published in Psychology of Women Quarterly reveals a connection between women who were exposed to sexually objectifying messages at home during their upbringing and their difficulty asserting themselves in sexual situations. These early family experiences may have led these women to internalize an outsider's perspective on their bodies, making it challenging for them to communicate their sexual desires and experience orgasms.

While sexual objectification is often seen as an issue in society at large, this research suggests that it begins within the family unit. Family members commenting on body shape, pressuring daughters to look attractive, or making sexualized comments about other women can contribute to a woman's internalization of objectification, known as self-objectification.

This mindset involves constantly monitoring one's physical appearance through an outsider's lens, rather than focusing on personal feelings and capabilities. The study, led by Dawn M. Szymanski and Greta Hacker, surveyed 700 young adult women, with an average age of around 19. The participants were predominantly White and heterosexual, and 56% were in romantic relationships.

The researchers found that women who experienced more sexual objectification in their families were more likely to engage in self-objectification as young adults, which in turn was linked to lower sexual agency. Sexual agency refers to the ability to freely communicate sexual desires and refuse unwanted sexual activities. The findings indicate that early family messages about sexual objectification may have lasting impacts on women's sexual well-being in adulthood.