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Author Information

Tiffany Hoyt

Abstract/Description

The objectification of women is widespread in the United States (American Psychological Association, 2007). In heterosexual relationships, a woman can feel objectified by her partner. When a woman feels objectified by her partner, she may internalize the objectification, feel like she has less control, and perceive more sexual pressure and coercion. However, there is relatively little research on objectification in romantic relationships. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to explore how partner objectification might be related to sexual pressure in heterosexual relationships. A sample of 162 women from all over the United States participated in an online study that measured partner-objectification, self-objectification, sexual agency, and sexual pressure and coercion. The data were analyzed using bivariate correlations. Results showed that (a) partner-objectification is positively correlated with women’s self-objectification, (b) self-objectification is negatively correlated with less freedom and control, and (c) less freedom and control is related to more sexual pressure. This research adds to the literature on romantic relationships and can inform interventions aimed at reducing sexual coercion.

Note on the Author

Tiffany Hoyt is a senior with a double major in Psychology and Criminal Justice and a minor in Spanish. She began this research in March 2012 and completed an Adrian Tinsley Program Summer project under the direction of Dr. Laura Ramsey. Tiffany presented this research at the ATP Summer Symposium and the 2013 National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Wisconsin. Her research has been expanded in an honors thesis to include the study of both men and women, and her work will be presented at the 2013 BSU Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Rights Statement

Articles published in The Undergraduate Review are the property of the individual contributors and may not be reprinted, reformatted, repurposed or duplicated, without the contributor’s consent.

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