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Sexualize one, objectify all? The sexualization spillover effect on female job candidates

Guillén, Laura; Kakarika, Maria; Heflick, Nathan

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Authors

Laura Guillén

Nathan Heflick



Abstract

Summary: We examined whether sexualizing a businesswoman impacts attitudes toward subsequently evaluated, nonsexualized females applying for a corporate managerial position. Research shows that sexualized women are perceived as less warm and competent (i.e., objectified). Integrating this work with research on social cognition, we hypothesized that the negative effect of sexualization “spills over” onto other nonsexualized women, reducing their hireability. Across two experiments, initially sexualized women were perceived as less warm and competent, as were subsequently evaluated nonsexualized female job candidates. In turn, these negative perceptions reduced the applicants' probability of being hired. Sexualization of women also increased intentions to hire a subsequently evaluated male candidate. The results were robust when we controlled for evaluators' gender and age. Our findings demonstrate that female job applicants can experience detrimental effects from sexually based objectification, even when they are not the individuals initially sexualized. We discuss implications for women's careers.

Citation

Guillén, L., Kakarika, M., & Heflick, N. (2023). Sexualize one, objectify all? The sexualization spillover effect on female job candidates. Journal of Organizational Behavior, https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2758

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 5, 2023
Online Publication Date Nov 8, 2023
Publication Date 2023
Deposit Date Nov 7, 2023
Publicly Available Date Nov 13, 2023
Journal Journal of Organizational Behavior
Print ISSN 0894-3796
Electronic ISSN 1099-1379
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2758
Keywords sexualization, gender, sexual objectification, competence, warmth, hiring
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1899727

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