It has been observed that when people compare their own bodies or behaviors to those in sexualized media, they are more likely to feel dissatisfied with themselves. This dissatisfaction is especially common among women. These negative feelings can extend to how satisfied someone feels with their current relationship and decrease their desire for it. In one study, participants who were shown images of idealized female bodies were less likely to report being happy with their physical appearance than those who were not. They also reported feeling more anxious about meeting romantic partners and having lower self-esteem overall.
The problem becomes worse when repeated comparisons occur. Researchers found that exposure to sexualized imagery increases both men's and women's interest in sex but decreases their satisfaction with real-life relationships. This may be because fantasies created by these images become unrealistic expectations for future relationships.
Someone exposed to an image of a perfect male body might think that all men should have such a physique, even though this is uncommon in real life. This discrepancy between expectation and reality leads to frustration and disappointment.
There are ways to reduce the effects of such comparisons. One way is to limit exposure to sexualized media. People can avoid magazines, TV shows, movies, and other sources of objectifying imagery. Another approach is to focus on what you like about your partner rather than on what you don't like. Avoid comparing yourself directly to others, and instead appreciate your unique traits and strengths. Focus on connection and intimacy, which will make you happier and more confident in the long run.
Further reading:
* Brown, B. (2019). How sexualized media affects our perception of ourselves and our partners. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-generation-me-project/201912/how-sexualized-media-affects-our-perception-ourselves-and-our-partners
* Janssen, E., & Kunkel, D. G. (2006). Sexualization of female youth in music, movies, television, and video games: A content analysis update. Journal of Adolescent Health, 38(6), 786–795. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.09.0041
How do repeated comparisons to sexualized media imagery affect satisfaction with real-life sexual and romantic relationships?
In recent years, there has been an increase in research on how repeated exposure to idealized representations of sexuality in the media impacts individuals' satisfaction with their real-life sexual experiences. A study by Dweck et al. (2017) found that women who regularly viewed images of sexy models reported lower levels of satisfaction with their own bodies and less enjoyment during sex compared to those who did not view such images as frequently.