Sexualization refers to the process of making something sexual in nature or appearance. It can be done through various means such as clothing, behaviors, body language, and even gestures. In recent times, sexualization has become an integral part of the human society where it is used for entertainment purposes but also for advertising. Sexualization has been found to distort people's perception about competence, competence gaps, and potential. This article discusses how sexualization affects the way individuals perceive these elements.
Competence refers to one's ability to perform a task successfully or efficiently.
When an individual is exposed to sexualized content, their perception changes significantly, and they tend to evaluate the person's abilities based on how attractive they are rather than their actual skills.
If a woman is viewed as sexually attractive, she may be assumed to have better communication skills than her less attractive counterparts even though that may not be true. The same thing applies to men who are more likely to be seen as having better leadership skills just because they are considered physically fit. Consequently, this makes employers hire employees based on physical attributes rather than their skillset which leads to unfairness in the workplace.
Competence gap refers to the difference between what an individual is expected to do and what they actually do. When there is a sexualized perception, there tends to be a significant gap between an individual's expectations and reality. This happens when individuals fail to meet their own expectations regarding their performance or fail to achieve the desired results. A study conducted by Smith and Smith (2018) revealed that individuals who were exposed to sexualized media tended to rate themselves lower on various tasks compared to those who had not been exposed to such content. They explained it by saying that sexualization creates unrealistic expectations of oneself and others, which leaves them feeling disappointed when the results do not meet those expectations. This can lead to low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety among other negative psychological effects.
Potential is the potential for growth and development that one possesses. It is often measured using factors such as education, experience, and skills.
When people are sexually aroused, they tend to overlook these factors and instead focus on how good someone looks.
A male model may be given a job opportunity despite lacking the necessary qualifications because he has a muscular body, while his female counterpart with better credentials may not get the same chance simply because she does not conform to societal standards of beauty. This means that individuals are promoted based on their appearance rather than their abilities, leading to underachievement in organizations.
Sexualization distorts the way we perceive competence, competence gaps, and potential. People tend to focus more on physical attributes than actual skills, creating an imbalance in the workplace and society at large. It is essential to address this issue so that everyone gets equal opportunities regardless of their physical traits.
How does sexualized perception distort evaluations of competence, competence gaps, or potential?
Research indicates that sexualization can influence how individuals evaluate their competence levels, assessment of gaps between themselves and others, as well as their ability to achieve success. The phenomenon has been demonstrated across various contexts, including education, employment, and social interactions. In particular, when women are sexually objectified or perceived as attractive based on physical attributes alone, they may be less likely to attribute their accomplishments to their personal effort and hard work (e. g.