Sexualization is a process by which something becomes sexual or erotic. It involves an evaluation of one's own body, attraction towards others, and relationship dynamics based on aesthetic norms and values. Sexual desires and fantasies are created through sexualization. This can lead to positive and negative outcomes depending on how it impacts individual experiences. In some cases, sexualized perceptions contribute to emotional labor, relational stress, and burnout.
Emotional labor refers to the mental and physical effort required to manage feelings and express them appropriately in social situations.
In romantic relationships, people often expect partners to be loving, caring, and affectionate, but these behaviors involve conscious efforts that take time and energy to produce. When someone feels pressured to display such behavior, they may experience emotional labor. Emotional labor has been linked to increased stress levels, decreased wellbeing, and poor interpersonal communication.
Relational stress refers to difficulties encountered in maintaining healthy, satisfying relationships. This may involve conflict, misunderstanding, jealousy, and other factors that cause frustration and tension. People may feel emotionally drained trying to resolve conflicts or overcome challenges with their partner. Relational stress can also arise from conflicting expectations between partners or unrealistic standards for intimacy and closeness.
Burnout describes a state of physical and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged exposure to high-pressure work environments. When applied to relationships, burnout occurs when individuals feel overwhelmed by constant demands and responsibilities without adequate support or rest. This can result in resentment, isolation, and withdrawal from the relationship.
Sexualized perceptions are associated with all three forms of stress because they create pressure to conform to societal norms and expectations around sex and intimacy.
Men may be expected to initiate sexual activity while women are expected to remain passive and submissive during sex. These gender roles can lead to guilt, shame, and dissatisfaction if either partner fails to fulfill them.
Sexualized perceptions can lead to performance anxiety, which involves fear of being judged negatively based on one's ability to satisfy a partner's needs. This can further strain relationships and increase relational stress.
People who experience sexualization may develop negative attitudes towards themselves or others. Self-objectification refers to treating oneself as an object of sexual desire rather than a whole person with complex thoughts and feelings. This can contribute to low self-esteem, body image issues, and depression. Similarly, sexualization can lead to objectifying others, which involves evaluating their worth primarily based on their appearance or sexual appeal. This can foster prejudice, disrespect, and discrimination, contributing to interpersonal conflict and emotional labor.
Sexualized perceptions are linked to several types of stress that may have long-term consequences for individuals and relationships. By recognizing these effects, we can work towards healthier and more fulfilling sexual experiences that prioritize individual desires and wellbeing over societal pressures.
In what ways do sexualized perceptions contribute to emotional labor, relational stress, and burnout?
Researchers have found that sexualization can lead to negative effects on both mental and physical health, including increased emotional labor and relational strain as well as burnout. Sexualization involves making individuals feel objectified and reduced to their bodies or sex appeal, which may create feelings of shame and self-objectification. This can be especially problematic for women who are often expected to meet unrealistic beauty standards, which may increase emotional labor in terms of trying to conform to these expectations.