Integrating sexual objectification with object versus person recognition: The sexualized-body-inversion hypothesis

In the study reported here, we tested the novel sexualized-body-inversion hypothesis. Integrating research and the-ory on objectification and person versus object recognition, we examined whether sexualized women, but not sexual-ized men, are recognized in the same way as objects are. According to objectification theory (Fredrickson & Rob-erts, 1997), female bodies are scrutinized and evaluated to a greater degree than male bodies are, which leads to sex-ual objectification of women. Defined as viewing or treat-ing an individual as a sexualized body, or as sexualized body parts, available for satisfying the needs and desires of other people (Bartky, 1990), sexual objectification has been recently operationalized by portraying the target wearing underwear or a swimsuit. Sexual objectification is related to decreased mind at