The impact of men's magazines on adolescent boys' objectification and courtship beliefs

L Monique Ward; Laura Vandenbosch; Steven Eggermont

doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2014.12.004

The impact of men's magazines on adolescent boys' objectification and courtship beliefs

J Adolesc. 2015 Feb:39:49-58. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2014.12.004. Epub 2015 Jan 8.

Authors

L Monique Ward¹, Laura Vandenbosch², Steven Eggermont³

Affiliations

¹ University of Michigan, USA.
² Amsterdam School of Communication Research, ASCoR, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
³ University of Leuven, Belgium.

PMID: 25576769
DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2014.12.004

Abstract

Although much attention concerning the potential impact of sexualized media has focused on girls and women, less is known about how this content effects boys' perceptions of women and courtship. Accordingly, the current three-wave panel study investigated whether exposure to sexualizing magazines predicts adolescent boys' (N = 592) sexually objectifying notions of women and their beliefs about feminine courtship strategies. The results indicated that when boys consumed sexualizing magazines more often, they expressed more gender-stereotypical beliefs about feminine courtship strategies over time. This association was mediated by boys' objectification of women. The possibility of a reciprocal relation whereby beliefs about courtship strategies predict future consumption of sexualizing magazines was also explored but received no support. Discussion focuses on effects of sexualizing media on boys, and supports future research to build on multidisciplinary knowledge.

Keywords: Adolescence; Courtship strategies; Magazines; Objectification; Sexualization.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Advertising*
Child
Courtship / psychology*
Female
Gender Identity*
Humans
Male
Object Attachment*
Periodicals as Topic*
Psychosexual Development
Sexuality / psychology*