Testing a Culture-Specific Extension of Objectification Theory Regarding African American Women's Body Image

TLDR

Objectification theory focuses on body shape and size, yet African American women also anticipate evaluation based on skin tone. The study extended objectification theory by measuring skin‑tone concerns among 117 African American women. The authors surveyed 117 African American women, collecting separate measures of skin‑tone concerns. Path analyses revealed that habitual monitoring of skin tone predicted skin‑tone dissatisfaction and general shame about body shape and size, but self‑objectification did not mediate these links, indicating that skin tone is a relevant dimension of body monitoring and dissatisfaction for some African American women.

Abstract

Objectification theory has emphasized objectification in terms of body shape and size. African American women may expect to be evaluated on additional physical attributes such as skin tone. Therefore, we extended previous research on objectification theory by adding separate measures of skin-tone concerns in a survey of 117 African American women. Results from a series of path analyses revealed that as hypothesized, habitual body monitoring of skin tone predicted specific skin-tone dissatisfaction as well as general shame regarding body shape and size. Contrary to theoretical predictions, self-objectification did not mediate links between habitual monitoring (of skin tone or of body size and shape) and body dissatisfaction. In terms of objectification theory, results suggest that skin tone is a relevant dimension of habitual body monitoring and dissatisfaction for some African American women.