MEN AND WOMEN AT WORK: THE EFFECTS OF OBJECTIFICATION ON COMPETENCE, PAY, AND FIT FOR THE JOB

In spite of the growing interest in objectification, very few studies have examined the effects of objectification of others, in reference to both men and women. The present research is focused on the consequences of objectification in the occupational domain. The main goals were: a) investigating the effects of objectification on the perception of men's and women's competence and pay; and b) investigating the effects of objectification on the perception of men and women as suitable for high- versus low-status jobs. Results showed that objectification does not affect the perception of competence, but increases the estimated pay. For high-status jobs, the effect of objectification interacts with gender, increasing women's fit for a masculine job and decreasing men's fit for a feminine occupation. Finally, objectification increases the suitability for low-status jobs, and this is particularly true for women holding service-oriented professions. Implications are discussed.