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. 2023 May 9;20(10):5770. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20105770

Table 1.

Summary of findings.

Gender Stereotypes Objectification Sexualization
Frequency of portrayal Common Common Common
Exposure
effects
Both genders: Higher belief in gender stereotypes; endorsement of traditional gender roles.
Women: reduction of political and career-related ambition; organizational discrimination.
Both genders: Internalization of cultural ideals of appearance; increase in self-objectification; hostile and benevolent sexism; enjoyment of sexualization.
Men: proclivity for sexual coercion (moderator); conformity to gender role norms.
Both genders: Internalization of cultural ideals of appearance; self-sexualization.
Men: higher support of sexist beliefs (boys); tolerance toward sexual violence.
Indirect
effects
Women: Symptoms of depression and anxiety; higher likelihood of eating disorders; lower self-esteem and self-efficacy.
Men: symptoms of depression, psychological distress; higher proclivity for sexual coercion; substance abuse, increased perpetration of risky behaviors, intimate partner violence.
Both genders: higher likelihood of eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors Both genders: higher levels of body dissatisfaction; body surveillance; distorted attitudes about eating; higher endorsement of sexist attitudes; acceptance of rape myths.
Women: body shame (girls).
Men: body surveillance of the partner.
Conflicting
research
Men: media appearance pressures on body image Effects of exposure to videogames
Understudied areas Virtual reality Non-sexual portrayals; specificities of sexual minorities; virtual reality Specificities of videogames; specificities of sexual minorities; virtual reality