Female Self-Sexualization in MySpace.com Personal Profile Photographs

This article reports the results of a content analysis of female self-sexualization in personal profile pictures on MySpace.com (N = 24,000). Photographs were analyzed according to three measures: ritualization of subordination, body display, and objectification. Trained evaluators coded the photographs for each measure by race/ethnicity, body type, sexual orientation, and education level. Findings reveal that rates of ritualization of subordination were significantly higher for Hispanics, average body types, and bisexuals. Body display and objectification were both significantly higher for Blacks and Hispanics, bisexuals, and women with higher education levels. Body display and objectification rates were significantly lower for larger body types while body display alone was significantly lower for lesbians. Overall self-sexualizing behavior in this study sample is low based upon study measures. Images presented on MySpace.com do reveal, however, an acceptance of constrained and stereotypical notions regarding both gender and sex roles.