IIIT Hyderabad Study Reveals Women Are Objectified Regardless of Attire
A recent study presented at the Cognitive Science Society (CSS) conference in Rotterdam reveals that women are objectified even when dressed in non-sexualized clothing. This research, led by Ayushi Agrawal and Srija Bhupathiraju under the guidance of Prof. Kavita Vemuri at the IIIT Hyderabad Cognitive Science Lab, used eye-tracking technology to analyze visual gaze patterns. The study is titled “Objectifying Gaze: An Empirical Study With Non-Sexualised Images.”
Prof. Vemuri explained, “Regardless of attire, a woman is subjected to a very intrusive gaze in a public or any other space for that matter.” The study challenges the common belief that objectification is primarily linked to revealing clothing. Instead, it found that women in casual outfits, such as jeans and shirts, also experience objectification. “We wanted to test whether objectification extends beyond sexualized attire,” Vemuri added. This study offers a new perspective, showing that objectification is influenced by factors beyond clothing.
The research used eye-tracking technology to analyze where participants looked when viewing images of men and women in casual attire. It found that the gaze was split between the face and body parts, suggesting a cultural emphasis on facial features in India. “The Indian population still places a lot of importance on facial features. The evaluation of attractiveness and social information often comes from the face,” Vemuri noted.
Ayushi Agrawal highlighted another significant finding: “Both male and female participants were found to be visually objectifying women.” This suggests that objectification is not restricted to gender; it is a broader societal issue. Agrawal added, “When a female objectifies another female, it may indicate self-objectification or social evaluation.” This indicates that objectification can be internalized and influenced by social attitudes.
The study also underscores the role of broader societal factors. “Our research now has data showing us what is normalized in our society,” Agrawal remarked. These factors include toxic masculinity, social biases, and media portrayals. Prof. Vemuri emphasized, “The bigger question is whether these perceptions change our empathy.” She questioned whether people's empathy for assault victims varies based on their attire, such as a salwar-kurta versus a mini-dress.
The researchers call for more detailed studies to explore how different factors influence objectification. Future research will investigate various types of attire, social stereotypes, and the impact of social media. “This study is just a tip of the iceberg,” Vemuri concluded, stressing the need for comprehensive, multidisciplinary approaches to address these complex issues and drive social change.