THE BODY-AS-OBJECT VERSUS THE BODY-AS-PROCESS - GENDER DIFFERENCES AND GENDER CONSIDERATIONS

The present study analyzed the influence that gender and gender concep ts have on predominantly white young adults' attitudes toward their bo dy parts (body-as-object) and body functions (body-as-process). Result s indicated that, regardless of gender, participants held more positiv e attitudes toward their body functions than toward body parts. Mascul inity was positively related to body-as-object attitudes, yet this rel ationship was true only for women. As expected femininity had exactly the opposite effect on women's body-as-object attitudes. Unexpectedly femininity was found to be positively related to men's body-as-object attitudes. Regarding the body-as-process, although no attitudinal gend er differences were found, masculinity had a significant positive corr elation. Finally, results suggested that what may partly account for t he more positive body esteem expressed by males than females in previo us research are that men appear to hold a higher percentage of neutral attitudes toward their body parts and women hold a higher percentage of negative attitudes.