Page 206 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

180 gender microaggressions and sexism

Anxiety and Stress
Gender also plays an important role in anxiety disorders. Across all anxiety
disorders, except for Obsessive - Compulsive Disorder, women suffer more
than men (Nolen - Hoeksema, 2004). Again, the lack of power and status,
and contending with chronic stressors that make life uncertain (poverty,
lack of respect, sexual harassment, and limited career opportunities) may
all contribute to a sense of anxiety, fear, apprehension, and dread. No won-
der statistics suggest that women are also more likely to suffer from stress
disorders, particularly Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Galea et al.,
2002; National Institute of Mental Health, 2007). By analyzing data from the
National Violence Against Women Project, researchers concluded that the
greater prevalence of stress disorders, especially PTSD, was strongly related
to exposure (vicarious and direct) to more violent interpersonal situations
(Cortina & Kubiak, 2006).

Body Image, Dissatisfaction, and Eating Disorders
Objectification theory posits that being raised in a sociocultural context that

emphasizes women ’ s appearance, specifically their bodies, socializes them to

view themselves through an observer ’ s perspective (Fredrickson & Roberts,
1997). Self - objectification is correlated with increased risk of anxiety, depres-

sion, sexual dysfunction, and eating disorders (Buchanan et al., 2008; Hill &
Fischer, 2008). Body image and eating disorders are believed to arise from the
constant preoccupation of our society with female attractiveness and sexual-
ity. The APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls (2007) indicates that
women are sexualized through television, music videos, lyrics, magazines,
and advertising. Being bombarded with these messages, girls and women

can become objectified and self - objectified (APA Task Force, 2007; Seitz, 2007;
Thompson & Stice, 2004):
• Girls come to believe that their primary value comes from being attractive.
• They define themselves according to the bodily and beauty standards

shown in the media.
• Their capacity for independent action and decision making is diminished
through self - objectifi cation.
• They develop an unattainable “ thin - ideal ” and operate from cultural
scripts: “ Slender women are attractive ” and “ I am overweight. ”

• Sixty percent of girls reported trying to change their appearance to
resemble celebrities or actors.

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