Objectification, Sexism, and Attitudes About Abortion Access

In this study, we evaluated whether objectifying views of women, including objectifying stereotypes about Black women, are related to attitudes toward abortion access, and whether such links are mediated by benevolent and hostile sexism. Path analyses revealed that multiple indicators of objectification were associated with lower support for abortion access via benevolent and hostile sexist attitudes. Specifically, sexually objectifying behaviors, sexual double standards, and the “strong Black woman” stereotype were associated with lower support for abortion access indirectly through benevolent sexist attitudes. In addition, sexually objectifying behaviors, sexual double standards, and the “jezebel/sapphire Black woman” stereotype were associated with lower support for abortion access indirectly through hostile sexist attitudes. Rape myth acceptance did not have significant indirect relations with abortion attitudes via benevolent or hostile sexism. Above and beyond the direct and indirect relations in the models, the strong Black woman stereotype had an additional unique direct positive association with support for abortion access, suggesting a cross-over suppression effect. Taken together, the findings connect sexual objectification of women, including objectifying stereotypes about Black women, with opposition to abortion access via distinct roles of benevolent and hostile sexism.