Believing the Power of Physical Appearance: How Perceived Economic Inequality Affects Female Self‐Objectification and Job Preference

ABSTRACT Five studies ( N = 1061) were conducted to examine the effect of perceived economic inequality (PEI) on female self‐objectification and its downstream consequences. In Studies 1 and 2, we found that PEI increased female self‐objectification, with perceived competition mediating this relationship. In Study 3, we found that PEI increased participants’ preference for appearance‐focused jobs, and self‐objectification mediated this effect. In Studies 4a and 4b, we conceptually replicated the results of Study 3. We also found that physical appearance was perceived as more important to win social competition in the high PEI condition than in the low PEI condition; however, participants in both conditions believed that competence was more important than appearance in social competition. Additionally, in Study 4b, we found that PEI increased women's, but not men's, self‐objectification and preference for appearance‐focused jobs.