A large body of research suggests that when adult women are depicted in sexualised clothing, they are seen as less fully human. Studies have shown that sexualised women are viewed as having lesser minds (less capacity for thoughts and intentions), and are considered less worthy of moral consideration and treatment.

In our new paper, published in the journal Psychology of Women Quarterly, we examined whether young girls who are presented in sexualised ways are perceived in the same, object-like manner.

In one study, we presented participants with images of women and prepubescent girls, either dressed in regular clothing or a bikini. We found that young girls were objectified – viewed as having less mental capacity and as less worthy of moral consideration – when wearing bikinis. They were objectified to a similar extent as adult women.

In our second study, we explored some potential implications of these objectifying perceptions of young girls.