Girls who receive a lot of attention may struggle in math, researchers say

By Staff Writer

A new study reveals that women who are looked at as sexual objects are at risk of underachieving in math-related subjects in school.

The study, which will appear in the March issue of Psychology of Women Quarterly, surveyed 150 college students - 67 women and 83 men. They found that women who received objectifying gazes, which are the visual inspections of one's body by another person, were less likely to perform well in math-related tasks than women who were not viewed as sexual objects, and most men.

The study's authors concluded that women who start to place a lot of value on their bodies tend to rely less on their intellect, thus they may begin to underachieve in school. Parents and guardians of these girls may consider dispelling the notion that looks are more important than their capabilities.

The study also revealed that objectifying gazes toward women also led to increased body shame and dissatisfaction among some women. Many girls who draw this type of attention feel like those glances confirm their attractive appearance, which could lead to low self-esteem if the attention subsides.

Adolescents who are obsessed with their appearance could benefit from tough love. Parents may consider monitoring their teens' wardrobe and establishing a certain dress code for school.