Sexy Photos Make Women Seem Less Competent

Posting sexy photographs on social media sites might make women seem less competent, according to a new study.

New research from Oregon State University shows that girls and young women who post sexy or revealing pictures on social networking sites like Facebook and Instagram are perceived by their female peers as less physically and socially attractive and less competent.

"This is a clear indictment of sexy social media photos," researcher Elizabeth Daniels, an assistant professor of psychology who studies the effect of media on girls' body image. Daniels' findings are based on an experiment she conducted using a fictitious Facebook profile, said in a news release.

"There is so much pressure on teen girls and young women to portray themselves as sexy, but sharing those sexy photos online may have more negative consequences than positive," Daniels said.

Researchers said the latest findings suggest that girls and women are in a "no-win" situation when it comes to posting social media pictures. They explain that girls who post sexy pictures may risk negative reactions from their peers. However, those who post more innocent pictures may lose other social rewards, like attention from boys and men.

"Social media is where the youth are," Daniels said. "We need to understand what they're doing online and how that affects their self-concept and their self-esteem."

Researchers said the latest findings highlight the importance of educating young people about the long-term consequences of sharing personal information online. Daniels said the study also underlines the need for more discussion about gender roles and attitudes.

"Why is it we focus so heavily on girls' appearances?" she said. "What does this tell us about gender? Those conversations should be part of everyday life."

"Don't focus so heavily on appearance," Daniels concluded. "Focus on who you are as a person and what you do in the world."

The findings were published today in the journal Psychology of Popular Media Culture.