Women’s bodies are moralised more than men’s

Overview

For centuries, women across the globe have experienced various forms of societal control over their bodies. This control manifests in numerous ways, from dress codes and limitations on healthcare access to regulations concerning reproductive rights. It is notable that many of these rules specifically target women’s bodies and choices, while similar restrictions are either absent for men or are not discussed in the same way.

This research from GIWL Director Professor Michelle Ryan indicates that people tend to view women’s bodies through a moral lens far more often than men’s bodies. This means that when considering issues related to bodily autonomy, such as decisions about appearance or health, people are more likely to frame these as moral questions for women but not for men. This tendency to moralise women’s bodies could help explain why society often places stricter controls and judgments on women’s bodies compared to men’s.

Across two studies with US samples, we show that people draw more strongly on morality when justifying their views about women's (vs. men's) autonomy over their bodies. Study 1 showed that a wide range of body-related behaviours were seen as more of a moral issue for women than for men—a pattern that was absent for behaviours unrelated to bodily autonomy. Study 2 focused on a context with more opposition to women's bodily autonomy (public toplessness) and showed that people drew more strongly on morality when justifying their opposition to women's, compared to men's, bodily autonomy. Exploratory analyses suggested that sexist beliefs may play an important role in such gendered moralisation.