Does the work environment matter? Sexual objectification and waitresses' body dissatisfaction

- Objectifying restaurants put waitresses' bodies on display and elicit men's gaze.
- Working at objectifying restaurants is related to waitresses' body dissatisfaction.
- Thin ideal internalization and self-objectification in serial mediate this link.
- Working conditions and internalization processes shed light on body image concerns.

We investigated the relations between working in sexually objectifying restaurant environments and body dissatisfaction in a sample of 252 United States waitresses. Supporting our hypotheses, results indicated that working in sexually objectifying restaurant environments was positively correlated with waitresses' body dissatisfaction. Our findings also supported a theorized serial three-chain mediation model in which working in sexually objectifying restaurant environments was related to body dissatisfaction through more thin ideal internalization and greater self-objectification/body surveillance. Furthermore, thin ideal internalization had a direct, unique link to body dissatisfaction. Our findings highlight the importance of working conditions and internalization processes in understanding waitresses' body image concerns.