No matter how women dress – even without showing skin and conservatively, men, especially those with high testosterone will continue their toxic male gaze, according to a new study. The research, published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology has revealed that fully dressed women are no safer from some men than those who dress sexy. The study, conducted by Canada's Nipissing University has said that most men think that women who dress up in provocative clothes or are scantily clad, are less intelligent and more promiscuous than those who dress modestly, and so, it makes them common targets of harassment.
Study authors said it may be due to the testosterone levels of men “Given these harmful outcomes, it’s important to understand the mechanisms that lead to the dehumanization of women. We were interested in contributing to this effort by investigating whether physiological factors, such as increases in testosterone levels, play a role in men’s dehumanization of sexualized and non-sexualized women,” said study author Francesca Luberti of Nipissing University in a statement for PsyPost. Testosterone levels in men linked to social behaviour Previously as well, various studies have shown that testosterone levels in men are linked to their social behaviors which include heightened sexual aggression and impulsivity - both of which come from a dehumanization of another.
Scientists say dehumanizing someone means demeaning that person's humanity or individuality and ignori.