Seeing women as objects

There is a recent study done by Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, on how women are more likely to be seen as objects/tool compared to men.

(Ref: Gervais, S. J., Vescio, T. K., Förster, J., Maass, A. and Suitner, C. (2012), Seeing women as objects: The sexual body part recognition bias. Eur. J. Soc. Psychol.. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.1890 )

Here is what I gather from the study report. (if you want to search the study just copy and paste the whole ref above).

1. The study confirms that women are more likely to be seen as objects/tool compared to men - because perceivers tend to focus on 'sexual parts' of a woman, such as chest and hip.

2. Men is more likely to be perceived as a person, even in those situation.

2. They mention that the effect of this objectification is graver for women than for men. (but of course).

3. When women are seen as 'sexual' objects, the cognitive function of the perceiver is reduced (meaning, less feelings & intellect involved, and the focus is more on 'using' ).Hmm.. so when women sometimes feel like they are being 'used' perhaps they actually ARE being used, unconsciously by the men.

In my conclusion, if we want to avoid being perceived unconsciously as an object rather than a human being - then we should not display our body (as a tool) to attract others.  In other words, dress modestly and cover (not wrap) those parts well - don't even reveal the shapes.  

And in such studies, again we see how Allah SWT knows best.  And we see how God loves us and wants to protect the dignity of a women.

"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's father, their sons, their husband's sons, or their sisters' sons or their women or the slaves whom their right hands possess or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex, and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments.  And O ye Believers, turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss."
An-Noor 24:31 (translation by Yusuf Ali).

May Allah safeguard us all. Aamiin.