Abstract
Men and women are exposed to cultural messaging via media and family and peer interaction which all serves to influence the ideas and beliefs formed around gender and sexuality. Many of these messages represent women in a sexually objectified manner and represent gender roles in a rigid and dichotomous way. Women statistically experience lower levels of self-reported sexual satisfaction than do men, which can negatively impact physical and psychological health and can detrimentally affect relationships and life satisfaction. The goal of this study was to examine any relationship that may exist between female sexual satisfaction and exposure to sexual objectification, resulting internalized objectification, and the cultural socialization of gender. Mental health professionals reflected on client experiences and served as subjects for the study. The researcher utilized qualitative methods to collect educated opinions and interpret the data in order to clarify the scope and importance of the issue, understand what causes professionals attribute to high levels of female sexual dissatisfaction, and to proffer some possible solutions.