...but Christopher J. Ferguson and other researchers say that it’s mainly the result of competition with their peers, not media images.

I don't doubt this for a second, especially for my generation and younger. The media definitely plays a part but more and more we are realizing that it is impossible to look that way without photoshop. Large campaigns like Dove's "Real Beauty" campaign have even started to capitalize on this realization. Further, the girls who do over-do it with heavy makeup and skintight club dresses are mostly looked at as an easy one-night-stand around here. While I like being perceived as attractive, I certainly don't want people to think of me as easy.

I absolutely dress the way I do depending on the people around me. I have outfits specifically for my hometown bars and outfits specifically for drinks/dinner at nicer places in Venice or Hollywood. When I first started this job, most of females were dressed business casual. Production wore jeans and tshirts and some of the marketing girls wore jeans, boots and a nicer sweater or scarf. Since we have two new in-house female account managers, I've felt the need to "step up my game."

Sitting in a meeting next to a girl in a nice blouse, statement necklace, heels, and a skirt doesn't feel very good. She definitely stands out (in a good way) and I want to be like that too. I haven't worn flats or jeans in about a year now - about the same time she started.

Is it explicitly sexual or competitive? I don't know. I surely don't have sexual feelings or desires for anyone I work with. For me, I just want to look nice and be impressive. I don't ever want to look underdressed (or overdressed) and keep jewelry, a pair of jeans, and heels/flats in my car just in case. Walking into a dive bar after work in nice pumps and a pencil skirt makes me almost as self conscious as walking into the office in flats.