> Objectification is where you disregard all aspects of a person in favor of what they look like

I know the context is largely missing, and I am obviously not telling the OP what they should think in a specific circumstance.

But as you say, objectifying is when an individual is seen only through the prism of a stereotype (though I don’t think it’s necessarily physical, but that’s another story). We tend to get very defensive because we reject others’ judgement (and crave validation at the same time; we’re nothing if not contradictory), but a compliment every now and then is not necessary wrong.

And I know what objectification means ;)

I recognise myself in the rest of your post, it’s uncanny. Are you me?