Users Who Spiked
SOCIETIES OWNERSHIP OF WOMEN'S BODIES
Private Notes
Private Notes
Notes
A friend who used to live in Japan recently told me that all phones, even if they're on silent, make a shutter sound when a picture is taken due to the amount of men who were sneaking inappropriate photos of women. This unsettling fact got us talking about the oversexualization of women in all cultures and why exactly it seems like a lot of men just can't control themselves. I recalled a time in college at a Halloween block party, where a man shamelessly groped me and a friend while we were trying to make our way through the crowd. Since I don't tend to leave my apartment too often for parties, this was probably my first real experience with a man (that I didn't know) blatantly disregarding consent and violating me in that way. The sad part was, at the time, I was both disgusted and flattered. Not something that I'm proud to admit today.
A recent 2019 gallup poll records a record-low 46% of women in the United States are pleased with how women are treated. When I look at Western society, I can easily see why. The oversexualization of the female body is almost everywhere. Capitalism has really bought into the notion that sex sells and ran with it. This has caused so many girls to grow up believing that their sexual identity is somehow connected to their worth as human beings. As previously mentioned, this has even affected me subconsciously throughout my own life, thinking that I have to live up to some societal standard of sexuality in order to be recognized as a woman. According to a study done on the sexualization of girls by the American Psychological Association, in virtually every media outlet reviewed, including television, video games, magazines, musical lyrics, and sports outlets, there is significant evidence of the propagation of the oversexualization of women.
Often times, if the female body is being shown in the media, it's being portrayed in a sexual manor. I often find that women are either used as sexual objects or the complete opposite, modest and covered up. These images force us to think about women in two different extremes and both, shockingly, revolve around sex. Consistently, we see this being projected out to society with the way that women are treated. It's so common to see men today putting women in one of two boxes: someone they want to have sex with or someone they don't. If you're the former, chances are, you're pretty familiar with sexual harassment and inappropriate advances. If you're the latter, you might as well not exist as a human being at all. That's really the sad truth that many women have to deal with on a daily basis. We're constantly trying to balance our sexuality with not being too sexual, so that we're not respected, but just enough to get some recognition.
Time and time again society proves that a woman's body is not her own. Whether it be from how we're treated by men or simply by the controversy over a woman's right to choose, something that I don't believe should be up for debate. Somehow, a group of white men can get together to discuss what women choose to do with their own bodies. That's just a testament of the little progress that we've made in our society. It's been decades of fighting against this kind of oppression, yet it's blatantly clear that it's just as prevalent as ever.
When it comes to the treatment of women, often times the problem just keeps coming back to the oversexualization of women's bodies. Instead of society seeing the human body as a beautiful, natural creation of the universe, we have to constantly see it as something only having to do with sex. A woman's body is unique to her and a temple of divine feminity and should be treated as such, not constantly devalued to an object. Why must we continue to perpetuate harmful images that have time and time again caused the abuse and mistreatment of women? If we can become aware, as a global society, about how harmful the oversexualization of women is, we can truly make a difference in the way women are treated. The livelihood of one affects the livelihood of all.
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As previously mentioned, this has even affected me subconsciously throughout my own life, thinking that I have to live up to some societal standard of sexuality in order to be recognized as a woman. According to a study done on the sexualization of girls by the American Psychological Association, in virtually every media outlet reviewed, including television, video games, magazines, musical lyrics, and sports outlets, there is significant evidence of the propagation of the oversexualization of women.
Yes! It's ridiculously have in anime, not just in the content of the anime, but anime fanatics responses to the female characters in the series. It's sad, and ridiculous. -
Often times, if the female body is being shown in the media, it
This is so true sadly. There is no grey comfort area for women. It all just ties into navigating the masculine dominated social hierarchy in this misogynistic society . Society should definitely see bodies, human bodies, especially women's as beautiful than the need to satisfy men's sexual preferences and appetite. Great article.-
Thank you so much! I always appreciate your feedback :)
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friend who used to live in Japan recently told me that all phones, even if they're on silent, make a shutter sound when a picture is taken due to the amount of men who were sneaking inappropriate photos of women.
I never heard of this. It's insane! The world is a very complicated place. Thanks a lot for sharing your insight and this message! -
Definitely agreed. Learned a few new things from this piece. Thanks for sharing.
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So glad I could provide some important information! Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it :)
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I agree. It is disgusting that women in media are sold to the audiences through sexual appeal rather than what they offer as a person.
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It is a very sad truth and very difficult to explain these things to my daughter. I wrote a poem about the objectification of women called, "How Do I Tell Her?" It's on my page. You should check it out. I think you would like it.
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Thanks! I will definitely do that :)
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This is such a sad truth, one, because it is just plain wrong, and two, because it still happens today — in our supposed society where everyone is equal, what BS!! The sexualization of the female body has been going on for thousands of years. It was brought into modern times through Hollywood with the start of silent movies. Then makeup came along and hid all of our “imperfections”, building up beauty as something we all had to have to feel worthy. Incidentally, there is an actual person you can blame for all the makeup on the shelves at the store, and it’s a man! Max Factor literally invented makeup for Hollywood. Anyway, then came along bras that made smaller breasts look bigger, corsets to thin the figure into an hourglass physique (who wants to look like an hourglass!), high heels to accentuate the legs. All this within the completely male dominated industry that fed men’s ideals of what women should look like. Now, I’m all for looking my best and feeling good about myself, but for ME, not anyone else. Before the mid-life “change” (hormonally speaking) I was naturally thin. I couldn’t gain weight for nothing! Now, I’m a bit heavier, some because of the change, some because I enjoy going out, having a few, eating some not so healthy stuff, etc. So I’ve put on a few pounds which are harder to keep off than before. I am amazed at those who tell me how different I look and about my weight gain (some comments from women) as if it is shameful I’m going through mid-life! Now, it wasn’t all roses for me when I was thin either. I was often shamed by those not as thin as I because I couldn’t wear clothes that weren’t a petite size. So either way, I got the negative comments. Now, I’m at the point where I’d like to get to a healthy place, yes, even my doc said I should lose a few pounds, and lose a little from around my middle. If I’m okay with me, so should others be.
Isn't it? I'm thinking of moving there in the coming months and that kind of scared me a bit.