Examples Of Objectification Of Women

Curlene Chambers

Professor Kevin Davis

Sociology 100-1407

23 October 2016 Objectification of Women

Growing up as a young woman in today’s society I see that some men view women as objects at their disposal rather than equal human beings like themselves. In the society that we live in today, a social atmosphere created has influenced the male species to view and treat women differently based on our gender and physical attributes. Objectification of women begin at a young age with boys who are growing up in a time where media plays a pertinent role in the way boys interpret the message they send out about women’s bodies. As they become men, they look at women as objects due to the society norms

Their mentality of women’s appearance seems to be acceptable in our society because from a young age they adapt to what they see and hear about gender roles in schools as well as in the media. For example, the clothing made today by manufacturers are designed to show off the angles and curves of the female body. The upside of these clothes is that they make some women feel pretty and confident but the downside is that it attracts men to see them just for their physique and see that as an opportunity to make sexual advances at them. In a three-part article by Jessica Wolfendale with regards to the issue of gender and sexuality when it comes to provocative dress and sexual responsibility she states “describing women’s clothing as provocative reinforces an objectified conception of women’s bodies” (Wolfendale 1). As a young woman myself I agree that the terminology used to describe women’s clothing only further allows men to judge women and objectify

In a very informative article by Thomas R Hughes about what is Victoria secret really selling he states “These women were sculpted, primped and soaked in haute accessories to intensify the pleasure men receive in looking at females as sexual objects” (Hughes 3) he then goes on to question if this annual fashion show is indeed indicative toward the objectification of women in our society today. When men view such content they forget that the average woman is not decked out in expensive lingerie and that not every part of her body is sculpted and toned, so this puts an unrealistic image in their head of how women should look and be and they carry it with them into their daily lives examining women’s physique looking for her to be presented the same way as these “angels” in the media