Movies, Media, Music

The Objectification of Women in Mass Media: Female Self Image in a Misogynist Culture.

Men basically don’t live in a world in which their bodies are routinely scrutinized, criticized, and judged – whereas women and girls do.

in 2006 the American Psychological Association (APA) formed a task force which highlighted numerous studies which they conclude provide ample evidence of the sexualization of women, adolescents, and girls across the media.

The men in our lives have the power to help liberate women. The power of choice, and the power of support. The power of standing beside us and turning away from these images, turning away from all casual and recreational sexism and misogyny.

Music Videos 

Why is everyone getting naked? Roshida Jones (The Office & Parks and Recreation) on the Pornification of Everything

“This fall I was hanging out with my sisters, catching up on pop-culture stuff. We watched some music videos, looked at a few Instagram accounts, and checked out blogs. And amid the usual duck-lipped selfies and staged paparazzi photos, a theme emerged: Stripper poles, G-strings, boobs, and a lot of tongue action were all now normal accessories for mainstream pop stars. Across the board the Instamessage seemed to be: ‘You know you want to have sex with me. Here, take a look at lots of parts of my body.’

…I don’t know when the pornification of pop stars became so extreme, but as Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” video played in the background—naked fantasy women bouncing around and licking things—I realized that the lines were not really blurry at all. They were clear. A new era had arrived.”

Rashida Jones states the obvious about sexualization and porn, talks new documentary, Hot Girls Wanted.

“Funny lady/shero, Rashida Jones, is promoting a documentary she produced on amateur porn called Hot Girls Wanted and simultaneously pissing off the sex-positive delusionals by stating the obvious about the industry: “It’s performative. It’s fulfilling a male fantasy.”

…In other words’ Jones noticed and pointed out that which is obvious to everyone but those invested in separating their eyes from their brain. It’s possible she’s been reading Gail Dines or it’s possible Jones is a feminist who is also not a dummy.”

No favours in stars’ failure to raunch – Dr Karen Brooks

“In the Mail Online, Stock accused music artists of using sex to sell when their talent fails …Stock is not the first to make these kinds of claims. For years, experts from around the world have spoken of the harm the hyper-sexualisation of pop culture causes girls and boys. The American Psychological Association has even linked this pop culture to poor mental health and unhealthy sexual development.

Like Stock and others, I’m so damn tired of all the pornographic, tasteless and trashy videos littering the music scene. The use of the singular is pertinent here, because there seems to be only one scene with an interchangeable star. The lyrics are occasionally good, the melody fine; it’s the visual accompaniment that’s so often boring, predictable and trashy.

Ever since Cher straddled that cannon in Turn Back Time and the Pussycat Dolls threw down the “hotness” gauntlet, female artists of varying talent have tried to out-pout, kiss, suck, lick, gyrate and dry-hump (cars, poles, men, women) each other in what passes for music video these days.” READ MORE

Are we really going to claim that this isn’t soft porn/the pornification of women?

These videos are prevalent in mainstream music and are aired regularly on free-to-air and pay TV in the morning, noon, afternoon, and evening. In our homes, at the gym, at the pub.

How porn fashion infects music video clips – Melinda Tankard Reist

Don’t call Beyonce’s sexual empowerment feminist. – Ruby Hamad

But when it comes to female pop stars, they are both the objectifier and the objectified. More titillation than sexual liberation, their performances add to society’s perception of women as eye candy. Yes, it is primarily their own bodies they are using, but when these images are put in the public domain in order to sell a product, it becomes about representation and commodification.

Of course, it’s not primarily their fault. Pop stars operate in a wider context that generally gives women two options: sex object or modest virgin. It’s not surprising many will choose the former. But a slightly longer straw is not empowerment. If mainstream pop music were really open to all expressions of female sexuality and not simply presenting women’s bodies as objects to be ogled, then we wouldn’t be seeing the same body types in the same poses again and again. READ MORE

Advertising

Representation of Gender in Advertising A short video created for a Women and Gender Studies class at the University of Saskatchewan.

 

“You need to look at cultural links, the very broad culture in Australia of continuing acceptance of male superiority and women being objectified, men feeling like they have an almost right to assert authority over women.” – Heather Nancarrow, Director of the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research at Central Queensland University

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