The Negative Effects Of The Sexualization Of Women

Women all over the world face difficult situations in their everyday lives that have a negative effect on them. One difficult situation that could affect a woman’s life negatively can be the sexualization of women in society. Sexualization is the making of something sexual in character or quality or to become aware of sexuality. When individuals are regarded as sex objects and evaluated in terms of their physical characteristics or the colloquial term: “sexiness”; This creates the sexualization of women. Society and the media have a big impact on why this form of sexualization affects young women in America. Sexualization occurs in many different ways. Valuing sexual appeal above other achievements and attributes, portraying women and young girls as sexual objects, and the sexuality that is imposed on women. The way that
women are portrayed in society is to be pure but also be desirable by men. The way that it is seen is that the situation is a double standard for men and women and the contradictory of the standards men have for women. The media portrays women as sex objects by the way they are dressed and photographed. Not only in the media are they portrayed as “sex symbols” but also in men's interests in entertainment, such as video games. For example, Grand Theft Auto V shows women in the game half naked. The game displays women as sex objects at strip clubs where they men can take their GTA character to have a “good” time. Not only do grown men play this game, but teenagers do as well. The fact that boys in today's society see women in that way,gives an idea of how all women should be, look like, and dress. Another example for video games would be the women in Call of Duty Black Ops II, the way these women are dressed. GTA V and Call of Duty are misogynistic, the women are either stippers to throw money at, prostiutes to pick up, or just dressed in a “sexy” way. Another form of entertainment women are portrayed as sex symbols would be the the round women at boxing matches. The women come out half naked for the world to see and just catch the attention of men.
Women are also seen a lot in advertising, mostly because of the way they are photographed. Both men and women are most likely to read a story when the story is accompanied by a picture of an attractive woman. It proves that anything not related to sex or sexualizing women, would sell more than something that is not sex related. Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Tom Ford, Skyy Vodka, Bud Light, Corona, Budweiser, American Apparel, etc. are all examples of how women are portrayed as “sex” symbols. Each one of those ads and many more, use women to seek attention from men.
The way the media portrays women has a profound significance because young women in America are affected everyday by what they see on the internet.
Young women in this society learn from what they see in magazines, television shows, movies, and other types of entertainment media. Girls think that they have to be exactly like the women they see. The women and young girls think that a thinner body is an ideal image for women in this society. It is harming girls self-image and healthy development. It is everywhere people go. Places that people wouldn't even think of. Shows that come up on the TV can influence a young girl to start to be like them as well. People like Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Amber Rose, and even Marilyn Monroe influence young women today to be like them. To have the perfect body, hair, makeup, to act like those women do and many more. The sexualization of these women and the affects it has matters for people to know about because women read articles about how you have to be skinny or wear makeup to be beautiful. These women think about it all the time and it is making young girls and older women insecure about their
appearance.
Society and the media have a big impact on the effects of sexualization towards women in America, and it is important to be aware of the situation and know how it is hurting younger girls and not helping. Social media is popular in today's society, and because of how women are portrayed in the media it has been scientifically linked with depression in young women. It harms the way girls see themselves and can cause to more serious problems like depression, obesity, anorexia, lower grades, etc. Ultimately, social 4media is affecting young girls self esteem, health, and even education all over America. This is all caused because society fails to show respect and dignity and equality towards women. Being a woman in today’s society I understood what I was researching and connected to it a lot. I feel that until women in this society try to put an end to this situation or have a specific limit or boundary on how the media should show women, the sexualization of these women will continue for a long period of time. Researching about this topic made me come across half naked women in magazines, movies, advertising, tv shows, etc. and thought that there isn't really a difference between pornography and the photographs they have on magazines for anyone in the public to see.