It was weird for me to read that this new sex in the media phase started mainly around the time I was born. In the 1990s, "the rampant return of the often degrading sexual objectification of women, and the increasing sexualization of children, especially girls" was prevalent (Douglas, 155). The sexpert and a sex-positive environment had emerged.
Douglas' chapter Sex "R" Us, talks about sex in the media. She says that the message is that "it's through sex and sexual display that women really have the power to get what they want. And because the true path to power comes from being an object of desire, girls and women should now actively choose being sex objects" (156). She then goes on to talk about Cosmopolitan and its "Fun, Fearless, Female" slogan along with its savy female depictions and articles. But is this magazine really telling girls that they are in control? Most of the articles are about pleasing males and to stray away from those habits that men dislike. Maxim on the other hand, is a magazine for men that "celebrates the 'guy lifestyle' of beer, babes, and sports" while "it shamelessly objectifies women and reduces them to their body parts" (165). This magazine also places women into the categories of hotties and worthless, saying that their only value is their sex appeal. Sex is not just in print media; it's in television as well. Shows like Sex and the City and Desperate Housewives show us that women can talk about and enjoy sex on a regular basis. And now with a rise in female rappers, we see black women moving from having to be "silent, mute, voiceless, only to be looked at" to becoming "aggressive women who challenges male authority" (179). Sexuality is being portrayed at a younger age now. We see celebrities like Jamie Lynn Spears and Miley Cryus being sexy at as young as 15 and 16. It's because we are living in an environment that "overexaggerates the centrality of sex and 'hotness'" (182).
But there is not enough information given out on sex to adolescents. Girls learn from a young age that their sexual appeal and behavior are what determines their value. That definitely means that they need to be educated at a younger age as well. Contraception is less likely to be used by younger girls who have sex since they don't know about it yet. And sexualization can lead to eating disorders, depression, and anxiety issues in girls. To educate these girls, abstinence-only classes shouldn't be the way. They need to know about the various forms of contraception to protect themselves from teen pregnancy and STD's.
All of this readings reminding me of a point that Douglas made earlier in "Enlightened Sexism" that was referring to how come it is that the new feminism resembles what we previously viewed as exploitative? I am familiar with most of the T.V. shows that Douglas references, but hadn't always viewed them in the light that Douglas brought up. The more I thought about the show "Toddlers in Tiaras" the more repulsive the whole concept became to me. And it just proves as further evidence for why girls and women in our society are the way that they are. When I first read "Lusting for Freedom" I cannot even begin to explain how shocked I was when she admitted that she was only eleven years old when she first had sex. I was expecting at least 14 years old. But eleven! And she hadn't even gotten her period yet! If society is going to be condemn sexual behavior of minors, it is obvious that the system as a whole needs to change. The fact that such a large proportion of television shows are focused around sexual activities, it is leading for sex to be a common practice. As Erica pointed out the media is exploiting the female body and totally going against the traditional views of feminism.
ReplyDeleteIt was incredily interesting for me to see the subtle differences in each of these 3 readings. "Lusting for Freedom" by Rebecca Walker really spoke to me. For the first time, we read a piece on a woman who was POSITIVELY affected by her sexual experience. I agree with Emily that 11 years old is a little young but to have learned so much about herself at such a young age is truly remarkable. It got me thinking about if I had a situation like that would I be a different person than the woman I am today? "The impulse that told me that I deserve to live free of shame, that my body is not my enemy and that pleasure is my friend and my right"(Walker, 22). Walker is telling us that sex is good. Sexuality is good. These are things we need to feel and learn to love. After reading Walker's piece I felt almost inspired and more ready than ever to explore sexuality and love and passion.
ReplyDeleteErica and Emily have good points about Douglas's chapter as well. Sex is seen in the media everywhere. And what are television shows and magazines telling women? Theyre telling them that: "...it's through sex and sexual display that women will really have the power to get what they want"(Douglas, 156). Even young girls! prancing around, stripping off their clothes, wearing makeup...It's outrageous. This tells women exactly what they need to be able to go out into the real world and apply these things they have learned from sexperts and doctors, etc. Sex sells though; sex is one fo the things in this world that all people want to learn more from and be good at. As long as sex is selling, women will be seen as their objects, and society will continue to be hanuted by it.