Who is actually responsible for overt female sexualization.
I asked myself this question after a week in which adult women were reported to be engaged in what some in society would label “improper” or “lewd” behavior.
First, the Sacramento King cheerleaders have brought attention upon themselves after provocative photos of the women surfaced on the internet. Second, Pamela Anderson completed two Valentine’s Day shows at the Crazy Horse in Paris, where she wore only a black body stocking while riding around stage on a motorcycle.
Most feminist and women rights supporters find the sexualization of the female body degrading and disrespectful towards women. The usual culprits they blame for this type of female degradation is male dominated entities such as corporate America, hip-hop and rap music, and of course, old man patriarchy.
But is that argument true today? Most women today are in position of greater opportunity, so objectifying themselves is a matter of choice rather than need.
Take the case of Pamela Anderson. This woman has made more money than the average male, has more valuable assets than the average male, and has more clout towards financial gains through the use of her name alone than any average American male. A long time ago she could have ditched using her sexuality as a means for financial gain and stability, investing her fortune instead into other business ventures. But she still chooses to use her body to make a living.
And she is not the only woman with tremendous opportunity at hand, but also enamored with flaunting her sexuality in some way – for better or for worse:
- Carrie Underwoodis “sexin up her style” according to Fox News. The multi-platinum recording star performed at the recent Grammy Awards wearing black hot-pants and knee high black leather boots. She has decided to forgo her good girl image.
- The mayor of Arlington in Oregon, Carmen Kontur-Gronquist, caused a stir when racy photos of her sprawled across the town’s fire truck wearing intimate lingerie surfaced.
- Divorce attorney Corri Fetman gained national attention when she posted a sexually charged billboard in Chicago advertising her law firm. She also agreed to pose for Playboy, and author a column for the magazine.
- The Spice Girls have made a serious come back, and it is reported the girls are showing more flesh than ever. It has also been reported some members have engaged in acts of lewd dancing with male fans on stage.
- Miss Nevada, Katie Reese, lost her title after pictures surfaced of her engaging in lewd sexual behavior. In one photo she is kissing the exposed breast of another woman.
- Miss USA Tara Conner almost lost her crown when her drunken and sexual exploits were exposed, including what the New York Daily News described as “steamy liplocks” with the current Miss Teen USA.
- Lindsey Lohan has decided to pose nude for New York Magazine in a pictorial that pays tribute to the very last Marilyn Monroe photo-shoot in 1962.
- Paris Hilton, heir to the Hilton fortune, was the featured dancer at a burlesque show at a Los Angels nightclub. Paris wore leather panties, leather bra, fishnet stockings, and heels during her performance.
And I could go on to include the names of many other women who’ve been blessed with promising futures and careers, but have still chosen to pose provocatively for magazines such as FHM, STUFF, Playboy etc, or have utilized sex as a tool to advance their careers. These women are not “down on my luck”, vulnerable, young, naive, women with starving kids at home. These are women who have achieved some kind of fame and status above most men and women in society.
Considering historical feminist ideology defines female exploitation as a natural by-product of women’s lack of power and status in society, the logical assumption would be that as women remove themselves from these constraints, the sexploitation of women would decrease. But has it? Women have begun to excel in many fields of life, most notably in academics. This has led to the rise of their success, status, and power in numerous professions including medicine, law, politics, business, and research to name a few. But at the same time, overt sexualization of women has increased with it.
So I come back to my original question. Who is really responsible for the current trend in overt female sexualization?
While the focus has been to blame men, patriarchy, and rap music, it is apparent that the real culprit is women themselves – not just women in general, but very successful and influential women. It appears to me that as much as women what to be respected for their minds, they also have an insatiable desire to create a persona that includes a strong sexual allure. Consequently, this is why I feel there is a rise in female exploitation. As women become more empowered, they have more opportunity and resources at their disposal to invest in this desire. Just look at the explosion in plastic surgery, Botox, and other vanity services whose clients are predominately women.
My point: It is not my place to tell women how to act or behave. But I am within my right to defend and counter the majority opinion that places shame and blame upon men and masculinity as the primary impetus behind the sexploitation of females in this country. When considering third world countries, where women have limited rights, and limited resources, I accept the argument that these women can be easily exploited. But here in the U.S., it is not so simple.
If society is truly serious about diminishing the sexualization of women, maybe it needs to accept the fact that some of its most successful women – the ones anointed with rescuing women from this societal ill – are the ones dragging women deeper into its very core.
Contact:
http://jsoltys.wordpress.com
soltys.joe@gmail.com
Photo courtesy of: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: commentary, community, Crime, Culture, current events, Family, Feminism, government, human rights, life, marriage, Media, men, people, rants, relationships, research, sex, Society, thoughts, women
I Want Success… And Exploit Myself
I asked myself this question after a week in which adult women were reported to be engaged in what some in society would label “improper” or “lewd” behavior.
First, the Sacramento King cheerleaders have brought attention upon themselves after provocative photos of the women surfaced on the internet. Second, Pamela Anderson completed two Valentine’s Day shows at the Crazy Horse in Paris, where she wore only a black body stocking while riding around stage on a motorcycle.
Most feminist and women rights supporters find the sexualization of the female body degrading and disrespectful towards women. The usual culprits they blame for this type of female degradation is male dominated entities such as corporate America, hip-hop and rap music, and of course, old man patriarchy.
But is that argument true today? Most women today are in position of greater opportunity, so objectifying themselves is a matter of choice rather than need.
Take the case of Pamela Anderson. This woman has made more money than the average male, has more valuable assets than the average male, and has more clout towards financial gains through the use of her name alone than any average American male. A long time ago she could have ditched using her sexuality as a means for financial gain and stability, investing her fortune instead into other business ventures. But she still chooses to use her body to make a living.
And she is not the only woman with tremendous opportunity at hand, but also enamored with flaunting her sexuality in some way – for better or for worse:
And I could go on to include the names of many other women who’ve been blessed with promising futures and careers, but have still chosen to pose provocatively for magazines such as FHM, STUFF, Playboy etc, or have utilized sex as a tool to advance their careers. These women are not “down on my luck”, vulnerable, young, naive, women with starving kids at home. These are women who have achieved some kind of fame and status above most men and women in society.
Considering historical feminist ideology defines female exploitation as a natural by-product of women’s lack of power and status in society, the logical assumption would be that as women remove themselves from these constraints, the sexploitation of women would decrease. But has it? Women have begun to excel in many fields of life, most notably in academics. This has led to the rise of their success, status, and power in numerous professions including medicine, law, politics, business, and research to name a few. But at the same time, overt sexualization of women has increased with it.
So I come back to my original question. Who is really responsible for the current trend in overt female sexualization?
While the focus has been to blame men, patriarchy, and rap music, it is apparent that the real culprit is women themselves – not just women in general, but very successful and influential women. It appears to me that as much as women what to be respected for their minds, they also have an insatiable desire to create a persona that includes a strong sexual allure. Consequently, this is why I feel there is a rise in female exploitation. As women become more empowered, they have more opportunity and resources at their disposal to invest in this desire. Just look at the explosion in plastic surgery, Botox, and other vanity services whose clients are predominately women.
My point: It is not my place to tell women how to act or behave. But I am within my right to defend and counter the majority opinion that places shame and blame upon men and masculinity as the primary impetus behind the sexploitation of females in this country. When considering third world countries, where women have limited rights, and limited resources, I accept the argument that these women can be easily exploited. But here in the U.S., it is not so simple.
If society is truly serious about diminishing the sexualization of women, maybe it needs to accept the fact that some of its most successful women – the ones anointed with rescuing women from this societal ill – are the ones dragging women deeper into its very core.
Contact:
http://jsoltys.wordpress.com
soltys.joe@gmail.com
Photo courtesy of: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: commentary, community, Crime, Culture, current events, Family, Feminism, government, human rights, life, marriage, Media, men, people, rants, relationships, research, sex, Society, thoughts, women