Women are intelligent, powerful, and captivating. Women create change and spread kindness. Women should feel capable and happy. But, a system of sexism is unrelenting in the pursuit to keep us in boxes. When women explore their sexuality, they are often told that it is wrong and are criticized for their actions. Sexualization is an issue that keeps women from exploring their sexuality.
Sexualization limits by their sex appeal. There no mention of other attributes, such as intelligence, values, or ideas. It is disgusting how women (and men too) are held to standards that only have to do with their bodily appeal. Sexualization is about appealing to others. Sexualization puts women under the scrutiny of others. Sexualization only represents society’s desire. It ignores desires. It ignores intelligence. It only considers physical beauty.
Women are told to fit into these molds and standards that they must be attractive. Their brain, interests, and other values do not matter, only what is from the neck down. The size of your bust and waist are standards women are held to. Others are wearing makeup and nice clothes. Women should also show some skin, but also not too much skin. If girls do not conform to these beauty standards they are bullied. Women are often thought of as wh*res for wearing something low cut or for having one-night stands.
Girls at a young age are taught that they will be judged based on their appearance. Barbie dolls and pink kitchen sets are the first bits of exposure little girls get. They are taught to be sexy, mothers, and objects early in life. Then they are brought up with a movie that the princess needs a man. They see ads where girls are making out with a cheeseburger. But you also can’t eat a cheeseburger because then you wouldn’t be as pretty and skinny as the girls in the ad. Influencers on social media are skinny and beautiful. These are the standards for society. These are impossible to achieve.
“She was dressed like a sl*t, she was asking for it” is an excuse heard way too often when people talk about sexual assault. Women cannot wear anything without it being too sexual or appealing to fantasy. They can’t wear skirts in public places without fear men are going to try getting photos of underneath their skirts. They can’t wear short shorts because it is unladylike, and they can’t wear capris because they are ugly and not cool. Women have to wear a bra, or they are asking for men to grab them. They are prudes if they cover up and they are scandalous if take something off. It seems like women can’t wear anything at all without it being wrong in one way or another.
Movies are huge on sexualizing women. Almost all movies produced by men have women in outfits that showcase their breasts, butt, or legs. The camera also focuses on women being viewed as an object. Watchers view this from the male gaze. Looking at a woman undress is usually from the perspective of the male character. Therefore, the audience is seeing the woman being framed as a sex object. Pieces of women show up more than woman’s faces, like on movie posters when a woman’s legs stand in a V-shape above a man. This causes this woman’s rear and legs to be the objects people look at. It is a disgusting practice and needs to stop.
Derogatory terms are used to describe women who do are “too sexually active.” But men are praised for sleeping with loads of women. The double standard society has is astounding. A woman should be able to do what they want with their bodies. They should be able to wear what they want. They can have sex with who they want without taking ridicule because they aren’t “prim and proper.”
After decades of being sexualized, women are trying to take back their sexuality. Being sexual means exploring your desires. Being sexual is being comfortable with yourself. It is figuring out who you are and what you want. It is really hard to do so because of all the standards for women to meet.
Women are becoming more independent. With having more rights, women can do a lot more these days than they could 50 years ago. They can own homes, have jobs, adopt children, all these wonderful things. Women have begun expressing themselves. People keep putting women down who wear “scandalous” clothing and who dance provocatively. This is all a part of sexuality though. Nothing is wrong with showing cleavage. Nothing is wrong with twerking with your besties at a club.
Women are ridiculed a lot for having sex and they are ridiculed for not having sex. A woman has an ever-changing sex drive. Women may want to have sex one night and not the next. It is not up to anyone else to decide when a woman wants to have sex.
People should feel comfortable in their skin. When women are dressing and acting how they want, they can be happy. They can find people who are like them and enjoy their time. They are not conforming to the standards that the world has for them. They don’t have to fit in a dumb mold that was set in places centuries ago. Women are amazing and vibrant people and they deserve to be treated as such. Women need to support women. It is an important step in gaining equality for all.
To all the women out there: do what you want and wear what you want. You are powerful and strong. Don’t let anyone else tell you what to do with your life!