What is hypersexualization?
The hypersexualization in today’s society is the phenomenon of products or images being marketed in a way that is entirely too sexual for that context. This hypersexualization has been studied by the University of Buffalo and over time it has been shown that females are many times more likely to be sexualized in images than men.
Selling jeans or sex appeal?
The woman in the image to the right is modeling a simple pair of jeans. Or is she? This photo has her looking seductively at the camera while simultaneously pulling down the waistband of the jeans she is modeling to show off her undergarments. …show more content…
In a document from The College at Brockport State University of New York several examples of this violently advertising can be seen. Many woman, especially those with ideals of equality and fairness (I.e. feminists) see this media and become offended. And why should anyone not be offended? Images such as this are not so unusual that they are never seen. It can be said that these pictures are perpetuating the ‘Rape culture’, a situation that has been explained very well by Marshall University in relation to this hypersexualization as they state, “Rape culture is perpetuated through the use of misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies, and the glamorization of sexual violence, thereby creating a society that disregards women’s rights and safety.” Though rape culture is not a phenomenon experienced only by the female population. These images are just as confusing as the nonviolent images, see above, in that although it is clear that this is an ad the product, the whole purpose of the image, is not very clear upon first glance. The first impression of pictures of this nature stops the viewer from looking beyond and seeing the intended product. Or maybe it’s not the clothes that they are selling …show more content…
Any preconceived perception of innocence is gone as you look into the seductive stare of a ten year old. This photo, from French Vogue, is considered a piece of art to many French citizens. In Saskia De Melker’s article she points out that the French people are more open about their sexuality, much more so than the populace of the United States, and that things that are acceptable in France are considered untasteful in other places. But, you may be wondering, how do we know what is hypersexualized and what is art? According to Melker’s article sexuality is a social construct that is developed over time. Due to the society in which I was raised the idea of children, as young as 10 years, being shown in anyway similar to this context is highly disturbing to see. As with any cultural situation it is best to understand the ways of cultures not your own, but the sexualization, in any way, of children is not something very well embraced in the American culture. This sexualization of children shows the trend of hypersexualization in media is not limited to the adults of the advertising
The hypersexualization in today’s society is the phenomenon of products or images being marketed in a way that is entirely too sexual for that context. This hypersexualization has been studied by the University of Buffalo and over time it has been shown that females are many times more likely to be sexualized in images than men.
Selling jeans or sex appeal?
The woman in the image to the right is modeling a simple pair of jeans. Or is she? This photo has her looking seductively at the camera while simultaneously pulling down the waistband of the jeans she is modeling to show off her undergarments. …show more content…
In a document from The College at Brockport State University of New York several examples of this violently advertising can be seen. Many woman, especially those with ideals of equality and fairness (I.e. feminists) see this media and become offended. And why should anyone not be offended? Images such as this are not so unusual that they are never seen. It can be said that these pictures are perpetuating the ‘Rape culture’, a situation that has been explained very well by Marshall University in relation to this hypersexualization as they state, “Rape culture is perpetuated through the use of misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies, and the glamorization of sexual violence, thereby creating a society that disregards women’s rights and safety.” Though rape culture is not a phenomenon experienced only by the female population. These images are just as confusing as the nonviolent images, see above, in that although it is clear that this is an ad the product, the whole purpose of the image, is not very clear upon first glance. The first impression of pictures of this nature stops the viewer from looking beyond and seeing the intended product. Or maybe it’s not the clothes that they are selling …show more content…
Any preconceived perception of innocence is gone as you look into the seductive stare of a ten year old. This photo, from French Vogue, is considered a piece of art to many French citizens. In Saskia De Melker’s article she points out that the French people are more open about their sexuality, much more so than the populace of the United States, and that things that are acceptable in France are considered untasteful in other places. But, you may be wondering, how do we know what is hypersexualized and what is art? According to Melker’s article sexuality is a social construct that is developed over time. Due to the society in which I was raised the idea of children, as young as 10 years, being shown in anyway similar to this context is highly disturbing to see. As with any cultural situation it is best to understand the ways of cultures not your own, but the sexualization, in any way, of children is not something very well embraced in the American culture. This sexualization of children shows the trend of hypersexualization in media is not limited to the adults of the advertising