Objectification In Short Story

The dictionary definition of objectification is to refer to a person as an object, an appellation which usually pertains to the mistreatment of women. The objectification of women is evident in all types of media, including short stories. For instance, Tim O’Brien’s The Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong places some verification that most men objectify women for their “entertainment and education” (68). Mary Anne Belle is immediately characterized as a toy as she “came in by helicopter” (67) into the camp. Her “white culottes and … sexy pink sweater” (65) instantaneously caught the men’s attention and soon results in “some envy” (68) among the men who “genuinely liked her” (68). The short story suggests a prime metaphor in elucidating the belittlement …show more content…
However, as the story progresses, Mary Anne ‘learned pretty damn quick … as she picked up on things fast” (69), learning a fresh outlook concerning the realities of life when Vietnam exposes itself to her and gains confidence in herself. Mary Anne also develops “a good sharp mind” (69) allowing her to perform numerous risks, proving herself more superior to countless men on the compound. Her superiority reveals itself as numerous “casualties came in” (69) and, unlike the men, Mary Anne “wasn’t afraid to get her hands bloody” (69). Since “she didn’t back off the ugly cases” (70), Mary Anne’s beliefs in herself provides a breakthrough for the women population, however, this contradicts itself to the familiar belief that men exists as more superior than women as they are capable of “[doing] things fast and right” (70). The roles of women are evolving into something more tremendous as an increasing amount of female individuals involve themselves in situations that are usually associated with men. The short story delves deeper into this reality as Mary Anne comes back from a “fuckin’ ambush” (73), destroying the men’s view of her as their “own little native” (68). Mary Anne is given the opportunity to join “six Green Berets” (73), a special operations task force, whom the men at the compound could only dream about joining. As Mary Anne heads “toward her own bunker” (73), the men could only gawk in awe and surprise as she “carried the standard M-16 automatic assault rifle” (73). As a result of Mary Anne gaining a tittle and privilege that none of the men in the compound could achieve, she verifies that women are capable of outperforming and exceeding the capabilities of men. The Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong showcases that women are