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Original poster

over-sexualisation of (western?) society a large part of the reason for female oppression?

56 replies

rogueantimatter · 03/09/2015 10:19

I have read very little feminist literature! So I accept that I am ignorant compared to many well-read posters on this board. I'd love to hear your opinions of my impression/home-spun theory.

It seems that western societies have more male/female equality than in other societies; eg, suffrage, job opportunities etc (I know we still have a way to go) But in other respects women are respected less? What I mean is, women are judged more on their appearance and expected to spend a ridiculously huge amount of time on making themselves fit the perceived model of sexual attractiveness and availability to men.

Now we're in a huge muddle - women are expected to (appear to) be sexually available, but men seem to be frightened of women's sexuality and slam women for 'dressing sluttily,' 'asking for it', make misogynistic porn etc. And the very reason for attracting a mate (from a biological perspective): having babies, though arguably fetishized - look at the pressures to be a perfect parent giving children a perfect childhood - is undervalued. New mums are isolated as never before - left to get on with it by themselves yet still expected to look good and work too!

I realise this is simplistic, but more and more I wonder if the solution to harmful attitudes to women is to massively reduce the cultural over-emphasis on sex. How we'd do this I don't know; clothes, perfume, beauty products/treatments, glamorous cars/drinks, attractive (frequently pornographic) pop stars are exploited for commercial gain. A huge force to counter. How we'd reduce the availability of porn I don't know either.

If we worked to promote qualities other than sexual attractiveness we'd all benefit surely. (also elderly people - no longer seen as wise, now seen as knowing nothing relevant due to being old and 'past it').

I know that many feminists work hard to reduce the perception of women-as-sex-objects, eg NMP3 (I bought and wear the t-shirt). But how can we encourage reproduction and child-rearing (for want of a better expression) to be more valued? And for women to be respected as individual people with valuable skills and qualities in the same way that men are, regardless of the ability to reproduce in a positive way? IYSWIM. Rather than being perceived to be attacking cultural norms to promote alternative values.

Do you think I'm right that over-sexualisation is now responsible for the male/female unfairness in our 'society'?

OP posts:
Original poster
rogueantimatter · 03/09/2015 12:14

x-posted with fitfatty!

Yes.

Also to properly support mothers.

OP posts:
Original poster
rogueantimatter · 03/09/2015 12:13

Wearing a veil as a 'thing' seems to be more complex than not 'tempting men' though. I'm thinking of the programme last night 'The Ascent of Women' in which it was pointed out that in different societies, only certain women were allowed to wear veils. Sometimes it was an ownership thing. Not that I'm defending compulsory dress codes!

I'm not suggesting women (or men) be discouraged or criticised for dressing in any way we choose. I'm glad we're 'liberated'. It's the constant, relentless emphasis on sex/being sexually attractive, (youthful) that implicitly devalues everything else, including being a woman who isn't 'sexy' and pregnancy, birth, breast-feeding etc.

Because there's so much emphasis on women being sexually attractive/available we are valued only (mostly) according to whether we are sexually attractive.

There's a cult of youth - connected with over-emphasis on sexuality? - political leaders are getting younger (perhaps JC will be an exception!), media presenters are young, the life experience of elderly people has no value anymore. We're expected to try to look young for as long as possible.

I wonder - I hope someone who knows about 'traditional' societies where sexuality is repressed will come along (I am narrowly travelled) - if women in these societies get more support when they have children. It might be argued that women in 'western' societies are advantaged by having free childcare and maternity leave, but I don't see that as support. Having to work long hours when your children are small (and a cultural expectation that you will still find time to dye your hair, shave your legs, trim your eyebrows, have a 'beach-ready' body and be an amazing mum who plays with your children) isn't supporting women or giving us advantages we didn't previously have. It's perceived to be in the nation's economic interests to have everyone working - 'free' childcare isn't about making society more equal (in my opinion).

It would be better for women if there was more emphasis on men sharing the childcare (by taking more time off work for example) and more financial help for women/families so that women don't have to bust a gut by having to do everything.

OP posts:
Thefitfatty · 03/09/2015 11:37

Women have always been sexualized and reduced to their sexuality, doesn't matter if they wear a bikini or a burkha. Primarily, we are valued, in every culture, for our looks and what's between our legs and our ability to bear children, which is what makes men want to "own" us. If anything, continuing to promote the idea that women are MORE then just mothers and that they are entitled to their own sexuality is more important then the alternative (which I believe is what you are suggesting, unless I read you wrong).

MephistophelesApprentice · 03/09/2015 11:37

The west has only been "over-sexualised" since the Sexual Revolution of the '60s made explicit sexuality acceptable outside of high-art. Before that point it was as repressive, if not more, as every other society on earth.

High levels of sexual liberation (and the legal accessibility of porn) correlate with higher womens rights and reduction of female victimisation in most modern studies.

Womens appearance and attractiveness is still heavily policed in societies where sexuality is repressed and still disadvantages them just as much.

ChunkyPickle · 03/09/2015 11:36

Surely countries where women have to cover up is also a sexualisation - it's saying that you mustn't display yourself to tempt men.

If thought about that way, women being able to express themselves in their dress is at least a step towards acknowledging them as autonomous beings - even if that expression comes out sometimes (often?) as wanting to please men.

In fact, I'm not sure it's the sexualisation that's the problem at all, but the reaction to it, the expectation.

YonicScrewdriver · 03/09/2015 11:29

"Do you think I'm right that over-sexualisation is now responsible for the male/female unfairness in our 'society'?"

I don't think it helps. But there's probably more unfairness in societies where e..g the burkha is common.

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