sex sells

[CristyCurves 169032]

I often read articles such as this one I provided a link to and found it even more interesting and sad after having a conversation with my niece. She is a natural beauty, one that stands out in a crowd and yet she does everything possible to play it down, she hates, so she says, how women objectify and sell themselves sexually and she pointed out I'm part of the problem! Lol. She's right, I mean I actually sell sex, and dress in a way to attract men, I wear clothes that enhance my figure, I wear makeup, do my hair, nails, so I am part of the problem aren't I. I don't like how women are objectified in todays society yet I cater to a market that survives off that. Yes we are selling more than our sexuality and seductiveness but truthfully most men are drawn to a women first by her image, seductiveness and performance of so more than not play into that. So I'm not sure what the answer is for me, but it is food for thought!

 

http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/03/02/sex-sells/

[Guest *l**e]

Not just women...men/boys too. You can't go 2 steps without seeing a fireman calendar, Abercrombie ad, etc these days. It still isn't to the extent that women have been objectified and sexualized, but it is pretty bad. Incidence of boys with eating disorders or worse, taking steroids, etc to achieve the perfect washboard abs, pumped pecs are increasing exponentially year after year; let's not even get into what porn cocks can do the the self esteem of an average or small sized boy. Steroid use has become almost an epidemic in North America.

 

Also, since 2000, there has been in an increase of 60% in men and 30% in women getting various plastic surgeries.

 

I don't know what the answer is. Personally, I work out like a maniac, weigh myself far to often and probably focus way to much on my looks, which undoubtedly feeds the fire. I like looking my best and definitely appreciate a beautiful woman. I'd love to hear what others think about this.

[MightyPen 67414]

Il Re is right that sex can be used to sell to everyone, and men can just as readily be framed as sexual lures for a product's hook as women. After all, that recent series of

commercials poked fun at the idea -- but make no mistake, it was using sexual attractiveness to sell Old Spice to women at the same time it mocked the idea).

 

But without question, the vast majority of overtly sexual selling has been aimed at men. And I think that's for two reasons that both have to do with cultural traditions:

 

• men have historically had the buying power and they've been the targets of ads, period; so yeah, it's mostly sexualized images of women that have been used to sell things to straight men.
   
   
  
• historically, women have been discouraged from indulging their own sexuality, so even when they were the targets of advertising it tended to shy away from anything overtly sexual.

Both of those things are changing, though, and I think we're starting to see more balance in the use of both men and women as sexualized objects to sell products and experiences.

 

Now... is there a problem with sexually objectifying human beings? My own answer is... not necessarily. It's not automatically a bad thing to recognize that sometimes, on some level, we really can function as anonymous sexual objects to each other. It's one part of our nature that we can respond to even anonymous and limited images. But it's crucial to also recognize that that's not ALL we are. Otherwise we may come to expect that this one facet of our complex nature alone can encompass and express all we, or members of the opposite sex, have to offer.

 

There are plenty of people who make that mistake.

 

The sexual "realm" offers a whole and healthy landscape of rewarding human expression and experience. Attractiveness is a powerful currency while you spend time there, so there's nothing wrong with maximizing your own assets while you're there by grooming, dressing up, and even adopting a particularly sexual persona. It's fun! And of course, in the sex industry, this is the very thing that you're selling -- allure and fantasy, all that attraction without any complications.

 

We just need to remember that it's a place we and others only inhabit some of the time. If men or women start to think that's where they live 24/7, or if we think of members of the opposite sex exclusively in sexual roles, then we're being immature and wasting large parts of ourselves and our partners.

[Frank7 3939]

I'd have to disaggree with the link. Men are also very objectified to sell. It's just that most women prefer not to see the guy naked ( or that's what they say at least.) A lot of ads use perfect looking guy in a suit/uniform or shirtless to sell.

 

 

As for who's part of the problems, i don't think you are cristy. You dress sexily to attract men, either in your personnal life or for your job. It's using sex, but for a sexual-related goal, so it's not really a problem.

 

The problem is when sex is seen as the only thing a women is worth. Mostly it comes from men who view women that way. And another part of the problem is when women use sexuality for everything. i.e. Sleeping with a teacher for better grades or your boss for a promotion.

[Brad 49548]

I think it's hard to deny that women are objectified more than men, and also have more societal pressure to conform to a certain body image.

 

As Il Re and others state, men are certainly not immune to such forces, but it's undeniably more pervasive for women. And such things can certainly cause issues both on an individual and societal level.

 

That said, I think it is OK to take pride in one's appearance or enjoy feeling sexy (however you define it) as long as you're doing it for yourself and not just for others. So if wearing makeup, dressing up, or even plastic surgery makes you happy, then hey, it's your body and you go ahead! To my mind it's only an issue if you're doing these things only to please others or because you base your worth as a person on your looks. I like to have a good haircut and I don't like how I look when having a bad hair day--but I don't think I'm a lessor human being because of one! :)

 

Likewise, I think it is OK and undeniably normal to be attracted to someone on a physical level. Again, the key is that you don't value a person solely for their physical assets, or judge their worth--or your own!--based on how closely one matches some societal ideal. It is possible to admire someone physically without reducing them to an object.

 

Just about everyone likes feeling attractive; no one likes feeling like a bag of meat.

 

Basically, by no means should a person be shamed because they don't fit society's ideal body image. But nor should a person be made to feel shame because they are considered attractive, feel sexy, like to dress up, etc. Neither is fair to women--or anyone for that matter.

[Guest S*rca****sid]

I read this interesting article about a magazine that has a "No Photoshop" policy regarding any of the models who appear in it. I think this trend might catch on to other publications, but I don't think it will be widespread or revolutionize the industry.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/10/verily-magazine-no-photoshop_n_4079217.html

[MightyPen 67414]

Actually, reading over my earlier post I realize I neglected the entire issue of the objectification of women in order to sell beauty products to other women. (And the exploitation of male insecurities to sell perfumes and stuff to them too.) Which makes my statement that "most objectification in ads is of women for the benefit of men" kind of... uh... "no".

 

Ads that seize on people's insecurities, presenting them with images of unattainable beauty and explaining how badly they lack it until they use Product X, that's a different kettle of fish. Particularly when it comes to young people, I think these can do a lot of harm; and if we can control smoking advertising, we should regulate ads that can affect the mental health and developing self-image of young people, too.

 

But that aside, I do think that adults can live the part of, and be entertained by, sexual imagery and scenarios that portray people as simple embodiments of things we desire. But that's only healthy if it's just one part of a grown-up attitude to the many other regions of a complicated sexual map, and with an understanding that people are more than just their sexual selves.

[CristyCurves 169032]

Actually, reading over my earlier post I realize I neglected the entire issue of the objectification of women in order to sell beauty products to other women. (And the exploitation of male insecurities to sell perfumes and stuff to them too.) Which makes my statement that "most objectification in ads is of women for the benefit of men" kind of... uh... "no".

Yes ads play to woman and men both and to the insecurities of both. After all everyone knows desire is seductive. We all want to be desired by someone for something, especially sexually-so I think. So beauty ads are to make us want too look like whoever is peddling said product and yes too make us feel less than if we don't. But what is the percentage?? and more of?? I think what is important is that we- as a society- start to recognize and address the harm in them and create a change:)

 

Ads that seize on people's insecurities, presenting them with images of unattainable beauty and explaining how badly they lack it until they use Product X, that's a different kettle of fish. Particularly when it comes to young people, I think these can do a lot of harm; and if we can control smoking advertising, we should regulate ads that can affect the mental health and developing self-image of young people, too. Another great point and this is the type of objectification that I was wondering that I some how added to, but after these posts and explanations I don't think so:)There needs to be more ads for appreciating beauty in all it's forms and as it seen through everyone's eyes.

 

But that aside, I do think that adults can live the part of, and be entertained by, sexual imagery and scenarios that portray people as simple embodiments of things we desire. But that's only healthy if it's just one part of a grown-up attitude to the many other regions of a complicated sexual map, and with an understanding that people are more than just their sexual selves.

Yes agreed, but men need to start expressing their appreciation of all women more imo, even in this business, and not just for the "Victoria secret model" types.

[HarveySpecter 1908]

Sex sells, Twerking sells (if the whole Miley Cyrus situation is anything to go by)

 

It's all more about pushing the boundaries and threshold of society and bringing out that which is taboo into the mainstream because anything outrageous will sell for just that fact. So the Objectification part is just the mainstreams way of saying we find this hot and sexy and think everyone should be like this.

 

I have been perplexed recently with the whole "every figure of a lady is sexy/beautiful movement" Because both ends of the extremes (skinny till i can see your rib bones and obese with flaps of fat) are nothing beautiful or healthy.

[CristyCurves 169032]

 

I have been perplexed recently with the whole "every figure of a lady is sexy/beautiful movement" Because both ends of the extremes (skinny till i can see your rib bones and obese with flaps of fat) are nothing beautiful or healthy.

 

Nothing to be perplexed about it just means that there is a lid for every pot. What you see as not being beautiful others will see as beautiful and what you see as beautiful others may not. Most women want more realistic images of beauty portrayed more so than just the "picture perfect". It's a movement to help those who see the same images of beauty advertised over and over, which don't depict the average women, to not feel bad or less than because they don't look like them:)

[Phaedrus 209521]

Nothing to be perplexed about it just means that there is a lid for every pot. What you see as not being beautiful others will see as beautiful and what you see as beautiful others may not.

 

Absolutely. Remember... beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder :)

[Katherine of Halifax 113931]

Absolutely. Remember... beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder :)

I love the way you think!! :lovers:

[Frank7 3939]

Yes agreed, but men need to start expressing their appreciation of all women more imo, even in this business, and not just for the "Victoria secret model" types.

 

The same could be said for women though, key word being appreciation.

A lot of women either only like tall muscular guys or don't care at all about appearance. Would be nice if those with different tastes were vocal about it.