Personal Narrative: The Sexualization Of Women

Throughout history women have been used as powerful tools in many aspects of life. It is far beyond carrying babies. Women have worked diligently in order to claim equal rights to men. In the last few decades, women have become less known for their accomplishments, as a result of women becoming sex objects in society. Although today’s generation is becoming more sensitive to feminism, the way females are shown aren’t representations of how most women want themselves to be referred to as. While some women are using their bodies in ways to promote positive body image, many are used as a way to make other men and women reach for the unreachable. Women being sexualized in advertisements, social media, music, and everyday life result in negative

Waitressing has become in some cases a way for customers to sexually harass their waitresses and receive no disciplinary action. In order to find out just how much customers push the boundaries, I wanted to interview an obvious target of sexualization. When visiting with a waitress in Davenport, Iowa, I was immediately impressed with her goals and aspirations. She was a student at a local college and was supplementing her income by being a waitress at a well renowned or rather infamous restaurant called Hooters. It was her second job along with being a student. Hooters is supposed to be known for it’s fried wings selection but I am led to believe this to be tongue in cheek as I wasn’t impressed with the menu but recognized instantly that the men being served were oblivious to the food selection but were all bantering with their waitresses. They all had smiles from ear to ear. Mine was named Holly but after 45 minutes of here and there conversation I realised that was not her real name. As my wings got cold our conversation got red hot she told me tales of various situations that would seem comical if they weren’t so deprived of respect for this hard working girl. She told me of times when men with ring fingers absent a wedding ring still held the marks of depressed flesh as if the ring were removed just for dinner. She told me that her job requires her to make customers feel relaxed and a ease. Her bantering with the patrons was often mistaken for a possible opening for these customers which were men. The more the she was fun, outgoing and friendly the tips seem to add up to higher.(Holly) She was not overly attractive but her outfit left little to imagine and I think that her cleavage was her customers’ focal point. At the end of my meal I came to realize that she was not the fool but she did lessen herself to have them fall victim to her orange shorts and 3 size too small top. She came to objectify herself.