Sexualization Of Women In The Media Analysis

The mass media is singlehandedly the most influential medium in society today, with the sexualization of women being an important means to attracting attention. Sexualization occurs when “a [women’s] value comes only from . . . her sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics” (Schick, 2013). These unrealistic beliefs and ideas that are shaped by the media negatively affect a woman’s self-esteem. Young girls are growing up with the idea that they must have a flamboyant personality to fit in with society and to impress men. However, females fail to recognize that the media is, in fact, exploiting their sexuality and creating unrealistic ideals. The dramatization of females in media also portrays them in stereotypical

851), but this is considered normal. Likewise, the average height and weight of a female is five feet four inches tall and one-hundred and forty pounds, respectively. On the other hand, the average model with the same height weighs one-hundred and seventeen pounds (Loken & Peck, 2005). This representation is evident in most television shows, magazines, beauty commercials, and social media platforms, which emphasize a smaller body size to be more attractive. Standards like these that promote women to be more sexually appealing are wrongfully endorsed. Instead of motivating women to be confident and accepting of themselves, they actually feel more pressured to achieve unrealistic body type goals. Girls grow up thinking that “a woman’s goal in life is to attract and attain a man” (Ceulemans & Fauconnier, 2015, p.11), thus creating the idea that attractiveness is more important than personality and that the female’s focus should be on her appearance. Also present in society today, a majority of magazine covers portray thin looking females “in bikinis or lingerie, posed seductively, so that the viewer is directed to gaze at and evaluate the women's bodies” (Schooler, 2015). These advertisements suggest that women who are

Historically, it may have been inappropriate to portray women as sex symbols, but it has now become the norm. There are many differences between the way men and women are perceived today but the impact of the expected norms is long lasting. These genders roles exist in society because people feel accustomed to follow them and the media further emphasizes these roles. The typical role of a women “as defined in advertising is to attract a man by means of her appealing physique, and to keep him by being deferential and subservient to him” (Ceulemans & Fauconnier, 2015, p.12). Thus, women are being viewed as a sex objects who must obey to everything asked from her. Also, stated by Schaefer and Haaland (2014), “women are underrepresented, which suggests that men are the cultural standard and women are insignificant” (p.211), making them inferior in their household. Females grow up “to be housekeepers, wives, and mothers” (Ceulemans & Fauconnier, 2015, p.12) and they bear the responsibility for providing their men with pleasure and being the ideal housewife. Furthermore, in the mass media, women are usually given the role of mothers or wives. For instance, in commercials, women are given what is considered a more “feminine” role, such