Oversexualization in the Media

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Imagine you are bored one day in the early morning. You reach for your favorite magazine, the newest edition of the widely recognized Vogue magazine. On the cover, as always, there is a gorgeous woman. She is dressed in a gold, sparkly, dress (which probably costs more than what you make in a year) and in even more expensive and fancy heels. Her hair and makeup are obviously professionally done, and she looks absolutely beautiful sprawled out on a large bed provocatively with a rabbit on either side. And then you realize something, this isn’t a women you are looking at; it’s a girl - a 10 year old at that! (“10-Year Old Vogue Model: Pretty or Pretty Weird?”).

Instantly you become repulsed and ashamed of the thoughts you had about the woman in this photo mere seconds ago (that is, before you realized exactly how young and innocent this girl actually is). These emotions are followed almost immediately by disgust and astonishment towards the photo shoot, and several alarming questions start to form in your head – why did Vogue chose such a young model? Why is she dressed so inappropriately at such a young age? Are the girl’s parents all right with this? How can any parent be okay with this?

In today’s society, women tend to be oversexualized and, in severe cases, treated more like objects of desire from a well-choreographed fantasy than like actual human beings. Some women like this kind of mentality and openly advocate it; some do not share the same point of view yet are free to voice their opinions on the matter and protest against being treated as sexual objects. This is all rather straightforward and simple for adult females; however the real dilemma occurs when we consider young girls. Before a girl turns 18 and o...

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...rketing to Kids”). The government is obliged to look out for its entire people and, by extension, it most definitely needs to look out for those who cannot speak out for themselves, such as young girls. Therefore, I think that the government needs to take some serious action to defend these girls from the media and that any industries found guilty of exploiting minors should be heavily fined. All in all, the government has the power to greatly impact how young teens are portrayed in the media today.

With widespread effect of the media today, it is essential to make sure that it does not negatively affect young girls. It is the government’s responsibility to make sure that all of its people are well taken care of and rather content. Therefore it is imperative that it speaks for those without a voice by protecting young girls from the wrath of today’s media.

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