Who is mostly at fault for the objectification of women?

Question

I feel like it's like the question "what comes first, the chicken or the egg?"... If I blame the media: they put these thigh-gapped women on the mags. But then the media probably didn't even care about the thigh gap, only about the skinniness of the model. Women are the one who obsess over details like thigh gaps and hip bridges and collar bones being able to hold a stack of coins. But also, men seem to currently totally judge women based on the size of their behinds. But then they wouldn't be obsessing over it if Kim Kardashian hadn't flaunt her humongous ass everywhere. Like a never ending circle. I only know who is definitely disadvantaged by this: little girls. My future daughters. Even children's shows contain characters riding unicorns in TIGHT ASS TUBE TOPS! WHO RIDES A HORSE IN A SHORT AND TIGHT TUBE TOP?

Phoenix98 · Accepted Answer

Well I hate to break it to you but this is not a new phenonomin it's been going on for tens of thousansd of years.

Women were created to be beautiful and alluring works of art you were designed to lure in and seduce strong able partners. Using your looks and wiles being objectified is what in reality is your strongest weapon.

Men were designed for the same reason for women, we were designed to be strong, powerful, able bodied partners. It's why men are attracted to and objectify and look at feminine, beautiful women and why women are attracted to, objectify and look at strong, powerful, good looking men.

It's natural, it's instinct and it's biological.

We are creatures made to be admired and craved by the opposite sex.

And don't act like women don't objectify men either, there is a double standard in the media world and society where it's fine to objectify men whether it be in real life or in the media but if a man does it to a woman then may god have mercy on your soul.

And to be frank I'm objectified, wolf whistled at etc quite a bit at the gym, training, sparring etc. And I've done the same to women and you know what not only are they cool with it but so am I.

Because unlike people where you live we understand the natural order of things and it's all done respectfully.

So calm the fuck down and don't act like you don't objectify men whether it be by the size of our minds, wallets, bank accounts, looks or muscles you do it and don't act like it doesn't happen.

So don't be a hypocrite.

Also men have loved women's asses since the dawn of time, there's a evolutionary and biological reason for that. Just like wide hips are indicator that birthing will be easier for a women there for she'll be able to bear more kids as well as it being an indicator of higher estrogen levels meaning she's more feminine a bigger and more shapely ass is a sign of high estrogen as well.

And just like women are engineered to like more masculine men and men with high testosterone traits like chiseled jawlines and deep voices, tall height and bigger shapely muscles.

Men are engineered to love women with more feminine and high estrogen traits. Like but not limited to bigger tits, bigger more shapely ass and wider hips and a higher more feminine voice or a lower but more softer voice.

AleDeEurope · Accepted Answer

Other women. You (as in women) try to fight objectification with... more objectification. You go out in the streets dressed like whores (yes, if you go out with little to no clothes, with fishnets, and stuff like that, you're dressing LIKE a whore) and dressed as vaginas.
What's the first thing women do when they're drunk? They get all sexual. Dancing on the bar, grinding on every random guy, showing your tits to the club... it's like you wanna be objectified.
If a man walks around without a shirt, and with tight pants showing his bulge, he's gonna get objectified, that's undeniable. So why do women dress in a similar way and not expect to be objectified? For fucks sake, most men find it trashy when your ass is hanging out of your pants, or when you drunkenly show your tits to the club. We don't want you to dress like that, it's you who want that.

Also, men are just as objectified as women. How many times don't we see men without shirts on TV? Or billboards of CK with a man on his underwear? When it comes to the media, men are just as objectified as women, but in real life, you don't see men objectifying themselves, unlike women.

P. S.: Like I said at the beginning, when I said "you" I was referring to women as a whole, not YOU in particular.

nalaa · Accepted Answer

There's sexualisation and objectification and it's important to keep too them separate.
Sexualastion :
i.ytimg.com/vi/b_FzK5SUrbQ/maxresdefault.jpg
network9.biz/.../...883301156f33ba0d970b-450wi.jpg
4.bp.blogspot.com/.../kim-kardashian-500x375.jpg

Objectification:
i.huffpost.com/.../slide_291073_2320220_free.jpg
www.salzburg.umd.edu/.../figure1.jpg
culturedecanted.files.wordpress.com/.../redtape.jpg

I suppose both of them are not great, but they're different and that's important. Men will often say they also get sexualised and that's true. But you'll have trouble finding an ad that objectifies men, that is portrays men as objects rather than people
i.huffpost.com/.../o-CRISTIANO-RONALDO-570.jpg?7

Who's to blame?
Well men. For sexualisation anyway. Sex sells right? But it really applies more to men than women. Men are traditionally harder to convince to buy something so advertisers are focused on what they want to see. And they want to see is naked women.
For objectification I think by the end of the day it's also because that's how men see women. But it's a bit more complex. I think it has to do with the media always having to find something more shocking to stay in style.
In the 50s showing a woman's legs was scandalous
alanahamilton.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/legs.jpg

In the 60s showing a woman in a bathing suit was outrageous
s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/.../...39834100de.jpg

In the 70s bikinis in ads were still kinda a shocker
s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/.../...90800ba9af.jpg

In the 80s and 90s bikinis became normal. And that's how far ads are legally allowed to go in terms of nudity, so they had to find a new to shock by objectifying women

TiredGirl123 · Accepted Answer

I think it's a little of everyone. There's men who are sexist af and hold women up to needing to be magazine woman status. At the same time, most men I've gone out with or guy friends I talk to have a much high image of my body than myself. I think all men to some extent fantasize about a woman with big butt, boobs and flat belly without cellulite or stretch marks. However, the majority of men don't actually expect that out of women. Personality tends to matter more.

On a side note, men who are super fit and muscular themselves are completely entitled to wanting a super fit woman. I'm not trying to say men shouldn't expect healthiness lol.

Women do it themselves, too. I hate women posting pictures of themselves on social media dressed up saying, "who cares about homework anyway". Or, shirts saying, "I'd rather be texting." There's posts everywhere of girls going from kinda nerdy and chubby to one of those Instagram models with a caption saying "Such a beautiful transition." Where's the posts about women going from nerdy and chubby to fit and still nerdy or showing them doing what they are passionate about outside of makeup and clothing? Also, we do these posts with women with body deformities saying "she's so beautiful". No, by our standards, she is not physically beautiful. However, her mind, courage, kindness, survival, or everything else is beautiful. Someone's value should not come from their physical traits.

Glittergirl4 · Accepted Answer

The problem is that we can't fix it. Women do not want to fix it because they want validation. Once they get validation they want more and more and more. More people to tell them they are pretty, more people to tell them they are hot, more people to tell them they are sexy, on and on and on. I know cause I went through it. There was a time when I too wanted this and got it and became addicted to it. But I've moved on from it and so should other women. But that's never gonna happen because women don't want to recognize that they are the problem and that they can't go out in in public showing their boobs or butt or post something sexy on instagram without being objectified. Women want the compliments but not the objectification, which is unreasonable. The media is of course at fault as well because they seem to make an effort to put out nasty stuff so they can draw veiwers in, specifically men. But if women didn't give them anything to put out there in the first place we wouldn't have this problem. And nobody talks about its affect on men. Of course it affects women directly, but men are also affected. They learn to like what women put out there, they see fake boobs and fake butts and God only knows what other stuff women get done, and they start to think that's how a women is supposed to look. And they get used to looking at multiple women instead of one. Women are using men's attraction to their bodies for attention.

caligirl03 · Accepted Answer

Both. Men have always objectified women in some sense since the beginning of time. Think of the way that they were portrayed in fairytales as beautiful helpless damsels or even the wars that have been started over women. That notion was supposedly abolished with the feminism movement of the 60s when women fought to be valued beyond their physical appearance and ability to bear children. However, since then, a new phenomenon has been born known as "3rd wave feminism" in which girls basically objectify themselves in the name of so-called "empowerment". In other words, "I'm gonna dress and act like a complete slut, but this is all for me because it makes me feel good, and if any of you guys even so much as get the wrong impression you're a bunch of assholes". ALSO, girls are JUST as bad as guys at judging other girls based on their appearance. "Ew she's fat, she's too skinny, she has a big nose, look at her dumb clothes, etc etc" Trust me, it's relentless. The end result of all this? A bunch of mixed, conflicting messages and a lot of very confused males.

madhatters4 · Answer

Men.

i think fault for objectification of anyone for any reason can be laid at the feet of those who desire those people for those objective reasons. the media only reflects what the public they are trying to court wants, so if men didn't desire women (and certain types) they wouldn't push that ideal of women.

RJGraveyTrain · Answer

I think it's the consumer's fault more than anything. We feed the media and they give us what we want; if we want thigh gaps, they'll feature thigh gaps; if we want big asses, they'll feature big asses. Remember back when Sports Illustrated would have NEVER featured a "plus sized" model? People were super into it, and they did.

The media has blame too of course but they wouldn't sell what we didn't buy.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

Why does it matter whose fault it is?

MrMysteryMan · Answer

If women weren't so damn beautiful, men wouldn't objectify women. And I would argue that women objectify men as well. It's just not as blatant or as celebrated or not as unaccepted or questioned. And the objectification has been there forever I believe.

It's really no one sexes fault either. It's just how evolution has progressed in how we show appreciation and understanding for what we view as attractive in a human. It's objectification because not everyone loves and agrees with how that evolution has turned out, and what problems have developed out of it. It's objectification because not everyone at every time, no matter how attractive they know they are or how attractive people tell them, they don't want to ever feel like just something to attract other humans.

Objectification is really focused attraction. I love the way a '49 Ford Mercury looks. I think it's one of the most beautiful cars every made. I also love how it sounds when the engine is blaring and it probably feels amazing to drive. Just power and a thrill and the thrill is coming from knowing that it looks really good as well. You could say I'm objectifying this car. But it would be silly to say this, because the car is inanimate and doesn't have any feelings of inadequacy or discomfort when I drool over those gorgeous, sleek lines and just how the look combines muscle with beauty so effortlessly and with it's own style all it's own.

Now if I look at a woman, who is to me, just drop dead gorgeous. As in, her body's shape flows and moves so sensually, and her curves are so delicious that you want to follow them to eternity, and the way her eyes just mesmerize and hypnotize that you get lost in them. If I look at a woman like this in my head, but said woman and the women who view me on the outside, see me looking at said woman like this, they would probably think, "WTF, why are you looking at me like I'm a piece of meat?" I'm not an object to be ogled over, I'm a person." Than it is taken as objectification. Because I'm making this person feel less than a person and more like a sculpture or an object. Like the car I described before, the '49 Ford Mercury. But it definitely was not my intention. Also, if I add an element of sexual arousal to the mix, I'll really get heat for objectifying her, in that, I'm looking at her as an object to satisfy my carnal desires and not as simply a human being.

But, this has been going on since Adam and Eve found out they were physically different...

Pyrofox · Answer

Most likely the toxic mixture of Women and Media are the best suspects as they both allow yet attempt to fight against. Objectifying women, men are at fault but there are women who openly objectify themselves for their own benefits.

Yes its often for the viewing of men and also can be for women. But the real issue is that women dont stand up very often for themselves other than. Groups of women who take things too far in most cases. I mean MGTOW is a bi product of the many overly radical and generalizing feminists. One of many reasons why guys. Are so fed up with being the ones who have to be the ones to start relationships.

As many guys have fallen to the low stoop of saying were done asking out girls. Its your turn to learn how it feels to be the ones where the relationship hangs in the balance of whether or not the potential partner says yes or no or maybe.

I personally though and many other males dont however have an issue with the normal kind of feminism. Just to be clear, its the groups that come up with the corrosive statements that use terms like. "All men are this, that etc." That end up just wearing down the entire sex. To the point it makes being single sound not so bad.

BrileyCat · Answer

Today's world, historically and culturally myopic as it is,
the objectification of women began in the Book of Genesis With Adam and Eve.
The fairy tale blaming Eve (and all women) being tempted by a snake,
of partaking the forbidden fruit, God punishing Eve and all women
with the pains of child birth, and casting Adam and Eve out of the Garden.
All because Eve was curious and hungered for knowledge.

Ridiculously, both men and women in most religions bought into this nonsense.

Today it has furthur advanced and been enhanced in its excessiveness
and extremes in its horrors and fantasies due to modern technology
and the exploitation for profit by men and women alike.

Because of deeply ingrained beliefs from the Evangelical Islamic and Judaic cultures,
one can see the parallels between patriarchy, slavery and abuses against women.

This ofc is an oversimplification, but the objectification of women has been
going on long before snapchat and Joan of Arc burnt at the stake.

abc3643 · Answer

Answering "the media" is ridiculous because the media acts in response to human behavior. The real answer is also the answer to to almost all human behavior: evolution. Males are evolved to have a very heightened since of sexuality when they are young because this is what is in the best interest of keeping our species from dying out. Because of this, females become the objects or targets of our sexual predatory nature. A modern times with men dominating the world, the marketing industry just caters to that natural instinct in men thus makes advertising media accordingly. Furthermore, women are evolved to understand male sexuality and that they are targets for male sexual attention. However they also realize that they have to compete with each other for any particular male. Thus, appealing to a male and the desire to be wanted is also an evolved behavior in females. The marketing industry understands that as well and so they make advertising media accordingly. Much of that advertising media is no different than the kind made for men and it all really focuses on the objectification of women as sexual objects. What is interesting is that with the women's movement, the advertising industry is recognizing the sexual desires of women as well and are beginning to market towards women. For instance, on the game show The Price is Right, there are now male models along with the female models. So, in other words males, are beginning to become sexually objectified as well.

GingerGuy · Answer

Well first, it's not something that's ever going to be fixed or go away completely I don't think. And I don't think any 1 thing is responsible for it except for people in general, all people (both genders). This goes back 100's, if not 1000's of years. Look how long it's taken just to come this far. The media might be contributing to keeping it alive but like I say, it goes back too far to "blame" them and I don't see it changing much as far as the media is concerned. It's proven that women and/or sex sells. They use women to sell everything just about (and they teach this in college as to the reasons why which I won't get into). Look at commercials on TV, how many men are there compared to women, very little. I could go on and on but I'll leave it there.

Plus, you're not going to change some things ever. Eg, family tradition. If the guys in a family for example have always objectified women, that usually carries on from generation to generation because it's what they're taught and ultimately, believe "is the way it is". Plus, women themselves can contribute as well. They like to "show off" and be "sexy" for the attention usually, you're not going to change that. There will always be someone.

JuicyBrain · Answer

I don't really understand the problem with objectification. The way I see it, it is normal and unavoidable. If I am hungry, I will be looking for a restaurant for it's ability to serve me food. If my dish washer broke down, I'll be looking for a repair man for his abilities as a repair man. If I need sex, I will be looking for a woman because she is biologically compatible with me. That doesn't mean that woman are only good for sex. That doesn't mean I cannot enjoy a conversation with her or even spend my life with her.
when I see an ad with a half naked woman on it. Most of the time, she is attractive and I may fantasize about her. The fact that they used her in the ad doesn't mean that she is only good for sex or that I think less of her in any way. If evolution made us in a way that make us buy stuff if paired with a half naked, beautiful woman, we'd be crazy not to take advantage of it. I don't see how it's a bad thing.
Why do people believe that objectifying women means that women are only good for sex? I don't understand why I should be thinking less of a woman because of her sexuality.

Garkrum91 · Answer

Think of it this way. The media shows women that in some minds are attractive. it gets the views/likes/up votes/clicks therfore they want to show them. which in the end makes them money. I can honestly say we (men) are hardwired pay attention to attractive women. so company/buisness/advertising use it to their advantage. In a nutshell sex sells. If somethings sells and well at that; why wouldn't a buisness caring only about making money use it to get what they want. It's a cycle buisness want money so they make ads to get the most views/attention. which can include women (supermodels and other women ) doing, wearing or be portrayed in a negative light. which makes other competitors do the same thing. . sorry if I don't make much sense this is my first long post.

in my opinion. I think we are all to blame. The consumerism in the US makes it so people will use any means to get a profit. Even if it means showing women in an unattainable/unrealistic/unhealthy fashion.

they only thing that makes sense in my mind. I'm analytical by the way. If to find a way to control/tone down the sexual desire people feel. so company won't want to use said tactics because cut won't be effective.

again first long post and I might not be saying exactly what I want. hope I helped

Anonymous · Answer

Women are. All three play a role but women influence it slightly more. Ever heard of taking ownership of your circumstances? Not only that, but it is very well known that women tend to let other peoples opinions of them shape their own opinions of themselves. "I am what I think other people think I am," this mentality that is more prevalent in women has them more concerned about their impression on people because in a sense they literally are an object in someone else's world.

What is most fucked up to me (and I am not saying this is bad or good, it just literally fucks with my brain) is that women love being objectified. BUT, it has to be a specific kind of objectification, at the right time, by the right people. They love it, it makes them wet, and drives them nuts. But outside of those special circumstances, it turns to a great evil. It is a delicate psychological reality with many factors at play and I grapple with it a lot. I find the best way to deal with it is just accept it and not think about it too much or else my mind goes into a rabbit hole.

Example: Girl wants to be used and abused by 4 men she hardly knows, choked, spat on slapped, tears running down, forced to do things that are degrading, guys using her like she doesn't even matter, and she cums like never before. This is a VERY common fantasy (even if most girls will lie through their teeth about it, their juices tell a different story)

Anonymous · Answer

In my opinion, it's possibly to pretty thoroughly defend yourself against all this with just a little bit of common sense and self esteem. Problems start when people become dependent on others for those things (common sense and self esteem) and suddenly, it's everyone else's fault or problem that they personally lack those things.

Also, I think another aspect to all of this is just good old fashioned competition. Attractiveness matters because it increases the likelihood of "winning" the mating game. It also matters because it increases earning potential. For that reason, it's sensible to put some investment into being attractive to the demographic you care about. Complaining about things like "no one looks like that" is more often than not just an excuse to avoid the hard work of self improvement. I was struck by the pejorative tone in the statement to the effect that girls see their bodies as projects for constant improvement. What? That's a problem? I should HOPE they're trying to improve their bodies as well as their minds and their social ties, hobbies, finances, etc. If they're not, THEN something's wrong.

MazeOfLove · Answer

The objectification of women is the fault of... men, women, and the media. Some men value only the physical attributes of women. Some women flaunt their physical attributes in a manner that is purely for the arousal and attention of men. The media makes everything out to be objectification while at the same time producing songs, movies, TV shows, etc. that flaunt women. We are all culpable to a degree but as an earlier commenter noted, the real culprit may be our overly heightened senses of sex and the body.

blunttalker · Answer

Everyone , the media , men and women, everyone. We strive for happiness and we do it wrong. We do our best to get people's attention , show more skin , get surgery , act more provocatively , etc. We feed ourselves with news , so they go further , men do more and more pervert sexual things in porn , adds become more and more provocative, sexual... fashion, same. We are so advance in so many things except for this. its so fucked up. And the sad things is that so many people, millions of people don't understand what objectification is or don't even bother to understand , they like it. I'm happy to hear that there is a movement called Fight The New Drug thats making people realize about very important things , but I wish their videos, images and articles were translated , because not everyone speaks well English. I did know about "women not objects" , that is a very good video. I really hope the world will be someday better.

Abe90 · Answer

If people really can't figure this out, then they're either biased or idiots. Media is the fault that is to blame here. The movie and game industry have been doing his for years now. Women are sexualized and boys that are aging into adults see these women as sex objects and believe that women SHOULD represent what they see. The music industry is also to blame such as hip today. All they talk about is fucking, money, or drugs. If you don't think games ties into this att all, then look at games such as Dead or Alive. Look at how women are dressed. Actually, look at a lot of fighting games. Grand theft auto also shows prostitution which they're not endorsing it, but they're spreading the information into people's minds. And who plays video games the most? Don't worry, that's a rhetorical question.

BuchitaBuchys · Answer

I'll say all 3. But not in equal order.

1. Men
2. Women
3. Media

1. Men started it in the beginning. They're the ones who do say things like "big boobs are hot".
2. Then, women instead of saying "fuck that. I don't care", we play into men's desires. So we get boob jobs, ass injections or whatever. Or, if they already have the assets, flaunt it purposefully and use it in their advantage.
3. Media then just feeds on what we already like. Like big booty. Years ago Jane Fonda was trying tu get us to have trim rears, now it's all about squats and shit to make it big.

dragonfly6516 · Answer

It stems from an era when women were little better than property, and were sold by fathers to husbands with the biggest offer made to the father. Having no real power, women turned to selling their bodies to get what they needed and wanted. But in order to prevent giving away merch for free, women began teasing men with little peeks and free samples. This in turn led to even seeing a boob being a sort of reward. Both men and women are equally at fault.

COCOCHANEL · Answer

it's always been well known here that men want the skinniest girls as their girlfriends. it's status. showing off. some voice it but most don't. their actions tell all.

actually i'd never heard anyone mention anything about a space between the things until one of the topselling and arguably the hottest actor in japan who is adored by hundreds of thousands of women here mentioned on a primetime talk show that the gap between the thighs was his favourite part of the female body.

mikarin1215.com/.../斎藤工アイキャッチー.bmp

Hidden_P · Answer

Everyone.

Back in the day it was tradition. Was it men's fault? Wasnit society?

Then things developed. Women became more outspoken. Men didn't like it. Was it men or women?

The men accepted it. Women pushed the boundaries. Is it women or the media?

Maybe it's everyone. Not Bob the 3rd of Devonshire's fault but everyone as a whole.

Anonymous · Answer

I think it's least of all the women's fault and mostly the media's. Sure there are some women out there who aren't bothered by it and some who like it (not a bad thing) however anyone with half a brain knows that not all women fall into this category. There was a commercial for Bacardi rum that was on tv in the late nineties where a woman in a white dress was sprayed and soaked with water while drinking the rum and all of her "assets" where clearly visible. This is just one example (and the only one I remember well due to my mom commenting on how it made women seem dumb and dirty every time it came on).

Who is mostly at fault for the objectification of women?

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