Womans Appearance and Sexuality Power - Case Study Example

Woman Appearance and Sexuality The paper is a dialogue-based piece of writing that discusses the statement; ‘A woman’s appearance and sexuality represent power; hence there is nothing wrong with the sexualized imagery of women in popular culture’. In this case, I (Speaker 1) am an opponent to the statement while Speaker 2 is a proponent of the declaration. We, therefore, deliberate on pros and cons attached to this phenomenon. Speaker 1: I do not support the fact that there is nothing wrong with the sexualized imagery of women in popular culture. However, I agree with the fact that appearance and sexuality are both representations of power. However, sexualizing the woman imagery has led to increased immorality. Speaker 2: I am in full support that there is nothing wrong with the sexualized imagery of women in popular culture as women appearance and sexuality represent power. Speaker 1: I totally differ with based on your support for sexualized imagery of women in popular culture. Portrayals of women in modern media are becoming hyper-sexualized, and this has such daunting repercussions as escalated legitimization of violence against women, increased sexual harassment as well as increased anti-women attitudes amongst males (American Psychological Association (APA) Task Force, 2007). In addition, increased body dissatisfaction and eating disorders among males and females as well as reduced sexual satisfaction among men and women. Speaker 2: I do agree with your assertions on the consequence attached to sexualized depiction of women in the modern culture. However, my contention is on the notion that there is something wrong with sexualized imagery of women since to me I only see this as a representation of power. Right? Speaker 1: Hmmm. Let me help uncover something that you seem to be missing. As discovered by a study by University at Buffalo, sociologist unearthed that depiction of women in the popular media has even been pornified. Speaker 2: such a revelation is a common knowledge, and such women draw on funds from such practices. I still do not vote negatively about the depiction, unless I do not understand your point of view. Speaker 1: Let me try to accommodate your viewpoint. However, I will draw your attention to Hatton’s quote on the findings of the research at the University at Buffalo.” We don’t necessarily think it’s problematic for women to be portrayed as sexy. But we do think it is problematic when nearly all images of women depict them not simply as sexy women but as passive objects for someone else’ sexual pleasure.’ Speaker: According to my understanding of Hatton’s assertion is that, depiction is not the issue but the issues lies with the audience. It is the audience own evaluation of the imageries as objects for sex; however portrayal is not bad. Speaker 1: The concern arises from the representation. The consequential damage is attached to those portraying women as sex objects, not the audience. The ultimate target is the consumers of such imageries. ‘We find the frequency of sexualized images of women in popular media, combined with the extreme intensity of their sexualization, to because of concern’ charged Hatton. ‘Sexualized portrayals of women have been found to legitimize or exacerbate violence against women and girls, as well as sexual harassment and anti-women attitudes among men and boys.’ Speaker 2: I am getting whatever you are raising, and it is better that we try show the connection of the consequences to the inclusions of such images to popular culture. The fact is that despite the challenges and the results you are raising, it appears that sexualization is on the rise and far from buying your ideas. Even the same Hatton you are referring to seemed indifference o that way to look at this issue. He quotes, ‘Sexuality is very much a social construction and, thus a product of a particular socio-cultural environment. What we deem to be appropriate to wear on the street is likely not the same in other countries, including those in which women are expected to be fully covered and those in which women are not (Hatton &Nell Trautner, 2011).’ For this reason, to me, eliminating the depiction of women either as sex objects is not a concern as such actions as many haters and likes in almost equal measures. Speaker 1: I disagree with your assertions based on whatever Hatton was alluding. I acknowledge that whatever I may perceive as immoral would turn to be moral to you….. Having said that, take a case based on the effects of such imagery has to the little and fledging children in our society. The future of our children are strongly embedded in us, and we should always act as role models. To be a role would never be justified by whatever number supports a given phenomenon but an individual conviction. As Hatton quotes in her concluding analysis of 1000 images on the covers of Rolling Stone, ‘What we conclude from this is that modern media such as Rolling Stone are not depicting women as sexy musicians or actors; they are representing women musicians and artists as ready and available for sex (Aubrey, Stevens, Henson, Hopper Smith, 2009). This is problematic because it indicates a decisive narrowing of media representation of women.’ Speaker 2: However much you take your grounds for opposing this issue, you should at no point fail to appreciate that popular culture is a growing industry. The only concern to me is the need to ensure that our children are never accessed to such imageries, but saying that it should come to a stoppage is a misinformed assertion (Attwood, 2009). In addition, most such images have restrictions attached to specific age limits. Speaker 1: Hmmm. It would be easier restricting the production of such images that limiting our children. The digitalization and the use of internet have provided our children with a range of opportunities to access such images, and it is impossible to deter them (Brown, Engle, Pardun, Guo, Kenneavy & Jackson, 2006). Speaker 2: I think I should remind you that we are talking about a multi-billion growing industry. You need to be considerate on the amount of investment firms have pumped into such ventures. In addition, the issue will be debatable in courts and may never favor your assertions. The best parents can do to curb children from this challenge is at individual family levels. Speaker 1: I think the government stands the best position to help reverse this threatening situation. The government can start from legislating laws that will favor the protection our young population from such unscrupulous actions. Speaker 2: I agree with you, but the only challenge would be the implementation of such laws and policies. Policies might look lucrative but implementers may resist changing and thus if parents do not take the center stage, laws will be ceremonious. Accordingly I draw your attention to my earlier position of restricting our children from accessing such materials. Speaker 1: You have also heard other effects such as raised sexual harassment and legitimization besides dissatisfaction in sexual amongst the spouses. How would you deal with such issues? Speaker 2: Such a situation is a challenging one, but I assure adults can make rational decisions in their lives and should be pushed to acting out of free consent. Speaker 1: You seems to be cornered. Your answer is not a convincing one at all. How can an individual make a decision on a matter already out of his control? Emotional feelings of sexual dissatisfaction can never be controlled by a person. Work Cited American Psychological Association (APA) Task Force. (2007). Report of the APA task force on the sexualization of girls. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Attwood, F. (2009). Mainstreaming sex: The sexualization of western culture. London: I.B. Tauris. Aubrey, J., Stevens, J., Henson, K., Hopper, M., & Smith, S. (2009). A picture is worth twenty words (about the self): Testing the priming influence of visual sexual objectification on women’s self-objectification. Communication Research Reports, 26, 271–284. Brown, J., L’Engle, K. L., Pardun, C., Guo, G., Kenneavy, K., & Jackson, C. (2006). Sexy media matter: Exposure to sexual content in music, movies, and magazines predicts black and white adolescents ‘sexual behavior. Pediatrics, 117, 1018–1027. Erin Hatton, Mary Nell Trautner, (2011). Equal Opportunity Objectification? The Sexualization of Men and Women on the Cover of Rolling Stone. Sexuality & Culture. Read More