Sexualization of Women in the Media
Stacey Bugg
Ms. McIntosh
ENG 105
4/30/2014
Sexualization of Women in the Media Although many believe the media 's portrayal of women is healthy and perfectly normal, this could not be farther from the truth. Pictures with scantily clad, airbrushed, "perfect" bodies are being displayed on magazines, billboards, and on television leaving little to the imagination. What happened to the phrase "modest is hottest"? What happened to good, wholesome television commercials that you could watch with the whole family? The sexualization epidemic is raging rampant in today 's media, with women being the main target. Women are becoming increasingly sexualized, and with everything at the tip of your fingers, it is easy to see sexy images of women displayed almost everywhere. Over half of all ads, television shows, and magazines have sexualized, perfect women thrown in the spectator 's face. Some may not see any issue with this at all, but to others, it is offensive. Sex sells. But at what cost? The cost is dignity. We have lost respect for ourselves and for others as females, and this sets an image for men and young girls that it is okay to be trampy and to treat women as objects. Women should not be seen as objects of sexual desire, idolized, unattainable beings. This sets standards for women that are mostly inaccessible and for some completely indecent and unwanted. The popular image of women today is totally different from that of earlier years. It is increasing in sexuality and decreasing in class. We as women need to revolt against the degrading standards the media has set for us and find standards that are right for ourselves. Every time you turn on the television, read a magazine, or go to a movie, you will be bombarded with unrealistic models of perfect looking women everywhere you turn. "Between the perennially half-naked Miley Cyrus and celebrities whose only claim to fame is sex appeal, impressionable young women are being taught that sexualizing
Ms. McIntosh
ENG 105
4/30/2014
Sexualization of Women in the Media Although many believe the media 's portrayal of women is healthy and perfectly normal, this could not be farther from the truth. Pictures with scantily clad, airbrushed, "perfect" bodies are being displayed on magazines, billboards, and on television leaving little to the imagination. What happened to the phrase "modest is hottest"? What happened to good, wholesome television commercials that you could watch with the whole family? The sexualization epidemic is raging rampant in today 's media, with women being the main target. Women are becoming increasingly sexualized, and with everything at the tip of your fingers, it is easy to see sexy images of women displayed almost everywhere. Over half of all ads, television shows, and magazines have sexualized, perfect women thrown in the spectator 's face. Some may not see any issue with this at all, but to others, it is offensive. Sex sells. But at what cost? The cost is dignity. We have lost respect for ourselves and for others as females, and this sets an image for men and young girls that it is okay to be trampy and to treat women as objects. Women should not be seen as objects of sexual desire, idolized, unattainable beings. This sets standards for women that are mostly inaccessible and for some completely indecent and unwanted. The popular image of women today is totally different from that of earlier years. It is increasing in sexuality and decreasing in class. We as women need to revolt against the degrading standards the media has set for us and find standards that are right for ourselves. Every time you turn on the television, read a magazine, or go to a movie, you will be bombarded with unrealistic models of perfect looking women everywhere you turn. "Between the perennially half-naked Miley Cyrus and celebrities whose only claim to fame is sex appeal, impressionable young women are being taught that sexualizing
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