what can be done to stop the sexualization of women in the media & society?

Question

should the USA do what Madrid, Fance, & Italy did, and ban under age & under weight models and create a voluntary code about the portrayal of the female body? what should parents do to help shape their children's sexuality before it gets warped by the media? what can women do as individuals?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070220/ts_alt_afp/uschildrensex_070220135757

what else can be done by women who do dress appropriately, and don't purchase items from companies whose advertising is distasteful to them? is there anything else that can be done other than not sexualizing oneself and not supporting it financially? what can be done about the children's exposure to such things, they think it's normal!

YOLAK-
did you even read the article?? how can you suggest that "when "a person's value comes only from his or her sexual appeal or behavior," when sexuality is inappropriately imposed, or when a person is sexually "objectified."" is a better opportunity for women??? it suggests that women's value is determined by their sexuality and that is NOT a better opportunity !

SERIN-
i didn't say the government SHOULD ban anything, i posed the question, and i also included the word "voluntary code".
and it's not just tv, it's the internet, billboards, toys, etc. you obviously AREN'T a genius because i doubt you took the time to read the article or even look around. you are sarcastic and close minded.

Answer 1

Bonzai is right, parental censorship, while definitely important, only goes so far. The "ideal" of the super thin, CLINICALLY UNDERWEIGHT model is so pervasive that even restricting your children to NO t.v. would not be very effective, our culture is saturated with it...magazines, movies, and peers...realistically, it's impossible to keep young girls from being tainted by it one way or another...unless we change the norm. And we are not just talking about health here, or even the fetishizing of an unhealthy "feminine ideal." It's the act of objectification itself. Whether it be a healthy weight model, or one that is too thin. And spare me the "sex sells" mantra...what we need is to stop being "sold" the idea that the sole worth of a woman is what she offers physically. "Masculinists" complain all the time about the media portraying them as the "dumb punching bag"...and women are portrayed as mindless, soulless bodies. I do think there should be "healthy weight" requirements for models...plenty of other jobs have certain requirements and restrictions, especially in sports, so WHY NOT modeling? In the meantime, parents can work against these pressures by modeling healthy eating habits, mothers in particular need to watch their behavior, and avoid the "crash diets" and "I'm so fat" complaints (especially when you're not) in front of their daughters. And we need to teach our children that a woman's physical beauty is not the "end-all, be-all" of her existence, that our intellect and moral convictions are much more important.

Answer 2

Wow, mostly great replies. I like when people respond constructively.

Yeah, banning anything seems to me to be a bad idea based on my ethics code; the people that posted seem to feel the same way. I just want to point out that it is not men that create these stereotypes of beauty and write these magazines; it is women. I'm not particularly sure WHY these standards are in place other than the fact that any sort of business that is lucrative will tend to overlook problems if it can keep getting money, which I assume is the purpose for illustrating slimness as beauty. After all, it's harder to LOSE weight than to GAIN it, right? That could be one reason why it's happening.

As for how to solve that problem, the answers before mine generally made sense; if you want something stopped, you can boycott it or decry the product. Don't bother wasting your time if you can't get a cohesive movement together, though.

Answer 3

I have never agreed with the government banning anything in the media, I believe it's up to the individual to choose what to watch. If enough of us turn off something, they'll change what they show.

As for individuals, I think a big step for women would be if they started dressing more modestly. It's hard to sexualize someone that's dressed modestly. And you can be elegant, fashionable and modest at the same time, despite what the media tries to portray.

Parents simply need to make sure their children understand the difference between reality and media. Teach their children morals from the beginning and the kids will make good choices on the matter on their own.

Answer 4

I think normal everyday women need to put their foot down and refuse to buy magazines which feature underweight models, and refuse to buy clothes which arent true to size. Its not right to have to stuff your body into clothing that is supposed to be your size, yet seems to be created for someone with no curves. I am not sure what parents can really do about it, considering girls kind of do their own thing anyway and ignore their parents during their teen years. I would say parents could teach their children healthy eating habits at a young age, and show them what it looks like to be healthy, and that being too underweight or overweight is unhealthy and leads to major heart complications, and an early death.

Answer 5

it would be awesome if the USA does any action employing a strict rule of what is underweight/age for models. But the fashion world is an industry with few individuals who control the big scene. This would mean a joint effort from different groups to implement regulations for models and what is acceptable.

Parents should show their children strong models who do not fit the paperboard cut out found in fashion magazines. Beauty is everywhere in many shapes in forms could be a phrase a parent/sibling could use to their friends/family/lovers.

It is nice to see Tyra Banks (though she gets annoying sometimes) empower women to be accepting of themselves. And has anyone seen the Dove commercials and the Dove advertisements seen on billboards/magazines? They cover women of different races/body types and show them as models of beauty!

Answer 6

I think as parents the fathers and the mothers need to teach children......both the boys and girls....respect for one another and for themselves.....I think banning media is a little extreme....you make something illegal it will still exist .......if it is something you do not wish to have in your home turn off your television.....don't buy the product....tell your children why you are doing this.....hopefully when your children are adults there will be more respect and tolerance for other people in general.

Answer 7

Those who perpetrate this sort of BS need to be hit where it counts: their profit margin. Good old fashioned PRODUCT BOYCOTTING can work wonders. Combine it with LETTER WRITING CAMPAINGS; why not PETITIONS s too?

1. cancel your subcriptions to magazines who publish offensive material with a letter explaining WHY. If you have daughters, explain why you can't and won't let their material into your home.

2. Write letters to the marketing department of the products which are advertised innappropriately explaining why you find their marketing style offensive.

"proudtobeamuslima"
you are missing the point entirely. Not only that, you are blaming the young victims - many of whom struggle with anorxia, bulimia, clinical depression and other disorders. Your comment is at best unhelpful, at worst offensive and dangerous.

Answer 8

don't criticize anyone first check the parents then say something.parents should teach and discipline their kids first if u do that right then u wouldn't have a problem my dad used to beat the **** out of me when i did something bad when i was a kid i am glad he did because if he didn't i don't think i would have a good future.....just teach your girls to be better use the simple tools first and be good parents then our nation would have a good future because it doesn't look right now.

Answer 9

I think it has to start at home. We need to teach our little girls how to be confident help them with their self esteem. And by that we ourselves as mothers need to have a good self esteem. I think that way women don't have to dress in ways that think will get them attention or do other things that exploit them. I also think that parents have to teach boys how to treat women. And by that I mean mother's must be respected by their husbands so they set the example.

Answer 10

If we stop responding to the ads, they will be forced to change. We can complain and whine all we want, but until we as women STOP buying these designer clothes, stop buying all these cosmetics, and stop buying all these fas diets, it will continue.

The fact is, the media does not create these images to deliberate control us. They use them because we want them to. Buyers respond more favorably to sexualized ads than normal ads. If you want to change advertising practices, vote with your wallet. Support retailers and companies that present balanced images of women.