Sex & Society

I have been passively accepting the degradation against my sex. What's one more song, depicting us as sexual objects? What's one more movie, revealing more than our talent? What's one more ad on TV, using sexual groans and explicit content to showcase a product? As a society we come to accept the messages from media. We become numb to the humiliation, oppression, and objectification. We begin to stop singing the anthem, "I am woman hear me roar!" and instead succumb to the notion, "My worth is measured by my vagina." This explains why women stay with men who treat them poorly. This explains why women are competitively obsessing over appearance, instead of embracing their natural beauty. Because without a pretty face and a nice body, what's our purpose in this world?

We live in a modern society, yet our attitudes regarding sex and gender seem to be reverting to decades back. Women! We fought so hard to get where we are today. From protesting the government for the right to vote, to trading in our aprons and high heels for a brief case and an education, we have demanded gender equality. And in 2013 we are still fighting that battle. Why? Because we are letting them get away with it! 

As a young female, I am disgusted by the way I am portrayed in the society I live. See, society is sneaky. It has a way of slipping in messages to its people, without being blunt. Here are some examples. May they open your eyes to the world in which we inhabit. 

1. Commercials

 

Flip on the TV. Sooner or later you are bound to hear an orgasm through the speakers. Yes, an orgasm. Or, as Herbal Essences likes to cleverly refer to it, a "hairgasm". How creative, right? Well, Herbal Essences..these days it's hard to depict one sexual commercial from the next. You're not selling more product, you're simply sending a message to women everywhere. Buy this product and have an orgasm while you wash your hair. And maybe some people look at you funny when you get out of the shower. See how ridiculous that sounds? C'mon, you can do better than that. 

Need shoes? Just Fab evidently has both shoes and sexual moaning to offer. Maybe they'll begin a new advertisement campaign, "shoegasm".  I don't know about you, but I've never gotten that excited over a pair of shoes. It's just sad, really. And I often wonder what motivates these women to participate in these sexually explicit commercials, portraying us as air headed bimbos. They were either really desperate for 30 seconds of fame, or they have come to accept that women are only good for what they put out. I'd like to put my money on the first option, but it's a gamble for sure. 

 2.  Songs

"You look so much cuter with something in your mouth." That's the last line to the main chorus in Nickelback's song Something in your Mouth. I don't know about you, but that's about the most degrading statement out there. Over one million views on youtube. Why? Because people just accept the content. Sing it word for word. Bob their heads to the beat. Not even realizing the message. Women! According to Nickelback, we are a hell of a lot cuter with a penis in our mouths. Absolutely repulsive. 

  3. Movies

The first 20 seconds of the this hilarious movie is actually really unfortunate. Guy uses girl for sex only. Girl wants more. Guy doesn't. Guy is a jerk. Girl thinks it's okay. Girl keeps coming back. 20 seconds sums up most college "relationships". I'm not saying all, just most. And we laugh at this stuff. But why? Because it's funny. Or because we can relate? 

There's now a science to getting men to take you seriously. There's also a science to getting society to take you seriously. Neither science works. Because the answer isn't in the form of a formula. It's leading by example. 

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Know your worth and hold your head high. Stand tall, with your dignity in tact. We are women. We are powerful. We are not and WILL NOT be defined by sex. 

Halloween is coming up. Do us all a favor? Don't join in with the slutty ready made costumes..it only fuels the controversy we've been fighting. Shame on society for degrading us through media. And shame on us for letting them.