Comments | margaretc: Objectification of women

margaretc

Objectification of women

Apr 24, 2009 08:48

There was a (now deleted) thread in sca_snark that discussed the feminist concept of objectification of women. The upshot of the argument currently is that it is always wrong for men (or possibly other admirers of women) to ever look at women as objects of beauty or someone to be appreciated in an aesthetic or sexual manner. ( The historical argument, and the impasse. )

women, introspection, interpersonal relationships, men

Comments 6

thedreya April 24 2009, 13:05:42 UTC

I think that if men were able to suppress this visual-cue instinct, there would be a great many surprised and disappointed women in the world. Goodbye, little black dresses and cute shoes - we may say they're 'just for us', and sometimes they are, but most of the time? They're a signal, even if on a subconscious level. "I feel good, I look good." "I am good" doesn't really come into play there. I enjoy being appreciated as as intellectual being, but I would be seriously lying if I said I didn't want to be appreciated physically as well.

thedreya April 24 2009, 13:06:32 UTC

And, might I add, what would women do about *women's* reactions to women's physical bodies? Would those have to go away too?

ymasen April 24 2009, 13:15:45 UTC

*raises hand ( ... )

lady_guenievre April 24 2009, 14:02:00 UTC

Sometimes the Puritan roots of our country get channeled in strange ways... specifically through the feminist movement. I have to say I agree with you that (most) people are sexual beings on some level and it's an important part of who we are as humans... there are those who would disagree with me, though, and some number of them are self identified feminists...

ladyhelwynn April 24 2009, 14:16:20 UTC

I think everyones sex lives would get a whole lot more boring if we no longer looked upon each other with desire or longing. I still want my fiance to look on me as an object of beauty and desire. ;)

Now, I agree some comments are inappropriate. But not have anyone look at women as an object of beauty? Seems a bit silly.

I think the issues come about when they are ONLY looked at as an object of beauty and other aspects are not appreciated.

(The comment has been removed)

margaretc April 24 2009, 20:07:58 UTC

Well, I'll admit that this was not brought on by anything I read in Feminist literature, but was instead brought on by a (now-deleted) thread here. The people who were arguing this way were likely not Feminist scholars, although I didn't look up their CVs. It was definitely that hoary old canard, though, which is why it struck me as such a silly/useless argument.