Sexualizing and treating women

Women were always seen as sexual objects and based on the way they looked, men would then make the judgement as to whether a woman is worthy to be treated properly. If a woman is seen as too masculine then men feel threatened. If she has clothes on that seems to revealing or shows the outline of her figure then she's practically asking for it. If a woman was wearing a piece of clothing that hid her figure then she’s either seen as a tease or she’s probably just not pretty enough. Women are never able to express themselves without being stared down, labeled, or judged. Even in art, men draw women with no body hair because it appeals to them more and gives them a sense of power while drawing her body. John Berger asserts “Her presence is manifest in her gestures, voice, opinions, expressions, clothes, chosen surroundings, taste- indeed there is nothing she can do which does not contribute to her presence.” (pg. 46) A woman can’t seem to escape the way other people view her because her every move is being watched and every word she utters is listened to. If a woman dresses in a way that seems provocative then men see it as an invitation. If she voices her opinion in a loud manner then they think that she’s challenging their masculinity or feel threatened by her knowledge. On the other hand, men are viewed at very low standards. Men feel that they shouldn't be judged since they have the upper hand anyway. Men should be held at the same standards as a women. Art that represents women should tell a story about that woman's life not to be judged by a man on her capabilities or what she has to offer. Women were always seen as submissive or that’s at least what men expect from them. Women were seen as objects that fulfill a man's needs. As a female, whenever I wear a certain outfit, I’m judged. Whether I’m classified as a tomboy or femme, I’ll always be judged by the way I dress.

A woman is supposed to be quiet and express her feelings while a man is only allowed to show his rage but not cry. In “The Will to Change”, Bell Hooks asserts “Patriarchy is a political-social system that insists that males are inherently dominating, superior to everything and everyone deemed weak, especially females, and endowed with the right to dominate and rule over the weak and to maintain that dominance through various forms of psychological terriorism and violence.” (pg. 18) She carefully used words like “terriorism” and “dominating” because they hold a lot of powerful meanings. Society seems to reassure men that they’re still in control and they are more powerful than women. Women are seen as robots that need a sense of direction and to be programmed in a way that favors a man's needs. When a woman is abused physically and psychologically, at times she can become used to it and feel inferior. If a woman were to ever be superior to a man then he's not considered a man and that he's weak. Women who have “battered woman syndrome” are usually the ones who have been abused to the point that they think everything is their fault because they have been “terrorized” mentally. Having an effect on someone's mind can eventually help the abuser control his victim which is what society seems to want from a man. Hooks writes “It was not good for him to use his rage to oppose the wishes of his parents, but later, when he grew up, he was taught that rage was permitted and that allowing rage to provoke him to violence would help him protect home and nation.” (pg. 19) For men, violence seems to be the solution to almost everything because it can “protect” them from harm. In reality, violence doesn’t do anyone any good or solve anything, it just adds fuel to the fire. Women have the advantage of using their mind and common sense versus men who physically fight to get what they want.

Wonder Woman is showing how powerful she is in their photo while still appealing to a mans eyes.

Fast forward to today's society and people sexualize Wonder Woman because of how “hot” she is based on the way she’s dressed and the way she looks. Guys also find her courage and strength intriguing. In this picture, we notice the way she presents as being this powerful person even though she's dressed in a way that appeals to a mans eyes. If we were to bring a woman that dresses up in jeans and a regular t-shirt but has the same strength then society might deem her as more masculine. Women are still objectified. They should be pretty and are noticed but shouldn't be respected or powerful. Women should look a certain way or have a certain body type and if it doesn't fit those standards then she isn't pretty enough or at all.

In this picture it shows how this girl put on perfume and her scent is attracting men so it seems like an invitation. The guys seem to think she put on the perfume for them to notice her and the one guy is on top of her because he thinks that she wants the attentions.

Works Citied

Berger, John. "Ways of Seeing." British Broadcasting Corporation, 1972, pp. 45-64.

Hooks, Bell. "The Will to Change." Washington Square Press, 2004, pp. 17-33.