Gender Issues

   According to my research sexual objectification occurs when individuals internalize sexualizing messages of culture (Hatch 197). The sexualization of girls happens when the media portrays the female gender as sexual-objects with the sole purpose of causing pleasure for the opposite sex (Kehily 305). In other words, when objectified, people are treated as bodies that exist solely for the “use and pleasure of others” So, young girls grow up by these unrealistic standards and distorted reality of what they are supposed to look like. They feel like their bodies do not fit the mold that has the media has pre-set for them, then this can cause psychological deterioration and a myriad of unhealthy effects. Among those are body shame, anxiety, eating disorder, social insecurity and depression. Girls will be relentlessly controlling their bodies in order to fit into the mold they believe is most desirable judging by what they see online. Body shame “generates an intense desire to hide, escape the painful gaze of others, or disappear, along with feelings of worthlessness and powerlessness” The other effects are similar in the emotions they generate.  

  In order to combat the sexualization of young women, researchers have suggested counteracting the influence of sexual objectification through education and public awareness. In conclusion, it has been proven that young girls become more vulnerable to the negative messages surrounding them when they hit puberty. Therefore, the sexual objectification of the female gender is a known cause of the deterioration of their mental health. Researchers have suggested counteracting this influence through education and public awareness. Media commentators and motivational speakers that have attempted these solutions have had little success due to the mixed messages that exist in prominent media outlets.