Sex objectification- it's back and in style
I have recently read many articles written by adults who are scared that their preteen girls are growing up in an enviornment that is too sexual and turns their bodies into sex objects.
My response: Um, duh? As a young teenager who sees the effects of rampant sexual objectification on her high school peers, it isn't hard to see where young girls get the idea.
Case in point: Deal or No Deal. The popular television show where the males (the host and the banker) manipulate the contestant in a series of intellectual hoops and enticing prizes, and the women hold boxes. In skimpy dresses. Oh, they pose and smile, too. This isn't a controversial fringe show, this is a game show blasting in millions of homes across America. A girl's parents probably watch it- and then wonder why their daughter wants to buy a tube top.
Speaking of those, the next thing I'd like to offer is Club Libby Lu. These stores groom preteen girls like little adults- they go in there to get their hair styled and to buy make-up and glitter. They also stage elaborate parties where girls are told to "work it" like supermodels while wearing a belly-bearing tube top reminiscent of the Britney Spears era. In fact, they're given fake headset mikes to lip-synch. And all around the store, phrases like "Spoiled" and "Shake it" can be seen and heard. The Washington Post features a great article about the store called Glamour Babes: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/24/AR2006032402188.html
Other corporate influences on young girls are popular brands such as Abercrombie (which, for their child-sized line, fatured thongs that said Eye Candy and Wink Wink) and the Bratz dolls (sort-of like a Club Libby Lu version of Barbie) and the general type of sexuality that is rampant in our culture: A sexuality that shows women's bodies for the purpose of selling products and for show.
Eventually, it translates over to what I see in high school: Hollister-clad girls who pout and smile and show themselves off exclusively for the pleasure of, well, boys. During tech crew yesterday, somebody came late and missed the pizza. "Why don't I get some?" he whined. A petite girl wearing a shirt proclaiming You Know You Want It quickly replied,
"Well, we have boobs. Duh!"
Club Libby Lu
Fellow native Virginian and Post reader here! I've heard a lot about Club Libby Lu (I can't believe it's a destination for Girl Scout troops!?!) but I have yet to see it in person. It definitely sounds pretty awful, but I wonder where's the line between fun, imaginative dress-up and sexualization?
Julia, I think your point is illustrated really well by that fellow female student's "boob" comment: it's pretty clear it's her (subconscious) sexual objectification socialization speaking. :-( Do you think it's just the Hollister-clad crew with the boys in mind, and do you think they're dressing that way just for the guys? I would say they're also dressing that way for themselves, be it with a certain look in mind and by wearing a "socially acceptable" mainstream brand, and that wanting to impress crushes (regardless of gender) is part of life in general. But I definitely see how it's all related.
For a random personal story: In high school, I had sort of a punky look like short skirts from a thrift shop with combat boots. I had a mixed group of friends, but I was pretty wary of the "blatant Abercrombie look." The last month of senior year I worked on a government assignment with a girl with a very chic, fancy look (it was the Express look at the time, but I know their style's changed back and forth.)
Anyhow, we're in the computer lab and we can listen to music; she had none so I asked, "Hey, I have this CD from L7, but I don't know if you'd like them." Turns out she was a HUGE fan of theirs and that genre–- I never would have guessed. Looking back, it was pretty damn independent of her to be comfortable with herself, realizing that you are not necessarily what you wear. I ended up missing out on getting to know a really cool person based on clothing, be it a reverse clothing stereotype on my part! ;-)
Club Libby Lu is everywhere,
Club Libby Lu is everywhere, we've got them here in Wisconsin, my sisters enjoy it much to my dismay. These things are awful, and parents are a huge influence. What they wear or watch, as well as what they allow their children to wear and watch.
Girls really do feel like they need to sell their bodies to be anything, and it is awful.
And Lena, I know what you mean. I have sterotyped people because they were wearing what was in style and whatnot. I try not to, but it does happen. Oh well, we are only human.
Thanks for the comments, guys
The reason I chose Hollister- and, to an extent, its parent company, Abercrombie and Fitch- is not because of what sort of style the clothes represent or the sort of people who wear them- in fact, I'm fairly sure that I own some items from Hollister and Abercrombie. I focused on them as a brand because of their reputation for merchandise that has lewd and sexist sayings on them. It's been enough to inspire a full-out "girlcott" that resulted in the company pulling away two offensive shirts.
Love and hugs,
Julia
Ah, I see what you mean,
Ah, I see what you mean, Julia. (What I said was more about criticizing my own past outlook than your current attitude.) Yeah, I can't believe Abercrombie stays in business after printing so many offensive sayings...
its becuase of age. little
its becuase of age. little girls wear shorts and bikinis all the time but they are not thought of as sexual objects until they hit puberty
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