Written originally for Women’s Studies, a Stage 2 subject, during 2005. This was my MAJOR.

Women’s Studies: Major Study

Topic: Due to the patriarchal society we live in, women are objectified and this affects their self esteem and identity.

On average, what gender is known to be “most attractive”? What gender is seen as most desirable and, ultimately objectified? Women. Since the dawn of time, women have been seen as objects; “things” that are there to serve the supposed “superior” sex – Men. While these ideals are slowly being erased from our modern society, in some cultures it is still a way of life. It must stop now.

Objectification of women works on the idea that, while they are free willed members of society, their free will comes second place when compared to the ideals and urges of the patriarchal society that we live in. Beauty has become a necessity in the road to becoming the perfect woman, and “…that a woman’s appearance remains the most important criterion by which her femininity, her sexuality and even her right to be considered a normal and acceptable human being are judged”. Images of women are forever synonymous with the idea of ‘sex’ due to new emphasis on the female body in advertisement campaigns, thought up mostly by males.

“Our culture trains women that their role is not to be human beings but to be mirrors who reflect back to a man his ideal or his fantasy.”

While this quote may be a slight exaggeration, it is still full of truths, no matter how much we would like to think otherwise. For as far back in history as scholars know, women have been known as the lesser sex; simply there to make the males life more easy, and in the meantime, making their own less meaningful. Early examples of this span all the way back to ancient Greece in BCE; women’s role in society was primarily limited to giving birth to children – food preparation and other home duties were all considered part of this role. Women were hardly ever seen in actual social situations, due to them being in their home, where they supposedly “belonged”. When men were entertaining other men as visitors in their home, the wife would be made to leave the room as they believed that women were sexual predators who were unable to control their “urges” in the presence of a male. This brings forward to notion that men degrade women for the purpose that they are insecure with themselves; why else would they be concerned with their wives leaving them if there isn’t something wrong with them, themselves. So, because of issues on the male’s side, it seems that women are on the receiving end of the emotional stick representing the insecurities from their husbands.

Objectification of women isn’t just limited to a social implication; it can also be exactly what the name suggests. Some men, and women of course, have sexual fantasies which involve themselves being put into positions of actual objects. Some people wish to be put into positions that resemble furniture; known as forniphilia. Also, as part of a sexual act, it is quite common for a woman to be put into a position resembling that of an animal. This is all part of a sexual lifestyle known as “BDSM” or “Bondage & Discipline/Sadism & Masochism“ – in these sexual acts, the female is usually the lesser dominant participant; although, in the last ten years or so, female bondage “domination” has become more common. Women consent to these acts for one of three reasons; to simply please their lover, to please themselves in some form or to account for a low self-esteem. Some women feel like they aren’t in control of their lives, so they need someone to tell them what to do – and, something to do with sexuality is the most personal thing you can share with a person. So, when a woman craves a man to tell her what to do, she needs to feel secure – she’s not sure of her own choices, so she needs someone else to instruct her. Someone to take control. This is an example of women, in most cases, putting themselves in a situation which involves them being objectified.

In the United States in 2003, 198,850 women were raped – “Of these approximately 199,000 victims, about 81,000 were victims of completed rape, 61,060 were victims of attempted rape, and 80,910 were victims of sexual assault.”. Violent and sexually motivated acts like rape are also very routed in the social crime of objectification.

“After this rapist hit his victim several times in her face, she stopped resisting and begged, “All right, just don’t hurt me.” “When she said that,” he reported, “all of a sudden it came into my head, ‘My God, this is a human being!’ I came to my senses and saw that I was hurting this person.””

Most men who rape women don’t see them as a real woman – they’re not seen as a mother, or a sister, or a daughter. They’re not seen as someone with feelings, emotions, nor as an intelligent human being. When a woman is being raped, they are seen simply as a sexual object; breasts, legs and vagina. The rapists don’t converse with the woman during the act, or even wish to converse – what’s the use of speaking to an object? Objects don’t respond. Rapists use their victims for pure sexual gratification; going against the woman’s will to please themselves. A massive problem with rape is that there is a myth associated with it that women are sexually aroused by the deviant act; this of course is a false fact, but it is still widely believed – most rapists subconsciously know that it’s not true, but they push that notion aside to assist them in the act. The idea that a woman is simply there for the sexual satisfaction of a male is also emphasized by the creation of “blow-up dolls” – an inflatable rubber doll which is made to resemble the form of a female, men have intercourse with such devices. This is the most extreme example of women being objectified, to date. Not only is it made specifically to look like a female, but it is also solely for sexual pleasure of males.

“Women are the Other in all cultures, not only to men – who should logically be the Other in regards to women – but to women themselves, who have accepted their objectification and play the role of Other as defined by men.”

Women are objectified to always be seen as the Other in society, never the equal. Philosophized about in The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir, the females in society, be it in a relationship or not, are always referred to as the opposite sex. Marriage is an institution which adds to this notion; women simply aren’t women once they are under wedlock – they are now seen as wives. They are Mrs. “Marriage meant the taking was to extend in time, to be not only use of but possession of, or ownership” says late feminist Andrea Dworkin. It is quite uncommon to find a married woman who still has her maiden name, for most women take upon the husbands surname – almost a form of labeling, putting his ‘stamp of ownership’ upon his new bride. While the husband may love his wife and treat her with equality, she is still seen, by him and society, as his wife – his significant other. When he introduces her to people, he will most likely always announce her to be “his” wife; once and a while he may even announce her as his “lovely” or “beautiful” wife – only adding to the objectification factor. A well known wedding tradition is having the husband carry the wife across the threshold of their new home – an act which is said to symbolize the bride’s unwillingness to capitulate her virginity; once again, men identifying sexual acts with females.

Results from the survey I conducted revealed that 80 of the 20 females queried, aged from 16 – 21, felt that being beautiful had become less of a right, and become something that resembles more of an obligation. Furthermore, an alarming 60 of those women believed that they are obligated to be beautiful because of fellow females in society. One female surveyed, a 17 year old, stated “…if I don’t meet the standards that other women in society are at, then I feel inadequate and a lesser being”. This mentality is most alarming because it’s proof that, over time, women have come to believe the ideals that the patriarchal society that we live in, stemming from the Church, has put forward, is true. Although feminism is still strong in society itself, feminism as a normal part of Australian culture is still a rarity. Take for example Australian suburbia; how many feminist do you know live in your neighborhood? Without these strong women as a well-known figure in society, fellow females won’t have anyone to identify with. Hence, women have been forced, to an extent, to identify with males – taking it upon themselves to view things from a male perspective; like beauty being a necessity. It’s almost a case of “If you can’t beat them, join them”.

“The quiet notion of the complete life is essential to male notions of falling in love. Men do not hope to find a daughter in the way that women hope to find a new father, nor do they hope to find a mother. They hope for a woman who will be the ‘answer to it all’, ‘who can fulfill my needs for understanding, companionship and excitement’. Basic to the demand is an inflated notion of the capacity of the man in questions for desire (need), excitement, companionship, and understanding. The man is the given: his mate must be equal to him, or adaptable. The exciting woman of fantasy is the one who creates the desire and releases virile potential by the mere sight of her, and the sight of all in the room gaping at her. One aspect of the fantasy is reflected almost invariably in the behavior in the pleasure which men get from being seen with a woman whom other men covet.”

Have women become nothing more than an accessory to males? Like Germaine Greer writes in The Female Eunuch, have women become just another form of jewelry for men to wear on their arms? A form of objectification is what is commonly known as a “trophy wife” – a wife that is, stereotypically, a young, beautiful, virile woman married to an older man. “… some men marry attractive women as a form of display intended to exhibit their wealth and success to others.” Once again, I would like to bring light to the idea that men do these certain acts, not because they feel that it’s a necessity, but because they are insecure with themselves. They feel that, for some reason, they need a way in which they can validate themselves to society, and, having a young, beautiful wife – the “ideal wife” – fills that void, for them.

In conclusion, I believe that women are objectified in society, not just by men, but by themselves and fellow females, also. Although, by now, in the year 2005, I do feel that we have had enough time to change the values that our ancestors instated for us; which brings up the point that, in a way, we have run ourselves into a social “rut”. Have we become so used to looking at women as objects that to change now would be pointless? I sincerely hope this isn’t the case.