Objectifying women

[tavarish]

Three words: Toddler beauty pageants. You forget a lot of this starts in childhood. All my childhood I went to swimming lessons. Some parents make beauty pageants a normal part of their daughter's life.

And what exactly does a toddler beauty pageant have to do with our subject? Do most women who choose to "objectify" themselves have a childhood filled with exploitation or something?

Incorrect. I despise the objectification of women, in part because I am an attractive woman. I am sick of people getting wrapped up in my looks, when there is a person behind the face they often forget to acknowledge.

Provide pics. There are far too many women, in my experience complaining about being objectified, only to be exposed for having delusions of grandeur. I don't want to be an asshole, but saying you're a supermodel or something wouldn't change the fact that you could very well be a 35 year old bald dude living in his mom's basement talking shit.

Or don't - whatever's good.

Also notice that Dotard said "in my experience". He didn't say anything about an objective reality or an overall average of women. Please read more carefully.

Several times a week I get men coming up to me at my work and hitting on me. I am in a professional environment trying to work. Do you know how hard it is to try to compete for a promotion when a co-worker accuses me of spending more time 'socializing' than completing transactions?

OK, that's what a human resources department is for, and exactly why sexual harassment laws are in effect, and are greatly in favor of women. Take advantage of that if you feel it impedes with your professional progress. Either that, or use your appeal as a means to move forward, just like the women the OP was talking about. In what industry do you work?

I don't wear revealing clothing, I do not flirt- exactly the opposite, I have become downright frigid towards all male clients because I can't tell who will become inappropriate.

And? What's your point?

You've built up a defense mechanism, which is understandable. Personally, I've become pretty apathetic to those that request my help in my field, because they usually expect me to work my ass off for free. I dismiss them and go on my way as best I can. It seems like you've done the same, but are still complaining for some odd reason.

Unlike a sculpture or a sunset, this is a person. Important distinction. Anyone who looks at a beautiful person should remember they have feelings, ideas, and a life like anyone else. The most important thing about them should never be that they happened to win the genetic lottery.

Who's making that assertion now? I don't think anyone said that a person is defined by their looks. The only thing that was spoken of was how a person's looks can change his/her circumstances in society.

Yes, exactly! If I happen to be going out on a blistering hot summer day, I am not going to wear a sweater simply to avoid men looking at me. I have the right to comfortably wear shorts without someone trying to pinch my ass..

You don't seem to understand this. No one's stopping you from putting on anything or doing whatever the hell you want to do. The sheer fact that you acknowledge that some men can't control themselves is reason enough to just stay alert and safeguard against this to the best of your ability. That's it.

Barbie. Bratz. Disney princesses. There is a huge list of role models for young girls that largely are based on appearance. We grow up seeing all these attractive, successful women in the spotlight.

Yes, just like we grow up seeing attractive, successful men in the spotlight. You seem to forget that there was also G.I. Joe, Ken, and the A-Team to paint a portrait of what men should be in society. What exactly is the point here?

Society has no business shoving Britney Spears and Christina Agulera down young girls' collective throats.

Actually one of the primary functions of society is to establish norms. It is society's business to promote certain cultural trends. Don't like it? Don't do it.

One of my friends was anorexic before we even hit puberty. I don't even want to count how many were in high school. No girl wants to starve herself. She does it because she thinks she has to. She thinks she is worthless if she doesn't look like all those dolls and superstars shoved into our faces.

There will always be people who haven't developed psychologically and retain complexes. I don't know enough about your friend or her situation, but it seems like she really takes the opinions of people far too seriously. She needs professional help if she allows what she interpret as social pressures to have a dramatic negative impact on her health.

I was raped at 15. I was dressed for the cold fall day that it was. What the fuck did I do to 'contribute' to that?!

I don't want to invalidate any experience you may have had, but not all rape cases are the same, and if the circumstances don't apply to you, then the conversation doesn't apply to your situation.