definition- brxttyb

Posted on November 28, 2015 by brxttyb

The term sexualization means “to render something or someone sexual” which implies that this act is being done without consent or permission. This is especially true with the shift in clothing for young girls where clothing companies manufacture girl’s clothing that fits the definition many researchers consider sexualized such as clothing with suggestive writing, or that emphasize certain body parts. Clothing companies are sexualizing young girls without their permission even if the girls do not wear the clothing. Young girls are still being subjected to the images in store windows, clothing ads, the media, and to the idea which is being put out by these types of companies. It could be argued that when a company knowingly creates children’s clothing of a sexual nature they are sending a message that it is acceptable to view female children as sexual objects.

The suffix “ize” means to make something. Thereby proving the irrefutable point that children are not sexual beings unless someone or something acts against them to alter that perception. Sexualize can also mean to cause someone or something to become aware of their own sexuality. Multiple studies on the subject have concluded that young girls who are sexualized suffer from low self-esteem, do not do perform well in school, and often do not measure up compared to boys of the same age. The word sexual when taken at its root means associated with sex. So when you sexualize young girls by marketing suggestive clothing to them and use them in media campaigns, you are literally asking everyone that comes into contact with the end product to view that child wearing the clothes or portrayed in the ad to associate that child with sex. Having sexual relations with a child is both immoral and illegal therefore there should be consequences to knowingly, and for profit, offer a child for the purpose of sex even if it is just in the mind of potential viewers of the child.

This entry was posted in You Forgot to Categorize!. Bookmark the permalink.

5 Responses to definition- brxttyb

  1. brxttyb says:
    November 28, 2015 at 11:37 am

    i know this is super late, but if you have a moment . . . 🙂
    Feedback was requested.

    Feedback provided.
    —DSH

    Like

    Reply
  2. davidbdale says:
    November 28, 2015 at 4:20 pm

    P1. Technically, your definition is not correct. “Sexualize” is the verb that would be defined by “to render sexual.” Sexualization is a noun meaning “the act of rendering something sexual.” I don’t know if this sentence will survive to the next draft, but if it does, you can correct it.

    Maybe you only think sexualization is non-consensual because it so often seems to be, but it’s not impossible to imagine someone saying: “sexualize me,” and meaning it. Use me, abuse me, make me a sex object. It actually sounds like contemporary song lyrics.

    I appreciate that you need a way to begin your essay, and definitions are handy devices, brxty, but accuracy is more important than technique. You have an important subject; there’s no need to be cute.

    You could start with a bold and provocative claim.

    Deep necklines, short skirts, slinky fabrics, and printed innuendos have had their place in women’s fashion for decades. Deliberately provocative clothing might even be seen as empowering for women who wish to emphasize and flaunt their sexuality. But promoting those same fashions in pre-teen sizes inexcusably sexualizes very young girls, placing them in peril without their knowledge.

    Or something like that. You don’t need to define “sexualization” overtly. Your essay will make it clear what you mean by the term.

    The rest of your paragraph is brilliant. “Without their permission” is a devastatingly effective claim. “Even if they don’t buy or wear the clothing!” is genius. You’re right. The very existence of the fashions, the availability of the garments, the fact that they’re promoted in advertising and worn by the girls’ peers sexualizes the entire age group in a way that affects them all. Very impressive.

    P2. I can’t quite accept your “proof” that children become sexual only when someone sexualizes them. You’re not literal enough. Preteen girls are not sexual beings no matter what somebody else considers them. When they’re “sexualized,” the perception is someone else’s. Similarly, to be “objectified” is not to “be made an object”; it is “to BE TREATED AS an object.” Do you see the difference? We’re not far off but the distinction is important.

    I think we can agree that:
    —clothing designers sexualize girls when they design sexual attire for them.
    —advertisers sexualize girls when they direct young models to “be seductive.”
    —Adults sexualize girls when they dress them age-inappropriately.
    —Predators sexualize girls when they treat them as sexual beings.

    All of those mean the girls “are sexualized,” but the actions are all the actions of others. The girls aren’t necessarily aware of what’s happening. Most likely, these transactions do not traumatize the girls.

    However, when the girls:
    —recognize that they’re being dressed in ways that provoke sexual reactions in others
    —value themselves only when they receive sexual attention
    —feel compelled to dress age-inappropriately by peer pressure
    —feel less valued for accomplishments that do not depend on their sexuality

    . . . then the girls can truly said to be sexualized, because they begin to own their sexuality, either eagerly or reluctantly.

    If they’re reluctant, they will suffer low self-esteem because they recognized their complex whole humanity has been reduced to whether they arouse others sexually.

    I’m not going to make any specific suggestions about your writing in these two paragraphs, brxty. I only offer the notes above to help clarify your thinking about the terms you’re defining: sexualization and sexualize.

    You’ll need at least a source or two to support your argument here.

    Helpful?
    Reply, please.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s