ext_12744 ([identity profile] telophase.livejournal.com) wrote in [personal profile] telophase 2009-05-08 11:36 pm (UTC)

I agree the men are being objectified as well, but they're being objectified in ways that focus on their power and strength, and women are objectified in ways that focus on their sexuality and vulnerability.

ETA: To address your last point, objectification is part of human life. Sexual attraction is, in part, objectification, but in real life most people tend to indulge in it as only a part of their sexuality (and the ones who indulge in it as all tend to be jerks. Of both genders. :D). However, there's a power dynamic involved in sexualizing women superheroes that seriously undermines their characters. I am ALL ABOUT objectifying them as powerful: look at the picture representing Sarah Connor in this article (http://blog.newsarama.com/2009/05/08/the-all-time-top-10-list-of-best-and-worst-mothers-in-comics/). The artist went a bit overboard in masculinizing her shoulders and torso (and placed her neck too far to one side), but she is also standing in a solid, powerful, non-sexualized stance. Right above her, Linda Park West. Same thing. Debbie Grayson below Sarah Connor: hips tilted, but that's because she's balancing the weight of a baby. Her shoulders are strong and her gaze is direct. She's sexy without being sexualized.

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