International Women’s Day Poster
Entrainment objectifies girls and women. There is usually 20 men to one female, a ratio that still stands today (Chemaly 2014). Music videos are even worse; they are usually sexualizing towards women, and degrading. We see these women who are “perfect” and then wonderif we are supposed to look like that, our children wonder. Men sexualize women in their videos all the time because sex sells, women sexualize themselves in videos as well; however, there is the odd music video that does stand up for women and empowers them.
50 Cent
Music is a type of communication with an artist and their audience/ fans (Oyesomi 12063). Sometimes the music sends sexualizing images and ideas. We can somewhat prepare for a specific video based off of individual songs, for example, 50 Cent, Candy Shop. The video shows quite a few women with short bottoms and low tops on, some in lingerie and dark images of women to make it hard to see their clothing at all. The music video also shows women in beds, or a bedroom scene, in the tub and even touches one of the women’s bare lower stomach (YouTube 2009).
Sometimes, we do not prepare for a sexual music video. Sometimes it does not even connect to the song, but again, women are used as a way to market and be there for men’s pleasure (Oyesomi 12061). In Justin Timberlake’s Cry Me A River there is a woman who appears near the end. She is only used for sex, to make his ex, jealous. Timberlake sits there while the woman is all over him, only to leave the
Justin Timberlake
moment everything is over (Youtube 2009). Timberlake later reveals his ex, he is spying on her while in the shower, and then reveals his tape to her by video. This video shows the idea of only being there for a man’s pleasure and how body images should be on a woman. Both the women shown had flat stomachs, beautiful skin, and long hair.” A person’s value comes from their sexual appeal or behavior” (Oyesomi 12061) which should never be the case. Women are valued, mothers, students, teenagers, value should not be determined by what you look like or how you sexually portray yourself.
Women also use their bodies in music videos. However, there seems to be a very different reaction from society. When Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball dropped, people went crazy. Cyrus was called many names and asked about it for weeks, continually answering to talk show hosts and fans. When men sexualize women’s bodies it is okay and gains more views, however when a woman sexualizes their own body, suddenly it is not okay?
Miley Cyrus
Not all videos that show women and sing about women are sexualizing; in fact, they can be uplifting. Maroon Five’s Girls Like You music video is an incredibly empowering video. The video only consists of women, dancing, wearing the clothes of their choice and having fun (YouTube 2018). The video contains some hugely impactful women Ellen DeGeneres, Wonder Women herself, Gal Gadot and even Adam Levine’s wife and daughter.
Sexualizing girls can cause more harmful effects then some may think. Some parents fear for their children’s safety. There is a huge difference in safety when it comes to men and women (Chemaly 2014). Women tend to Always be on edge when walking the streets, thinking about what to use for possible weapons if things go wrong, this all comes from sexualization, treating women like objects, as weak human beings only needed for men (Chemaly 2014) it makes women vulnerable.
Girls Like You music video
In conclusion, sexualization is harmful, especially towards women. Music videos are a high source of communication between artists and fans. Music videos get billions of views. They get reaction videos and reviews, they gain a lot of attention. Showing this harsh image of women on such a vast network leaves a substantial impact. It sends many wrong messages to young men and women about what you should do and look like. It says a lot about our society when it is okay for men to make these videos but not for women, the double standard itself teaches children the wrong ideas, that men are more important than women. There needs to be more videos like Girls Like You and less like Candy Shop
References
Oyesomi, K., & Salawu, A. (2018). Influence of Sexualisation of Women in Music Videos on the Body Image of Nigerian Female Youths. Gender & Behaviour, 16(3), 12059–12072. Retrieved from https://login.ezproxy.cnc.bc.ca/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=134055095&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Pop Culture Anthropology 
I find I am constantly battling with my kids about what is appropriate or not. They hear these songs on the radio or with their friends and so many of them are wildly inappropriate for their age. But there’s no escaping it when they hear it on the radio. They get so mad at me because I won’t let them watch their favourite songs on youtube because they just don’t send a good message. It doesn’t help that their dad doesn’t seem to agree that this is an issue and lets them do it anyways when they’re with him. I don’t want my little girl to grow up thinking she’s only worth something if she’s skinny and my boy to think he should treat girls like crap or they’re only worth something if they’re thin and gorgeous.
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it’s 100 percent an issue! The videos are there for entertainment purposes only and sometimes they don’t even care about younger audiences and the message they are sending, it’s sad!
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