Archives: Objectification

Boycotting sexist music

Happy New Year!

Here’s an interesting question that I think may have a range of opinions – should we boycott music/artisits that we deem to have sexist music videos and sexist language?

So many songs include sexist lyrics and videos (mostly sexually objectifying women).  However… they are usually very catchy tunes.  Is it possible to ignore the sexism and just appreciate the music?  I can’t.  I try, but I think it’s impossible – I’ve noticed it too many times that now I check for it in every song.  I stop listening to songs that I deem derogatory because it upsets me.  It upsets me that little boys and girls listen to those songs and that however much they may not notice the lyrics or however much they know that women should not be treated like objects, I feel like the lyrics must enter some part of their brain, and it must be processed somewhere, unconsciously.

It might seem like overreacting, but I can’t stand hearing that he “fucked two bitches before [he] saw you”, or that she doesn’t let herself have a choice: ” When you need that I’mma let you have it”.  I can’t stand hearing that women are passive characters in sexual interaction – men fuck, nail, and screw; women get fucked, get nailed, get screwed.  I’m sick of women being disrespected by being called sluts, whores, bitches etc – it’s highly dehumanising.  As a matter of fact, psychological literature suggests that when people dehumanise others, they are more likely to be violent towards them.

So, I asked my boyfriend to stop listening to this music too.  Or at least to put his headphones in, so I don’t have to suffer it.  He says he doesn’t listen to lyrics, only to the song.  I think they’re both one and the same.

Lois.

PS. On a brighter note – Rizzle Kicks is safe from all derogatory language (I think) so continue to listen to them all you like!  I’m sure there are others too 🙂 I like Alessia Cara at the moment.

Instagram girls

I’m not a great fan of social media – this blog and Facebook is about as far as I go.  So when I discuss Instagram, I don’t presume to know much about it.  What I do understand is that people upload pictures of their lives with a tag line, and then others who follow their profiles can ‘like’ their pictures.  This has created some kind of culture, where people (usually pretty people or celebs) are paid lots of money to look good whilst using/wearing/drinking a particular company’s product.  This can actually become people’s living – be their main source of income – apparently (if they have enough followers).

Essena O’Neill was one of these people.  Here‘s an article that explains a little about how she completely turned on this kind of life.  She speaks about how all her pictures on Instagram were purely for ‘likes’, attention, and self-promotion.  This is what she based her self-worth on, and it made her increasingly depressed because it wasn’t real-life.  She apparently would spend hours trying to take the perfect picture, make sure her stomach was pulled in, her boobs pushed up and so on.  Because obviously, the prettier she looked, the more likes she would get, and the better she would feel about herself.

This self-objectification can make people feel better in the short-term, but has numerous negative effects in the long run.  Essena was depressed.  Others may develop anxiety or eating  disorders due to the shame about their “imperfect” bodies.

Go to Essena’s website to learn more about her revelations.  She’s very interesting and potentially inspiring to girls who know exactly how she feels.

Try not to base your self-worth on the number of ‘likes’ you get on a pretty picture from strangers on the internet.

Lois xxx