I really like your thought process. I skimmed through the replies (half-assedly, I admit) and I didn't see any that were particularly provoking. Many of them complained of laws that favor women and how slighted men are in our generation because of the attempts our society has made to correct an imbalance.
It's funny that you should use WoW as an example. I read some comments that talked about how the male cartoons are also sexualized. I disagree with this. That is not to say that the male characters aren't in above average shape (as are the female characters), but there is a difference between creating "attractive" character and sexual characters. The purpose of the attractive, beefy men is to look powerful (and thus appealing to the predominately male audience). The purpose of the attractive, scantly clad female character is to look sexy (and thus appealing to the predominately male audience as well as the female players who want to be perceived that way).
One of the first-page replies said something to the effect of "women sexualize themselves- it's their fault."
This is true and false because it is out of context. This is equivalent to saying that the inner city black kid is poor because he dropped out of school in the 9th grade and didn't do shit with his life.
It sounds true enough to the privileged population who has no reference points for the sort of challenges that socio-economical disadvantages create.
So, the idea that "it's their fault they are sexualized because they dress like sluts and tease everyone around them" is born from a place of logic based on ignorant misunderstandings.
When you are born into a culture that tells you your number one value is your sexuality and all the other admirable features about you are only marginally relevant if you're unattractive, it is easy to sexualize yourself in order to feel valuable. But when the issues of the culture are not talked about (and when they are, its by the intolerable feminists), what space is there to question the unspoken role you have?
I'm not saying that women are helpless or men are evil bigots who are trying to dominate or oppress women. I'm certainly not saying that there is any shame in being an openly sexual being or enjoying one's sexuality. But in a culture where girls are taught that their sexuality is a reflection of their value, how do you blame them for behaving within the norm of their culture?
People scoff at the idea of male privileged because, I think, they misunderstand it's meaning. My boyfriend, for example, is brilliant and very compassionate. He enjoys off-colored jokes, but if he saw someone being abusive towards another person, he'd quickly step in. We were talking about male privileged a few years ago and he just totally scoffed at the idea. I was kind of put off at first, but then I realized that he wasn't being an ass, he just didn't know what it meant. He certainly didn't feel privileged. He saw women getting free drinks, having sugar daddies, getting undeserved promotions, etc. But male privilege isn't just this feminist-born cookey idea. It's derived from data collected in past and recent studies. And it is more than just women being paid more on average or a social analysis of the portrayal of women in the media as sex objects compared to the portrayal of men. It also refers to things most men don't even think of.. Things like having your keys out before you leave your building, or circling the block for a parking spot that it in a better-lit area.
I certainly can't do justice to women's studies in this post, but I hope that I can at least convey the idea that most men haven't the faintest idea of the things they take for granted.. not because they are bad people, but because you have never experienced anything else.
dodo1331 wrote a comment about women abusing the sexual harassment laws and cited the lack of equal protection for men.
It is true that some women abuse these laws and that some men who need their protection don't receive it. Those two groups, however, create a small minority. The reason the laws focus mostly on protecting women in the workplace is largely due to the fact that men are most often in positions of power over women in the workplace and that sexual violence against women is exponentially higher than sexual violence against men. Additionally, something like 70% of sexual violence against men is committed by other men. (I'm an ass, and don't have my references handy to link you to, so you can totally throw the baby out with the bathwater on these figures, but they are true. I'm just too lazy to go digging through my old research papers.)
Does this mean that women don't abuse men? NOT AT ALL. Does it make that abuse any less damaging or shitty?? Not remotely. Is there a general conception that "men can't be sexually abused because they always want it?" Sure, although I've only experienced that idea perpetuated by men who are trying to appear "manly."
Holy S... I've written a novel, lol. I'm going.. to go... study for my final. ugh!
It's funny that you should use WoW as an example. I read some comments that talked about how the male cartoons are also sexualized. I disagree with this. That is not to say that the male characters aren't in above average shape (as are the female characters), but there is a difference between creating "attractive" character and sexual characters. The purpose of the attractive, beefy men is to look powerful (and thus appealing to the predominately male audience). The purpose of the attractive, scantly clad female character is to look sexy (and thus appealing to the predominately male audience as well as the female players who want to be perceived that way).
One of the first-page replies said something to the effect of "women sexualize themselves- it's their fault."
This is true and false because it is out of context. This is equivalent to saying that the inner city black kid is poor because he dropped out of school in the 9th grade and didn't do shit with his life.
It sounds true enough to the privileged population who has no reference points for the sort of challenges that socio-economical disadvantages create.
So, the idea that "it's their fault they are sexualized because they dress like sluts and tease everyone around them" is born from a place of logic based on ignorant misunderstandings.
When you are born into a culture that tells you your number one value is your sexuality and all the other admirable features about you are only marginally relevant if you're unattractive, it is easy to sexualize yourself in order to feel valuable. But when the issues of the culture are not talked about (and when they are, its by the intolerable feminists), what space is there to question the unspoken role you have?
I'm not saying that women are helpless or men are evil bigots who are trying to dominate or oppress women. I'm certainly not saying that there is any shame in being an openly sexual being or enjoying one's sexuality. But in a culture where girls are taught that their sexuality is a reflection of their value, how do you blame them for behaving within the norm of their culture?
People scoff at the idea of male privileged because, I think, they misunderstand it's meaning. My boyfriend, for example, is brilliant and very compassionate. He enjoys off-colored jokes, but if he saw someone being abusive towards another person, he'd quickly step in. We were talking about male privileged a few years ago and he just totally scoffed at the idea. I was kind of put off at first, but then I realized that he wasn't being an ass, he just didn't know what it meant. He certainly didn't feel privileged. He saw women getting free drinks, having sugar daddies, getting undeserved promotions, etc. But male privilege isn't just this feminist-born cookey idea. It's derived from data collected in past and recent studies. And it is more than just women being paid more on average or a social analysis of the portrayal of women in the media as sex objects compared to the portrayal of men. It also refers to things most men don't even think of.. Things like having your keys out before you leave your building, or circling the block for a parking spot that it in a better-lit area.
I certainly can't do justice to women's studies in this post, but I hope that I can at least convey the idea that most men haven't the faintest idea of the things they take for granted.. not because they are bad people, but because you have never experienced anything else.
dodo1331 wrote a comment about women abusing the sexual harassment laws and cited the lack of equal protection for men.
It is true that some women abuse these laws and that some men who need their protection don't receive it. Those two groups, however, create a small minority. The reason the laws focus mostly on protecting women in the workplace is largely due to the fact that men are most often in positions of power over women in the workplace and that sexual violence against women is exponentially higher than sexual violence against men. Additionally, something like 70% of sexual violence against men is committed by other men. (I'm an ass, and don't have my references handy to link you to, so you can totally throw the baby out with the bathwater on these figures, but they are true. I'm just too lazy to go digging through my old research papers.)
Does this mean that women don't abuse men? NOT AT ALL. Does it make that abuse any less damaging or shitty?? Not remotely. Is there a general conception that "men can't be sexually abused because they always want it?" Sure, although I've only experienced that idea perpetuated by men who are trying to appear "manly."
Holy S... I've written a novel, lol. I'm going.. to go... study for my final. ugh!
