Sex Kitten's Claw Back
September 22nd 2006 01:00
It's all about SEX. Having sex, having better sex and simply the aspiration for female stimulation, in the case of women's magazines…I cannot recall a young women's magazine that does not mention SEX somewhere on the cover. Does this mean sex really does sell? Why? In the case of young women's magazines I believe this is because women are being cultured to equate sexual power with power. Is this truly empowering for women? I think not. A UK Cosmopolitan website, http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/index.php/v1/20_sex_tricks_to_try_tonight15-sited 22/09/06, offered this sex advice, "Tie your man up, so there's no touching allowed, then tell him to give you exact instructions on bringing yourself to orgasm. Reward him with a few seconds of oral sex when he gets it right, but don't let him climax until after you have". I am most interested in this last sentence, it seems that here there is a direct connection being established between sexual power in the bedroom as a way of exerting female power over men…but aren't we past only having sexual power over men…how about power outside the bedroom? In the office? In social occasions? Cleo Magazine takes a similar angle on their website, http://cleo.ninemsn.com.au/cleo/loveandsex/cfiles/default.aspan, sited 22/09/06 where women have sent in their sexual problems, namely loss of libido. Is this loss of libido equated with a loss of power, a loss of the power, sexual power, most attributed to her gender? Is this why it's a problem? Even magazine's targeting slightly older readerships like Madison describes their reader as "sexy" and New Woman describes their reader as having a "sex life" on www.isubscribe.com. These same magazines promote themselves as empowering women and just like the television series Sex and the City, having sexual power is seen play a large part in this. Though this is understandable after a history of female oppression, including sexual suppression, I can't help but feel that now we are exploiting ourselves. Why are women on the cover of female magazines as well as male magazines? Is this another form of objectification? A magazine sells stars to you, sells clothes to you, sells hairstyles to you, gossip to you, make-up to you…by placing women on the covers of women's magazines, is the message that women have a price too? This is not only on the covers either; women's magazines are packed with images of women, whilst men's, are also packed with images of women. Why? So women can compare themselves while men can pleasure themselves? Also, why is it that I know about FHM and not a Women's Magazine designed specifically to be packed with nearly naked men? If women are the sexually liberated and hungry creatures the magazines paint us out to be, why are females on the covers of heterosexual women's magazines? Have we been so alienated from our bodies that we now have to re-educate each other about them and how they work. Are we so helpless that it is only through our physical self that a woman can gain power? If we keep painting ourselves as these sexual creatures, which should be a part of us but not define us, both ourselves and men will continue to see us primarily in this light.
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Comment by ThomasM
Fuel Saving Advice
Heidi's Blog
A huge number of women are buying into the corporate push as well. They're using sex as a vehicle to power. I'm not about the ends justifying the means particularly in every argument, but for those out there doing what they do to get where they want to get, I can't fault them. Are we as a culture making this happen? Yep. Gloria's points are all well and good ans she has tons of followers, but it's a minority holding. I don't view women as sex objects. My boss is a woman who I admire and respect greatly. It's a very complicated issue. Keep taking it on. I look forward to it.
blogtommy
PS I tried to subscribe to your blog via email and it kept telling me it was an invalid email....huh
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
Just wanted to make one point -- that sex is selling this blog article as well, so perhaps you're part of (and are perpetuating) the worship of sex in our society.
Comment by ThomasM
Fuel Saving Advice
Heidi's Blog
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
But I should make clear that I don't think there's anything wrong, per se, with selling sex!
And, yep, no doubt I'm part of selling sex as well.
Comment by ThomasM
Fuel Saving Advice
Heidi's Blog
Peace