Sexy vs. sex object

[nimrod]

Recently there is yet another contravercy over a Carls Jr comercial, this one has a teacher dancing "seductively", and there are teachers up in arms saying that it is degrading to women in general but especially to teachers, because it does not show teachers in a positive way.

I understand the issue women have with not wanting to be just sex objects, I think that it is important to teach men/boys that women are more than just a vagina. My question is; is portraying a woman as sexy and/or seductive objectifying, or have we just become so sencitive to minor offences that we automatically assume that portraying a woman as sexy is objectifying?

[Qikdraw]

or have we just become so sencitive to minor offences that we automatically assume that portraying a woman as sexy is objectifying?

Yes.

[KNude]

We spend time and anger on things that a quick remark or a benign disregard would be sufficient to handle while our freedoms, and county are stolen as we watch and do nothing.

[usmc1]

As Nacktman threaded some while back, we've become The United States of We The Offended. Everyone has corns anymore, and if you take a step, there's always someone ready to scream "ouch!".

So Carl's tries to sell some greasy burgers by crassly portraying female teachers in some sort of vulgar sexy display in a TV commercial. Makes sense to me. Sexy teachers hawking greasy burgers on TV. Seems so very American to me. Sort of like the smell of burning leaves in the fall and teeny boppers texting friends in the mall.

Hells bells, I spent all of high school fixated on sexy teachers and greasy burgers, getting rid of pimples and getting into the back seat, and it didn't hurt me none, ka-yuck, ka-yuck, ka-yuck.

Where's the offense?

[MoonShadow]

A different angle here.

Sex sells, right? We know that sexiness sells products and services. However, what the advertising media focuses on is that sex and sexiness equates to female/woman; sexy females/women. More females are used to sell products than to portray both males and females.

I agree that we are over the top with our sensitivity on situations/issues but as a woman I do see that anything sexy means female body or females portrayed seductively. I am not offended but think ....hmmm....let's have parity here. Sexy people in ads are too one sided. I like to see sexy men!!!

http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/wink3.gif

[usmc1]

Thus would begin a whole new debate:

What standards are there for sexiness in men?

Fairly, or unfairly, there seems to be a bit of generally accepted notion of what is sexy in women...at least to the level of the 8th grade male's mind. Nice tush, high firm breasts, pretty face, nicely shaped body, youthful attitude, etc. Now admit it, that seems to be the advertising standard of sexy for women--fairly or unfairly, realistically or unrealistically, it exists. Most intelligent people reject it as a real-life standard, but it does exists, and it seems, at some level, to work. Such as in selling greasy hamburgers.

But, what is the standard of sexiness for men?

I remember a scene from the movie "And The Band Played On", where one of the characters was talking about how he found "hairy" men irresistibly attractive.

But, it seems to me that advertiser mostly use young, smooth and buff dudes.

But, then, on quick reflection, don't advertisers depict men as beer, gaming, TV, sports, yard-work, addicted buffoons. Hhhmmm, I wonder if sex in advertising is only directed at men, and women are targeted with notions of their superiority to incompetent males.

So, the question, becomes, what are the standards for sexiness in men that an advertiser, like Oscar Mayer, could use to sell....oh let's say, just for the sake of of comparison, greasy wieners?

[nimrod]

At first I thought I was the only one who thought that it was an over-reaction, but after reading the other posts, I see I am not alone. When I first heard that teachers were complaining my first thought was, god forbid they should depict a teacher as sexy. http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/rolleyes2.gif (If the http://oakhurstonline.com/icon/rolleyes2.gif was not clue enough it was meant sarcastically.)

usmc1, I believe that you decribed the medias ideal of sexy aptly, both male and female. The male sexy media standard being the smooth and buff young man seems to be most prevelent. My question is are they (the media) trying to sell a product to women or men? I see the razor commercials showing a "sexy" man shaving then the "sexy" woman comes in and starts rubbing herself on him because he his so smooth. The commercials I have seen do not show the "sexy" man mopping, dusting, or doing any kind of house work. The exeption being Mr. Clean.

[MoonShadow]

LOL Nimrod!!!

No, don't think you will see men (except Mr Clean) doing any housework. This is still a no-no in our society! Gender stereotyping is so alive and well. I keep saying WAKE UP PEOPLE! It's the 21st century and we are already in year six of it!!

Sexy men on TV would be the counter to sexy women: tight tush, firm muscle delineation, flat abs, nice deltoids with good definition, and oh yes, smoothly shaven faces!

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