Objectification and Dismemberment of women Presented by Hannah Scheffler

Disclaimer: Due to the nature of this topic there may be some more explicit images and pictures shown in an effort to present the extent to which women are objectified and dismembered

Objectification Defined as when “a woman’s body, body parts, or sexual functions are separated out from her person, reduced to the status of mere instruments, or regarded as if they were capable of representing her” (Fredrickson 175) Defined as when “a woman’s body, body parts, or sexual functions are separated out from her person, reduced to the status of mere instruments, or regarded as if they were capable of representing her” (Fredrickson 175) When does objectification take place? When does objectification take place? –Advertisements –Magazines –Billboards –Music videos –Television

Women in the Advertisements White, young, thin White, young, thin No blemishes No blemishes Perfect hair Perfect hair Big breasts Big breasts Curvy hips Curvy hips Flat stomachs Flat stomachs

Perfection Airbrushing Airbrushing –“the process of manipulating a photograph to hide flaws and create a better image” (Tartkovsky) Photoshop Photoshop –Typically, replacing a part or parts of a woman’s body with other than her own Magazines defend retouching stating Magazines defend retouching stating that the edited photos are “just images or fantasy”

Effects of Objectification Depression, low self-esteem, body shame Depression, low self-esteem, body shame Eating disorders Eating disorders –1 in 4 college women uses method of weight control –Models today weigh 23% less than average woman, than average woman, 20 yrs. ago weighed 8% less –10x more ads and articles in women’s magazines c compared to men’s

Body Dissatisfaction Body Dissatisfaction –“experience of negative thoughts and esteem about one’s body” (Dittmar 1) –Connected to negative self-perception, emotional states, and body-related behaviors –Study found that girls who read women’s magazines more frequently were more likely to think about the “perfect” body and be dissatisfied with their own (“Media’s”)

Self-objectification Self-objectification –When women and girls view themselves from an observer’s perspective and “learn to be more concerned with observable body attributes rather than focusing on non- observable body attributes such as feelings and internal bodily states” (Greening) –Fredrickson & Roberts identify 4 psychological consequences  Emotion of Shame  Emotion of Anxiety  Peak Motivational States  Internal Bodily States

Dismemberment Focus on one part of woman’s body while ignoring all the other parts (Greening) Focus on one part of woman’s body while ignoring all the other parts (Greening)

Effects of Dismemberment Woman trained to view her body in parts, not as whole Woman trained to view her body in parts, not as whole Appearance anxiety Appearance anxiety Depression Depression Sexual dysfunction Sexual dysfunction Eating disorders Eating disorders Damage self-respect Damage self-respect

Conclusion Objectification and Dismemberment prevalent in advertising and magazines Objectification and Dismemberment prevalent in advertising and magazines Both detrimental to women’s well-being Both detrimental to women’s well-being Not all implications known Not all implications known Offers understanding Offers understanding Effects women to varying degrees Effects women to varying degrees Awareness leading to end of objectification and dismemberment Awareness leading to end of objectification and dismemberment

Works Cited "Beauty and Body Image in the Media." Media Awareness Network Media "Beauty and Body Image in the Media." Media Awareness Network Media Awareness Network. 22 Apr 2009 < english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/women_beauty.cfm>. “Body Image.” Our Bodies Ourselves Health Resource Center Boston Women’s “Body Image.” Our Bodies Ourselves Health Resource Center Boston Women’s Health Book Collective. 22 Apr 2009 < book/excerpt.asp?id=2>. Dittmar, Helga. “How Do ‘Body Perfect’ Ideals In The Media Have A Negative Impact Dittmar, Helga. “How Do ‘Body Perfect’ Ideals In The Media Have A Negative Impact On Body Image and Behaviors? Factors and Processes Related To Self And Identity.” Journal of Social & Clinical Psychology 28.1 (Jan. 2009): 1-8. EBSCO MegaFILE. EBSCO. Berntsen Library, St. Paul, MN. 22 Apr Fredrickson, Barbara L. and Tomi-Ann Roberts. “Objectification Theory: Toward Fredrickson, Barbara L. and Tomi-Ann Roberts. “Objectification Theory: Toward Understanding Women’s Lived Experiences and Mental Health Risks.” Psychology of Women Quarterly 21(1997): Apr Greening, Kacey D. "The Objectification and Dismemberment of Women in the Media." Greening, Kacey D. "The Objectification and Dismemberment of Women in the Media." Capital University. Undergraduate Research Community. 22 Apr Katele, Stephanie. "Violence Against Women in Mass Media." Ezine Articles.com. 27 Katele, Stephanie. "Violence Against Women in Mass Media." Ezine Articles.com. 27 Jan Ezine Articles. 22 Apr Kilbourne, Jean. "Beauty...and the Beast of Advertising." Center for Media Literacy. Kilbourne, Jean. "Beauty...and the Beast of Advertising." Center for Media Literacy Center for Media Literacy. 22 Apr 2009 < reading_room/article40.html>. “Media’s Effect On Girls: Body Image And Gender Identity.” National Institute on “Media’s Effect On Girls: Body Image And Gender Identity.” National Institute on Media and the Family. 3 Apr National Institute on Media and the Family. 22 Apr Tartakovsky, Margarita. "The Art of Airbrushing." PsychCentral. 9 Dec Apr Tartakovsky, Margarita. "The Art of Airbrushing." PsychCentral. 9 Dec Apr 2009.