We’ve Come A Long Way, Baby!
2012
Do you remember this tag line? Actually it was “You’ve Come A Long Way Baby”!
We’ve Come A Long Way, Baby!
Or..have we?
Well in many ways “we” as a people have come a long way. Gender equality in the form of voting and property rights was a positive change. Family, workplace, sexuality and reproductive rights have also been the focus of debate and change for our culture. Many amazing laws to protect abused and battered women have been implemented along with the ability of women to compete for jobs and freely admit their stance on sex.
Some how the fight to be free of sexism and sexual harrassment moved through freedom of sexuality into a very hypersexualized culture where women are more demeaned and seen as sexual objects than ever before in history as noted by Kilbourne in Killing Us Softly. The University of Buffalo “has found that the portrayal of women in popular media over the last several decades has become increasingly sexualized,” even “pornified” as seen in their study found in The Journal of Sexuality and Culture. The documentation and proof of this goes on and on.
Of course, I really didn’t need anyone to tell me this fact. It really doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see it, if you have lived for any length of time. However, it does take someone who is not desensitized from the bombardment of sexual images.
Desensitized is referring to a reduction in emotion – related physciological reactivity to a subject or content. Feelings of concern, empathy or sympathy are diminished. Study after study has shown that repeated exposure to the same type of content (through various forms of media) changes one’s viewpoint. What once caused anxiety will no longer cause anxiety – what once was not acceptable becomes acceptable. Such studies have been performed since as early as the 1970′s. This psychological condition effects both children and adults.
The more we become desensitized, the more we accept “it” as the norm. In this case “it” is the demeaning of women in media. There are many aspects to this that are disturbing and dangerous. I will be covering many of them. But for now, I want to make a final statement and issue you a challenge.
Our professional world (psychology, psychiatry, marketing etc) is not oblivious to what is happening. Many valid studies have been conducted and report after report has shown the same unhealthy outcomes for everyone. While it is largely women and girls being sexualized, it is also having a devastating affect on the male population. One must ask, why aren’t the feminist leaders all over this?
It is sexism! And in my humble opinion it is a form of sexual harrassment. It bothers me to see sexual images of women all over the place! It bothers me and a large percentage of women to see our gender so heavily depicted as sexual “objects”. But in many ways our voices have been silenced, and for many reasons. Primarily, it is because sexualization of women has become normalized by desensitization and the fear is in the backlash of going against the “norm”.
In ways, I feel like we have been transported back to times gone by where women had no voice. To an era where they trembled in fear of men and being outcast by other women if they spoke of how they really felt. The few women courageous enough to speak up with quivering voices and fought against all the venom and cruelty in order to change the way women were viewed, would be very disappointed to see what we have allowed. This is not progress! The only difference between now and then is the mode and speed of delivery of the mass message that women are still sexual objects and that we are fool enough to call it sexual freedom!
My challenge to you: Cut off your T.V. for one month! Do not look at any advertisements via print or digital. Try not to freely look around when you must be in public. Avoid posters, banners and billboards. Use an ad filter for your computer to help eliminate the imagery in advertising as much as possible. This will take some dedicated and thoughtful work on your part! After a month, cut your T.V. back on and look around. I think you will find yourself a wee bit shocked!
Want To Help? Join The GEM!
___________________________________________
Sharon G. Cobb is an educator by career. She has spent over 12 years in the classroom teaching individuals and groups of many ages. Holding a B.S. in Science, M.Ed. in Gifted Education,Ed.S. candidate in curriculum and instructions as well as life experiences gives Sharon a unique edge and insight to people, learning styles and how the brain works. Through her fascination with the brain, Sharon has also studied hypnosis, sought to understand the mechanics of mass hypnosis and the impact on society and culture. Sharon is a certified Life Coach, NLP Master Practitioner and Hypnotist.
49 comments
Trackback e pingback
No trackback or pingback available for this article
Great article! Yes, we have come a long way…But I think the key to real and lasting change will be realized by the next generation. However, we as today’s parents must be alert to the mindset of our children and guide them to healthy positive ways of thinking.
I truly hope the needed changes wont wait until the next generation! I completely agree about today’s parents. Sometimes reaching the parent is the hardest part. Thanks for visiting Denny! I hope you return again soon.
great article and for sure, we have come a long way – I love that women can vote! So let’s use that strength and do it each time we have the opportunity be it locally, municipally and of course provincial(state) and federal!!!!
Surely, surely!
Oh my… loved that walk through history. We HAVE come a long way! Woohoo! (-_-) Thanks so much for the memory. x0x
The LEARNED Preneur @ NormaDoiron.NET
Norma…come visit again soon!
Yes, we have come a long way! Great article and pics! I believe we still have a ways to go…perhaps in the next generation! Thanks for sharing this, Sharon!
I hope “we” can push this along and it not wait until the next generation.
One of my goals at least!
We’ve still got a ways to go, but we have definitely come a long way! Thanks Sharon.
Sara, thanks for stopping in. Come again soon!
Great post with lots of imorptant stuff.
Thank you.
We truly have come a very long way. Thanks for sharing this post. You have given and left your readers a very though challenge.
I hope so! And…I hope my readers take the challenge. What better social proof…
We have come alomg way. I smoked those cigarettes because I want to look like those models. I dump that nasty habit and the model mindset.
Elizabeth…thank you so much for bringing this up! This is exactly how advertising works. It takes a brave person to admit they have been swayed by advertising. But companies wouldn’t spend so much on it, if it didn’t work. I am glad you bring up smoking because when pushed with the damage smoking was doing to people/public health concerns, the way companies handled advertising had to change. Why can’t the same happen now? We KNOW the damage it is creating and the public health concerns are well documented.
Yes, we have come a long way! Thanks for the great article, Sharon.
Great article! I continue to be shocked every day! I consider myself something of a prude, but I want to raise healthy young ladies, who recognize that it’s NOT okay for a 7 year old to dress like a 14 year old and it’s NOT okay for a 14 year old to dress like a college girl! You could get me talking for hours about this. I agree completely with you – we are going backwards. We are now simply sexual objects, not esteemed, intelligent women.
It is a battle Mandy! Thanks for your comments and I look forward to seeing you around the blog!
You’ve made some great points here, Sharon. It’s easy to become complacent when we simply accept things as the “norm” because we are bombarded with such advertisements everywhere. Thanks for bringing this up and challenging us!
Yes we have come a long way. It is my humble opinion that there is much progress to be made. I say this not addressing just women’s rights but human rights…We need to band together, all of us to create a better world. Social media is the avenue to do this
I certainly agree there is a lot of territory to cover in many areas of human rights!
As a male voice and as a gay may voice at that, I agree that the movement for equal rights has made great progress. BUT, there is work to be done just the same. In many ways, I think there has simply be an exchange of form taken by the issues more than authentic change. Its a complicated subject for sure, but one that demands more attention and authentic resolution. I’m with Anita, this is a an issue of human rights…not just gender or sexual.
I do agree with your statement on authentic change! I also agree there is much to be done in many areas of human rights. It is a shame that I’m only one person!
I believe and research has shown that distortions of reality including sexualization has an impact on all parties/people so any topic of injustice should cover all angles and all parties. Sometimes it is easy to look at the other gender or race as the “bad guy” and in many ways they are “victims” so to speak as well. I have some writings in the works touching on this. I hope you return!
Oh my!! We’ve definitely come a long way baby and still have a very long time to go…loved your post, the history you shared and the photos:)
Wow, finally someone has the courage to talk about this on an open forum. Great job! You are 100% right about the general population being desensitized to sexuality in the media…it goes way beyond women though…including small children now is sickening.
Hey Carla, you are totally correct! If you notice my first blog post and the slideshow on the home page, I mention children and even the impact on men/boys. In the days, months etc. to come, I will be touching on all of these aspects of media impact! Please come and visit again soon and help spread the word about SharonGCobb.com Thanks!
Sharon,
An interesting post for sure. The difference between our current world and the past is that in the past men were the ones objectifying. Today’s young woman seems happy to do it to herself. The biggest gap is in the education of these young girls. Where are the parents? How is it that young girls can attend school with all kinds of skin showing? Mom and Dad need to step up to the plate and do things that are uncomfortable, like make sure their daughter is wearing clothes that are appropriate. It is not impossible. But someone has to help young girls. And if your daughter doesn’t like a decision you have made, she will some day. All this can be accomplished in a happy home, with loving parents.
I meant “one’s daughter” not your daughter…
Hey, that’s powreful. Thanks for the news.
This is all due largely to media, which is the main mission of Sharongcobb.com; to bring this to light through educating men, women and children about the truth and lies sold by media. As a former educator, I can tell you there are plenty of things girls and boys do including the clothes they wear, make up etc. in which parents are clueless about (sneak it to school, change in the bathrooms etc). But I do agree, many parents turn a blind eye. Again, based on research, parents are not immune to the impact of media….they are sold the same package of lies their children are sold. I am in no way excusing parents but we do have to be realistic about what is happening. When any one industry has the ability to impact society so heavily, they need to be and should be required to be more responsible about what they do. Hopefully parents will join with me in pushing for change! Please visit the homepage and download the free report which gives a few more statistics as to why we are seeing what we are in our nation with young girls. I will have more to come here too..please visit often.
Great changes for sure but unfortunately there is a long way to go. I love your suggestion to turn off the tv. What a great walk through history and the changes that have been made!
Thanks Sue!
Great article Sharon! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for visiting Tony! Come again soon!
Overheard three women talking in my local coffee shop, one said, “It’s hard to believe that there are women today who don’t actually understand that our reproductive rights might be in jeopardy – that there was a time not too long ago when abortions were illegal and women died from illegal procedures.” We need to remember that our rights as women must always be protected.
Sharon, we sure have come a far way but there are different parts of the world where women have not gotten there. Praying for them to be released from others control or rituals they were brought up with.
So very true Carol!
Wow, great photos. We have so many liberties as Western women. Most of the agony comes from media teaching what failing home lives fail to teach. Tearing down marriage and family was actually a huge blow to women, I’m afraid.
Gina, I agree with this 100%. A few things backfired. I don’t believe any movement can be 100% effective. When a few things backfire, someone needs to be big enough to say it backfired and give a valid attempt at fixing the “mess-up”…unfortunately not much is being said about that either!
Thanks for bringing this up.
As the song says, “The Sisters are doing it for themselves.” And we ARE. I think every generation moves further along and we’ve come a long way for sure. I also think we must want to take care of ourselves and aside from being our best self and doing that (and everything else in our lives that comes along naturally, too) I think we have to do it and for the most part let go of the B.S. we run into along the way. It’s not about accepting it, but about not allowing it to slow us down!
Great article Sharon, I truly feel like we have come a long way but as we look outside the perimeters of our daily lives…It seems like we taking baby steps…but it still called going forward! I was listening to Secretary Clinton Delivers her Remarks at the 2012 Women in the World Summit the other day and that speech certainly put a lot of things in perspective and makes us look closely at what is to come… Thanks for sharing.
I agree 100% with our society being desensitized and it is so sad. I am tired of the music industry and their videos depicting women this way. Who’s watching the videos? 10 year olds!!
The opportunities are endless for us to go even further! Thanks for sharing!
Wow. Eye opening. Many people wouldn’t be so upfront with that information, but you say it like it is. Wow.
You are absolutely right, Sharon. I truly believe that society has become desensitized. Additionally, people just don’t speak up. That silence is interpreted as acceptance. Great post!
It’s interesting how what’s acceptable changes so much over time. I remember watching old tv shows where even the mom and dad were shown as sleeping in separate beds at night! Yes, we’ve come a long ways . . . which is definitely good, and bad.
I think it is amazing to those of us remembering where we came from (in all aspects). The younger generation doesn’t remember “before”. Desensitization plays a huge role in what is deemed acceptable and what is not. I love your point of coming a long way and it being both good and bad. What really needs to happen, is the ability to recognize and admit the bad so it, too, can be changed. Thanks for visiting, Jennifer!