How can women be empowered in the era of 'sex objectification'?

Dr. Satyawan Saurabh *

In the social media sphere, girls are often sexualized more than boys. This platform has further amplified the long-standing expectations for young girls to adhere to specific sexual narratives. Such behavior reduces women to mere objects, stripping them of their individual identity. The way women are portrayed in advertisements and similar media is not only degrading but also undermines their true worth and dignity.

A study has shown that girls are portrayed in a more sexualized way than boys, often seen wearing revealing clothing and adopting body language or facial expressions that indicate sexual availability. This objectification and sexualization of girls in the media has been linked to violence against women and girls globally. The impact of excessive sexualization on girls and women can lead to anxiety about their appearance, feelings of shame, eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression.

Today, there is a growing trend of objectifying women in entertainment media. In Indian films, social media, music videos, and television, women are often depicted as mere sex objects. This phenomenon represents a significant harm to society, as it perpetuates harmful stereotypes. Many films and songs objectify the female form, following a predictable pattern.

An entire generation has been influenced to believe that life is what is shown on screen. As a result, women are often objectified during "item dances" at village fairs, local theater, and various art forms, which are attended by men of all ages.

Advertisements in newspapers, magazines, radio, television, the Internet, billboards, and flyers often portray women in a sexualized manner, with the aim of attracting female customers. In Indian society, there is a prevailing belief that women are naturally weak.

Research on social media shows that girls are sexualized more often than boys, increasing the pressure on teenage girls to fit into typical sexual narratives. For example, there is a deodorant ad that depicts a woman as a 'sex object,' suggesting that she is attracted to a man simply because he uses that particular brand.

This representation turns women into objects that do not have their own identity. Such portrayals in advertisements are not only degrading but also undermine the true status and dignity of women.

Cases of violence against women and girls are on the rise in India, reflecting a disturbing mindset that seeks revenge against them. This trend reinforces harmful patriarchal stereotypes that exist in society.

The phenomenon of “self-objectification” makes women experience negative emotions such as shame and anxiety, which can cause them permanent psychological damage. Unfortunately, mass media in India has largely failed to address issues affecting women or empower them to advocate for their rights and achieve equality.

Instead, women often find themselves focused on conforming to ideal body images portrayed in the media, neglecting their own physical and mental well-being. The objectification of women in the media has a clearly harmful effect on society. To combat this, we need to increase social support and initiatives aimed at reducing the objectification of girls and women.

It is important to establish and enforce laws that promote gender equality by eliminating discrimination against women. This includes promoting media awareness, encouraging parent and family involvement in media consumption, ensuring religious sensitivity, positive representation of girls in the media, teaching youth life skills, and advocating for egalitarian gender norms within comprehensive sex education.

Only through these efforts can we truly discuss women's empowerment in an era marked by sexual objectification.

Recently, the ‘Boys Locker Room’ incident surfaced on social media, where pornographic images of underage girls were shared through leaked conversations from a certain group. It is important to recognize that this incident is not just an isolated incident of young boys promoting rape culture; rather, it reflects a deeper issue within our societal outlook.

Over the past few years, there has been a rise in reports of cyberbullying and harassment. In view of this situation, we urgently need strong legislation that criminalizes cyber violence against women and girls. Without a dedicated law, the existing IT Act and IPC only serve as temporary measures, proving inadequate to deal with the scale of these issues.

The IPC was established much before the digital age, and the IT Act was primarily created to promote e-commerce rather than address the unregulated online environment. Hence, creating a law that specifically targets cyber abuse, harassment, and violence against women will significantly contribute to turning the conversation towards safety and equality.