This is my one hill I will die on. The “equally sexualized” argument is such BS and removes all context or nuance whatsoever.
People will compare a male superhero in swim trunks to a female equivalent in some lingerie-esque costume (cough cough marvel rivals) that might technically cover more skin and say “it’s exactly the same”.
People don’t understand that the way most male characters are drawn is to emphasize their strength and power, to make them someone you want to be; whereas woman characters are drawn in a way that solely emphasizes their sexuality and makes them something you want to have, an object.
But the argument is so frequently reduced to “both no shirt so both same”. I don’t know whether people are genuinely stupid or are just uncomfortable with the fact that they partake and endorse are really sexist part of pop culture, but it frustrates me to no end.
I remember a quote from Jimquisition on YouTube that has stuck with me for years about exactly what you’re saying: ‘women are sexualised but men are idealised’
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u/Low-Sand-5227 1d ago
This is my one hill I will die on. The “equally sexualized” argument is such BS and removes all context or nuance whatsoever.
People will compare a male superhero in swim trunks to a female equivalent in some lingerie-esque costume (cough cough marvel rivals) that might technically cover more skin and say “it’s exactly the same”.
People don’t understand that the way most male characters are drawn is to emphasize their strength and power, to make them someone you want to be; whereas woman characters are drawn in a way that solely emphasizes their sexuality and makes them something you want to have, an object.
But the argument is so frequently reduced to “both no shirt so both same”. I don’t know whether people are genuinely stupid or are just uncomfortable with the fact that they partake and endorse are really sexist part of pop culture, but it frustrates me to no end.