Objectification

I don't understand how objectification works. And how that plays into behavior, and what is right.

I see the over-sexualized images of women in the media. Not only do I see the images, but I know their connection to male entitlement and misogyny.

This is a problem, and something that should be stopped. But how?

It does not seem right to say "Okay women, no more being sexual. Women who are overly sexual are perpetuating misogyny."

It also does not seem right to say "Men, women will be sexual, but you cannot pay attention to that. No more responding to sexual women. That is perpetuating misogyny."

Unfortunately, it seems that as long as women are overtly sexual, men will be objectifying. And that will result in entitlement and violence.

But there must be something else at work here. I mean, lets look at the gay community. There is a lot (LOT) of objectification in the gay community. And if a man takes his clothes off and other men look, I don't see a problem. I think it's great (well, probably because I am also looking). Why? Because, as far as I can tell, there is no strong connection to entitlement and violence. I've looked for studies even, and I haven't found anything. When it is man to man objectification, the violence, so it seems, just is not there. Or at least it is not as strong.

So why is the violence there with women? Why is there that direct correlation (causation even) between objectification and entitlement and violence?

And how can you make it stop?

I don't like the idea of a world where people cannot express their sexuality. Sex is a beautiful thing, and people are beautiful creatures. And, quite frankly, I enjoy the freedom to look and be looked at. I honestly don't mind being objectified. There are pictures floating around the internet to prove that. But, I also know that it is not going to contribute to anything negative, since I am a man. And I have privilege, as a man. (I hate saying that. But it is true, and I need to own that.)

Women should have the same right to look, and be looked at. I don't see how the "being looked at" part is bad. Maybe that is very anti-feminist of me. Maybe I need to learn more about sociology. Or maybe that is good. Maybe there really isn't a problem there. So then, where is the problem?

Where is this coming from? This violence against women. This entitlement that men have; that they can just take what they want from a woman, and that is their God-given right.

Maybe objectification within the straight community is different than within the gay community. I mean, I cannot speak for anyone else, but when I am objectifying someone, say by looking at porn, I know that these are human beings. They have feelings and emotions. They are people, that have rights, that have lives. They are not *just objects*.

Maybe in the straight community, with straight men, women are *just objects*?

And maybe there is entitlement and violence within the gay community, I just haven't used the right keywords in Google Scholar or EBSCOhost?

I am just completely lost. I don't know what causes these things. There is something else going on, most definitely. Maybe it is just all of the violent socialization that men go though, and that just gets reflected onto women, and then add in sex, and it's just a big, violent, sociological nightmare.

This is all very confusing.