The Various Ways Black Women Are Being Objectified In The Media

It is quite obvious to say we live in a digital age. It is also true to say we live in a sexualized world; a world where relevance and importance is attached to how sexually appealing or sexy a product is and often times black women are used as baits.

This orientation is not just limited to products that directly relate to sex or sexual activities like sex toys and enhancers, it is an orientation that permeates everything and the universe that contains them.
This takes us to the term digital objectification.
The exploitation of women in mass media is the use or portrayal of black women in mass media (such as television, social media and advertising) to increase the appeal of media or a product to the detriment of, or without regard to, the interests of the women portrayed, or women in general.

Objectification of Black women in Ads And Movies

In simple terms, what does this mean? For instance, let us analyze some utopic scenarios that exemplify a common advert of an alcoholic beverage: 2 guys are at a table in a lounge chatting; a lady walks in; the eyes of the 2 guys are fixed on the lady’s back while she catwalks to the bar; as she sits on a chair in front of the bar and makes her order, she turns and winks at one of the guys; the guy who was winked at jumps up from his chair, walks up to her at the bar and orders the same drink she’s having while his eyes are fixed on her cleavage; after the drink, both walks out of the bar together. This could be an advert of fifteen to twenty seconds, but the story it tells is quite deep.

The scenes, settings and actors might be different for every alcoholic beverage or other items’ advert out there, but most of them share the same concept and message: since our world is highly sexist, women are the best means to make our product attractive.

The sexist world could find more appealing ideas to sugar-coat this concept and make it acceptable to the feminine world. “Oh, the woman is the prettiest creature;” “adverts like these appreciates their beauty and their power to control the world;” etc., could be common sexist’s terms in patronizing the woman to make her feel good.

Sexualization

Now, how is this a problem? Why should every reasonable person be concerned? The whole issue portrays an underlying idea. The idea is this: black women are simply objects and means to the satisfaction of the sexist world. In other words, a woman is a sex item and her value lies in her exploitation of her sexual characteristic; this is her ultimate goal as a woman. Now, relating to a human being as a means, instead of an end, is highly irrational and a violation of the person’s dignity as human.

Objectifying the sexuality of the female gender puts the dignity of this particular gender at risk. The question is not about the fees or monetary gain available for the black women these ventures. No amount of money can buy human dignity. Dignity is priceless.
Will the high participation of black women in the arena of digital media change this situation? This is a question with an obvious answer. It is a yes, it is the women who directly feel these undignified valuation in a sexist world. It is said that the one who wears the shoe knows where it pinches.

The availability of educated women in the area of mass media will surely lead to a massive gender education that will see to the realisation of a society where women are treated as ends themselves instead of means. The direct and effective participation of well-informed women in the field of digital media will definitely redefine the world.

#Engee