2007-08-09

The right and necessity to objectify

They might be oh so realistic, but I wouldn't miss the sexist remarks on women if they were removed. I love black comedy, especially of the high school kind. I love exaggeration and parody – to a certain extend. Both Mean Girls and the incredible TV show Popular do it, for example. And I love the extreme relationships between all the girls. I love the backstabbing, the bitching and the popularity wars – between the girls. I love everything but the obsession with looking supersexy for the guys.

What I especially don't love is the guys, and the constant commenting on the girls. Why do even female writers feel the need to add small sexist remarks the whole fucking time in TV shows? The She's a hottie-type of comments. The constant looks, them turning their heads, forgetting about everything but the oh so sexy girl for a few seconds. The turning men into fucking hormone monsters. Do all males on TV have to be testosterone OD-ing? How is it possible that that's accepted, and even the norm?

Sure, most TV-show chicks are oversexed, stereotypically perfect babes. Who wouldn't look? Right? No. Wrong. Female characters on film and TV have to be prettygirls. Prettygirls are supposed to be on TV for everyone to look at, sureness. That's not today's topic. That does also not make objectifying them a necessity. It does not make it funny, "normal" or alright.

It does not bother me – anymore cause hello product of oversexed pop culture society – that the super clever and brainy Veronica Mars is cute as a button. She has to be, it's TV. What bothers me is that every male character on the show who lays an eye on her – no matter how nice, cool, smart they are – look like they're getting an erection right there and then. Is that necessary?

Again. Girls on TV are generally pretty, those are "the rules", and that's a subject for another rant, one that I'll never write. But that does not make objectification funny, and what is both scary and frustrating to me is that we almost expect it. In our own lives we shudder and walk faster when we – once in a lifetime unless you look like those TV show girls – get those comments. But on TV we expect it 'cause they are the prettygirls. They are the babes. They are there to be looked at, and they deserve the objectification.

Sure. Do turn all male characters into animals who crave sex with everything they lay eyes on with a pair of boobs. And you wonder why I prefer shows and movies with only female characters? The idea of men – that both men and women have – that they can't control their thoughts and actions 'cause of their dick, is demeaning and insane. Hormones and prettygirls do not give men the right to be assholes.

TV shows are not usually feminist, and quite often sexist. But this is absurd. This is not entertaining or okay. So please please please, tell me, are the constant sexist remarks a necessity?