Tag Archives: Sexual Objectification

Empleados de PETA del sexo masculino hacen que las mujeres realicen actos sexuales con vegetales “Por la defensa de los animales”

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Advertencia: Este artículo contiene imágenes pornográficas, se recomienda no leerlo en el trabajo.

Si ustedes recuerdan,  hace un par de años, PETA lanzó una página web de pornografía en la cual se mezclaban escenas explicitas de violencia con imágenes sexuales de mujeres ¿Parece un mensaje positivo y coherente, ¿no cierto? afortunadamente, las imágenes de las mujeres fueron removidas, y la página web de porno, no es más que videos cortos de granjas de cría intensiva. Sin embargo, las personas vienen por las imágenes morbosas de mujeres usadas como objetos sexuales, y son expuestos a la violencia explicita.  La perturbadora conexión entre sexo y violencia permanece intacta.

En cualquier caso, la pornografía de PETA está de vuelta con un proyecto llamado “Veggie Love Casting Session.” En mi opinión, este es sin lugar a duda el material más obsceno que PETA haya producido con las donaciones bien intencionadas de personas que realmente se preocupan por el sufrimiento de los animales.

A bright-eyed white woman simulating oral sex on a cucumber. Meant to resemble an internet porn advertisement. Reads: "Can't get enough veggies? Join now!!! All access starting at $16/year."

¿Conviértase en un miembro de PETA para ver más porno? ¿O para ayudar a los animales no humanos?

En la página web, se encuentran diferentes videos cortos de mujeres realizando actos sexuales con vegetales. En el comercial, las mujeres desfilan delante de la cámara y son inspeccionadas como si fueran esclavas en la tarima de subastas, como si fueran carne humana lista para consumir. Este proyecto es liderado por hombres, los cuales toman las decisiones. Al fondo  se escuchan las voces masculinas dando instrucciones a las mujeres, pidiéndoles que “muestren cuanto les gusta” el vegetal que se les asigno; para finalmente reírse de la humillación de ellas al final de la sesión. Las fotos de estas mujeres están incluidas al final de la página web donde los espectadores puedan otorgarles una calificación con “pulgar arriba” para darles su aprobación o “pulgar abajo” para darles un voto negativo, tratándolas como objetos de forma descarada.

Image depicts two women in bikinis performing oral sex on a carrot. From PETA's Veggie Love campaign.

Hermanas gemelas cometiendo incesto para abogar por los derechos de los animales no humanos para la diversión de los directores de PETA del género masculino y los espectadores.

PETA imita perfectamente la desagradable prevalencia del racismo en la pornografía. La única mujer Afroamericana que aparece en el video es presentada como si fuera un animal, gateando en el sofá hacia un brócoli el cual devora sin usar sus manos.

An African American woman in a bikini and high heels crawling across a couch towards broccoli.

Muchas personas argumentarían que estas mujeres hacen esto  por “elección propia” y porque  lo “disfrutan”. Hasta cierto punto esto es probablemente cierto. Pero este argumento carece de objetividad. Tomen en cuenta los factores que determinan esas elecciones: un ambiente en el cual las mujeres son vistas como objetos sexuales y como un medio para el entretenimiento masculino. Las mujeres tienen una gran presión para asumir los roles correspondientes a su  género. Bajo un patriarcado, las mujeres son socializadas para que sean esclavas de los hombres. Las mujeres son preparadas como niñas pequeñas, a las cuales se les educa en la premisa que se espera y que es obligatorio  que ellas provean sexo y placer al hombre. En este mundo, las mujeres tiene pocas oportunidades para ser exitosas con base en sus habilidades, conocimiento, y otras cualidades dignas; el trabajo sexual es una de las pocas opciones disponibles. Esta opción ni siquiera es contemplada para los hombres.

Por cierto, la pornografía y otras formas de explotación sexual tienden a utilizar especialmente a mujeres vulnerables,  aquellas provenientes de familias de bajos recursos, o de un ambiente familiar violento o con pocas oportunidades laborales o educacionales, y  también aquellas mujeres que sufren de adicciones. La pornografía lastima a todas las mujeres pero especialmente a las mujeres en riesgo.

A white woman in a bikini and high heels spanking herself with a stalk of celery.

Mujer dándose una zurra con un apio para que los espectadores masculinos aprendan acerca de especismo

Cuando los visitantes de esta página web terminan de ver los videos de las mujeres realizando actos sexuales con vegetales, aparecen videos de animales que son golpeados y asesinados…porque nada es más sexy que colocar la imagen de una mujer siendo explotada junto a la imagen de una animal que está agonizando. Esto es en realidad lo que se ha hecho de la sexualidad: Subyugar y herir a los vulnerables para el placer de los privilegiados. Observar a alguien humillado y sufriendo para nuestro entretenimiento se ha convertido en algo sexy.

A woman (possibly of color) in a bikini and high heels leaning against a couch on the floor. Her head is back and her back is arched. She is rubbing herself with tomatoes.

Mujer pretendiendo que tiene sexo con tomates para educar a otros acerca del veganismo

PETA está dando una connotación sexual a la degradación y humillación de las mujeres. PETA le da una connotación sexual a la explotación de la población vulnerable. PETA dota de sexualidad a la violencia hacia la mujer. PETA otorga una connotación sexual a la opresión.

La investigación es abrumadoramente clara. La pornografía conlleva a la degradación de la mujer, a ver a la mujer como un objeto, a la deshumanización de la  mujer y a la violencia hacia la mujer. Esto hace que las mujeres internalicen esta devaluación y que ellas mismas se vean como objetos. Les quita poder  y permite que sean susceptibles a la violencia intrafamiliar, alimenta la cultura de la violación. Para mayor información en qué manera la pornografía lastima a las mujeres, échele un vistazo a The Price of Pleasure  (se advierte que es extremadamente provocador y gráfico). Haga un poco de búsqueda en la internet para encontrar esta video gratis.

A white woman deep-throating a cucumber.

Sus donaciones de PETA siendo utilizadas para la explotación de las mujeres.

Sostengo que abogar con tácticas sexistas es un insulto despreciable hacia nuestro importante movimiento por la justicia social. PETA asesina a los animales, (visite el enlace PETA kills animals) y asesina a las mujeres de manera simbólica. Por favor, por el amor hacia cualquier cosa buena que exista en este mundo,  nunca vuelvan a hacer donaciones a PETA, no permitan que sus amigos y familias hagan donaciones. Ustedes no necesitan a PETA para que haya un cambio verdadero para los Animales no humanos: Promuevan el veganismo de manera pacífica, apoyen la estrategia de atrapar, esterilizar y dejar en libertad (en inglés, trap-neuter-release), apoyen los santuarios de animales veganos, apoyen su refugio de animales local, adopten, luchen contra la opresión de toda clase. RESPETEMONOS LOS UNOS A LOS OTROS en nuestra lucha para acabar con el especismo.

Traducido por Tatiana Rodriguez Labrador

Corey Lee WrennDr. Wrenn is Lecturer of Sociology. She received her Ph.D. in Sociology with Colorado State University in 2016. She received her M.S. in Sociology in 2008 and her B.A. in Political Science in 2005, both from Virginia Tech. She was awarded Exemplary Diversity Scholar, 2016 by the University of Michigan’s National Center for Institutional Diversity. She served as council member with the American Sociological Association’s Animals & Society section (2013-2016) and was elected Chair in 2018. She serves as Book Review Editor to Society & Animals and has contributed to the Human-Animal Studies Images and Cinema blogs for the Animals and Society Institute. She has been published in several peer-reviewed academic journals including the Journal of Gender Studies, Feminist Media Studies, Disability & Society, Food, Culture & Society, and Society & Animals. In July 2013, she founded the Vegan Feminist Network, an academic-activist project engaging intersectional social justice praxis. She is the author of A Rational Approach to Animal Rights: Extensions in Abolitionist Theory (Palgrave MacMillan 2016).

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PETA and the Sexual Objectification Checklist

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Identifying sexual objectification in the media is a good skill to learn! Here we’ve applied the sexual objectification checklist to PETA campaigning.

1. Does the image show only part(s) of a sexualized person’s body?

Image of woman's body under a scan. Her bra reads "Be Proud"; her bottom reads: "Of your body scan; go vegan"

Bottom half of a woman in a thong with hair protruding. Reads: Fur trim. Unattractive.

2. Does the image present a sexualized person as a stand-in for an object?

Alyssa Milano dressed in vegetables. Reads: "Let Vegetarianism Grow on You."

Naked woman painted like a globe. Reads: "Fight Climate Change with Diet Change, Go Veg"

3. Does the image show sexualized persons as interchangeable?

Several thin naked women standing close and intertwining. Reads: "Feel beautiful in your own skin."

Group of cheerleaders wearing the same bikini outfit with long hair, tan skin, same thin athletic physique. Reads: "Tackle Cruelty: Bench Fur"

4. Does the image affirm the idea of violating the bodily integrity of a sexualized person who can’t consent?

Image depicts the upper body of a woman butchered and hanging on a meat hook. Reads: “Hooked on meat? Go veg.”

Woman on the ground wrapped in chains, legs spread and exposed, cleavage. Reads: "Shackled, Beaten, Abused."

5. Does the image suggest that sexual availability is the defining characteristic of the person?

Sasha Gray sits naked on a bed shown from behind, looking over her shoulder and cupping her breast

Thin white blonde woman sprawled out on some haystacks with legs spread pulling her dress down over her bosom. Reads: "No one likes an 8 second ride."

6. Does the image show a sexualized person as a commodity that can be bought and sold?

Image shows a white woman reclining on her hand. She is naked and painted with "meat cuts"

Woman laying under plastic wrap like a piece of meat with a bar code.

 

Corey Lee WrennDr. Wrenn is Lecturer of Sociology. She received her Ph.D. in Sociology with Colorado State University in 2016. She received her M.S. in Sociology in 2008 and her B.A. in Political Science in 2005, both from Virginia Tech. She was awarded Exemplary Diversity Scholar, 2016 by the University of Michigan’s National Center for Institutional Diversity. She served as council member with the American Sociological Association’s Animals & Society section (2013-2016) and was elected Chair in 2018. She serves as Book Review Editor to Society & Animals and has contributed to the Human-Animal Studies Images and Cinema blogs for the Animals and Society Institute. She has been published in several peer-reviewed academic journals including the Journal of Gender Studies, Feminist Media Studies, Disability & Society, Food, Culture & Society, and Society & Animals. In July 2013, she founded the Vegan Feminist Network, an academic-activist project engaging intersectional social justice praxis. She is the author of A Rational Approach to Animal Rights: Extensions in Abolitionist Theory (Palgrave MacMillan 2016).

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Why the “We Use Men, Too!” Excuse Doesn’t Work

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In a nutshell:  We do not live in a post-gender society where women’s and men’s bodies are interchangeable.  Men’s bodies are portrayed and perceived in much different ways that women’s bodies.  Women’s bodies are also the vast majority of those bodies that are sexually objectified in the media (over 95%!).  The sexual objectification of women is linked to increased rates of domestic violence and sexual violence against women.

Oftentimes in the Nonhuman Animal rights movement, organizations and their volunteers will vehemently state that their sexual objectification of women is not sexist because they also use men in their campaigning. This doesn’t cut it for two reasons:  1. Women’s bodies are disproportionately sexually objectified in the Nonhuman Animal rights movement just as they are in mainstream media; 2. Men tend to be portrayed in ways that protects their masculinity and social power, whereas women tend to be portrayed in ways that reinforce their submissiveness and sexual availability.

Let’s take a look at some images taken from PETA as examples.  As you peruse them, keep in mind the sexual objectification checklist:

1. Does the image show only part(s) of a sexualized person’s body?

2. Does the image present a sexualized person as a stand-in for an object?

3. Does the image show sexualized persons as interchangeable?

4. Does the image affirm the idea of violating the bodily integrity of a sexualized person who can’t consent?

5. Does the image suggest that sexual availability is the defining characteristic of the person?

6. Does the image show a sexualized person as a commodity that can be bought and sold?

Shows muscular boxer staring at camera wit fists raised.

Tattooed man looks at camera, he is shirtless, hand in fist

Basketball player, shirtless, heavily tattooed, has arms spread out, head faced up, holding a basketball in each hand

Shirtless muscular and hairy man faces camera and has arms folded.

Muscular man staring at camera with hands together in front of him, to display his muscles

Heavily tattooed, shirtless man with one arm to the side and one hand pulling at a chain around his neck. Making a tough face, in a tough posture

Muscular boxer raises fists to the camera, stares into camera

Muscular football player grimacing at camera, flexing muscles as he holds football with two hands

Mike from Jersey Shore shown surrounded by cats, holding a cat, no shirt, very muscular, kneeling, smirking at camera

The common factors in these images are direct eye contact with the camera, a threatening or powerful pose, and display of strength and prowess.  Indeed, many of these pictures demonstrate hyper-masculinity.  Look at the hand positions of these men:  They are demonstrating command over space, command over their body, and command over the viewer.  Men are not being used as objects, and their personhood is protected.  There is no sexual violation, and there is no compromised consent.  They are not shown as interchangeable, and they are not shown as sexually available.  These images don’t say, “Come and get me,” they say, “I’m coming to get you.”

Some images depict naked men, but these are often shown as humorous.  Because sexually objectifying men is so rare and so abnormal for our understanding of masculinity, it becomes funny.

David Cross is naked and on a fashion runway. He is striking a pose and looking at the camera with a silly face.

Steve-O is naked and jumping in the air. We see him from behind. He is making a goofy face. He has a tattoo of himself making that face on his back.

In images where men and women are pictured, the difference is easily spotted.  Notice how this man is facing the camera head on, displaying no vulnerability.  The woman, however, faces the camera from the side, leans on him, and is standing on one foot on tip toe, demonstrating her vulnerability.  Indeed, many mixed-gender images show women leaning on men for support.

Naked man sitting on stool with guitar covering his bottom half, naked woman at his side leaning on him with one leg latched on to him the other on a tip toe. Her head is tilted against his, he is looking straight at the camera.

See also this image where Corey Feldman is facing the camera head on, playing an instrument, and in command of his space.  His wife is shown leaning on him, and looking at the camera from an upturned face.  Much more of her body exposed.  She is not in command of her space, but rather  she is finding support on the man.

Corey Feldman and Susie Feldman in bed. Corey is playing guitar, sitting cross legged on the bed looking straight at the camera. His wife is leaning on him exposing much more skin.

 

Corey Lee WrennDr. Wrenn is Lecturer of Sociology. She received her Ph.D. in Sociology with Colorado State University in 2016. She received her M.S. in Sociology in 2008 and her B.A. in Political Science in 2005, both from Virginia Tech. She was awarded Exemplary Diversity Scholar, 2016 by the University of Michigan’s National Center for Institutional Diversity. She served as council member with the American Sociological Association’s Animals & Society section (2013-2016) and was elected Chair in 2018. She serves as Book Review Editor to Society & Animals and has contributed to the Human-Animal Studies Images and Cinema blogs for the Animals and Society Institute. She has been published in several peer-reviewed academic journals including the Journal of Gender Studies, Feminist Media Studies, Disability & Society, Food, Culture & Society, and Society & Animals. In July 2013, she founded the Vegan Feminist Network, an academic-activist project engaging intersectional social justice praxis. She is the author of A Rational Approach to Animal Rights: Extensions in Abolitionist Theory (Palgrave MacMillan 2016).

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