Sexual Objectification: What is the cause?

7/21/2016

I decided I am going to use my blog to write my notes on a new research project I am conducting pertaining to the objectification of women in our society. It is a topic I have been very interested lately.
I have some questions:
1. Why is it okay for a woman to show her shoulders or wear short cut bottoms, but it is not okay or considered "awkward" for men to do so in a formal or somewhat formal setting?
(example: I saw a wedding photo where the man was in a tuxedo and the woman was in cut off sleeve dress that was above the knee)
I am not saying there is a problem with the way she is dressed, at all.
my question is
-why is it okay for women, but not okay for a man to dress with the shorter lengths?
 and
- why do I feel awkward if a guy wears shorter lengths on legs or arms?

HERE is a reference that helped me open my eyes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_4dPB9MVS8


I used to fall strongly on the stance that in order to avoid objectification, both male and females should dress modestly, because, I felt just as uncomfortable if a female or male dressed inappropriate for a formal or semi-formal occasion.
(example: wearing a crop-top to school. School is a semi-"formal" occasion and I would feel uncomfortable when girls would wear this to school)

Now I am questioning, why do I feel uncomfortable? 
However, after watching  the video, my mind is open to a new perspective. DO I feel this way because of the way media has portrayed me to think skin showing=sexuality?
I will keep you posted.

The Perceptual Process

Put Into Practice: The Perceptual Process

This one may be a little short, for the interaction was quick, but I want to analyse a situation that happened today.
     I had feelings of depression. I was in a quiet building full of people.
Wanting to escape and to have a peaceful time to gather my thoughts and feelings, I decided to enter into the room with many chairs that had nobody sitting inside. As I took a time to think, my feelings came to an explosion, as I was thinking of everything that was weighing on my shoulders, or "sitting on my plate".
     My emotion caused me to burst into tears, helping me relieve my pain. In the midst of my tears, a person enters the room. Starts checking her hair in the mirror in front of me. I am sitting there, thinking "this is awkward, do you have to do that here, in front of me while I'm trying to be alone, and there's a thousand mirrors."
As I noticed the girl, I realized my own irritation. My first analysis was selfish, I perceived her as someone evading my space, and I was getting irritated because I felt awkward and wanted to be alone.
As those feelings about her, I started jumping to categorize her in my brain. I tried to keep my eyes downward so I didn't feel awkward..
As my brain quickly put her into the category "girl who is bothering me", she turned over, with a big smile and asked me, "Can I just hug you?"
It really caught my attention. The category my brain had put her in was disrupted and confused. I let her hug me and she immediately turned away.
My brain immediately saw her as some certain thing,
but after the action, I started thinking to myself of the things that could be possible that I probably wasn't aware of.
A: She could have seen me walk into the room, or heard me crying and wanted to use the mirror as an excuse to give me a hug
B:Maybe she didn't even want to give me a hug, but felt like she needed to.

We never know the real context of the situation until we communicate.

Hi, my name is Camille. Welcome to my blog :)



How can self-disclosure lead one to a better understanding of their authentic self?

     I think that when we disclose ourselves, we take the time to really review and breakdown our intelligence in all aspects. "I am this way, this is why I am this way, because I am this way, I can now apply it to my self-improvement and what I can do with who I am to be better in the future."

 I also think disclosure is part of our composure. We cannot be well self-composed until we disclose to ourselves and come to terms with who we are and why we are. 

 When disclosing to others who we are and why, it takes boldness due to vulnerability. The natural mind does not like being subjected to vulnerability, because of the fear of rejection.  

Why is vulnerability critical to that authenticity?

When in a vulnerable state, we are more likely to break down our walls. I know that when I am at heights of emotion, I am so ready to release it and to be true to my feelings and say what I am feeling. When we aren't feeling vulnerable, there is no need to take off the armor that is keeping us safe. All of the deep, self-kept thoughts can stay inside and we can put up a front.