How often are males valued only from his sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristicsand made into a thing for another’s sexual use in the media on television, music videos, music lyrics, magazines, movies, video games and the Internet?

On television, men are not valued only for the sexual appeal to the exclusion of other characteristics. They’re usually a doctor, a lawyer, a detective, a CEO, a plumber. Men in music videos usually write the music and are doing something besides looking good. Men usually write music lyrics and are not sexually objectified in them. Men are not sexual objects to the exclusion of other characteristics in magazines. They are doing something and not just posing. This is not the same as gay porn or the occasional women’s entertainment magazine of course. The hottest guys are in the gay men’s magazines anyway. In movies, video games and the internet,women are sexually objectified not men. There aren’t many websites dedicated to the sexual appeal of men. Porn was not part of the study.

The provocative research included a study of published research on the content and effects of virtually every form of media, including television, music videos, music lyrics, magazines, movies, video games and the Internet. Researchers also examined recent advertising campaigns and merchandising of products aimed toward girls.

Sexualization was defined by the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls as occurring when a person’s value comes only from her/his sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics, and when a person is sexually objectified, e.g., made into a thing for another’s sexual use.

Then later they lay out the negative effects:

• Cognitive and Emotional Consequences: Sexualization and objectification undermine a person’s confidence in and comfort with her own body, leading to emotional and self-image problems, such as shame and anxiety.
• Mental and Physical Health: Research links sexualization with three of the most common mental health problems diagnosed in girls and women—eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression or depressed mood.
• Sexual Development: Research suggests that the sexualization of girls has negative consequences on girls’ ability to develop a healthy sexual self-image.

“Patriarchal capitalism killed my dog, shaved Britney’s head, and never puts the fucking mayonnaise back in the fridge after it makes its BLTs.

God, I hate that.”

Sailorman:

“What are you having trouble being civil about?”

In addition, something about your tone does seem a bit… mocking at times. If that’s not what you intend, then perhaps that’s something you should work on.

What are you having trouble being civil about? If your main contention is that capitalism is USED to support patriarchy, well, OK. But of course that doesn’t mean capitalism is inherently patriarchal (which you seem to be arguing) as it could just as well be used to support something else.

Patriarchal people in a capitalist society will practice patriarchal capitalism. Patriarchal people in a socialist society will practice patriarchal socialism.
And so on.

So I agree it’s a problem.
But I also think that some of the above posters are making an obvious point: because patriarchy does exist in the U.S., then plain old ordinary capitalism drives folks to play into that patriarchy.

I know I am ignorant, but I don’t see the value in having a concept like patriarchy and finding it at fault unless there is an operational, measurable, testable definition behind it. Otherwise it just seems like a vague bogeyman that distracts from concepts that are operationally understood.

Similarly, I think girl gone wild videos are pretty horrible things, but I believe I understand that for some young feminist women, similar behavior may be part of reclaiming their rights. I am trying to understand when a woman exposing herself is part of a sexist display and when it may be part of a feminist behavior.

I think it should be easy for you to be civil, because no one here is attacking you personally, people here are trying, in good faith, to continue the discussion you started. I would think you would be flattered (in a good way) that people think your ideas merit their time and participation in discussing (I know I would be), and that you have an opportunity here to help refine your own understanding of your ideas as well as to help enlighten others. All in all, that seems to be a win-win (though I admit I may be viewing this in a patriarchal context.)

Simply put, patriarchy means male dominance and the social systems that uphold male dominance. It is my contention that capitalism is one of the social systems that upholds patriarchy.

But her not wearing underwear? Definitely 3rd wave feminism.

Offtopic: the number “3″ in this font is just gorgeous.

It confuses me that Britney is a apparently third-wave sex positive feminist now. Is it really possible that she is a third wave sex positive grrl gone wild?

In a world where we eliminated this patriarchal capitalism, what would capitalism look like?

God, I hate that.

American Psychological Association on the negative effects of media sexualization on women and girls.

Hence capitalism and patriarchal.

Sexualization was defined by the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls as occurring when a person’s value comes only from her/his sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics, and when a person is sexually objectified, e.g., made into a thing for another’s sexual use.

Patriarchy includes the objectification of females for male sexual use and when the value of female comes only from her/his sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics. You could argue some ads sexualize males for female use but there are many more representations of females as sexual objects than male. The study included the content and effects of

virtually every form of media, including television, music videos, music lyrics, magazines, movies, video games and the Internet.

and females are sexually objectified at a much greater frequency on television, in music videos, music lyrics, magazines, movies, video games and the internet.

(*) I’m not a communist thank you, I think capitalism has many many benefits.