PUBERTY

Say “No” to the patterns that objectify women

Vasiliki Dimitrakopoulou

During puberty your body grows up fast, soon to be transformed into that of an adult woman. This can sometimes make you feel uncomfortable. Magazines and television often come up with advice on how to take care of your body and behave accordingly.

You’ve probably noticed that television, magazines and mass media in general present women, but also girls of your age, in a certain specific way, emphasizing on their femininity and sexuality. In music videos, television shows, commercials, electronic games and magazines for girls at your age, the women pose in provocative clothes, in a way that demonstrates their sexuality and are used as ornamental objects that dance or show off. A common subject in the magazines, is advice on how to become sexually desirable to get men’s attention.

This way, the appearance and sexuality become the number 1 objective in a woman’s life, while all other qualities and virtues are put aside. In other words, being beautiful is the same as being “sexy”. Psychologists report that such attitude results in the formation of sexism. Girls of your age are trained by the Mass Media to accept being treated as sexual objects and use their body as an instrument of sexual objectification.

A lot of girls of your age, that are frequently exposed to such patterns, are disappointed about their physical appearance, develop eating disorders, have low self-esteem, depression, school failure, engage in self-injury and have painful plastic surgeries.

This sexual objectification of women has created negative feelings in girls, made them feel even embarrassed about their body, anxious about their appearance and afraid of what someone else might think of them, even feel repulsion for themselves.

The so called “sexualization” of girls of your age, is also connected, with aggressiveness, violence, sexual harassment and abuse from their boyfriends, along with other forms of dangerous behavior.

“I used to be different than I am now, dressed up provocatively, dated several boys, you can’t imagine what my parents went through, I was out of control, didn’t understand a word they were telling me. Eventually, I was disappointed, realized I didn’t really matter to boys, nothing satisfied them, they offended me by telling me I wasn’t sexy enough, that my breasts are not large enough, boys say things like this…….” (Dimitra, 18 years)

Therefore, it is important, you enhance your critical thinking and be well informed, to controvert such sexist stereotypes, have your own personal values, beliefs and attitude, and protect yourself. Try to develop self-protection mechanisms against ‘sexualization” and abuse and always reject verbally abusive behavior. Volunteerism as well as other actions, will help spread the word and help your friends to be informed and protected.

Also remember to get the suitable sexual education for girls of your age from valid institutions and other scientific sources, be a “smart”” consumer and use the internet carefully.

Vassiliki Dimitrakopoulou

Psychologist, Scientific Associate of the Greek Society of Adolescent Medicine