Catering to Male Desires

Most people like to complain about how in today’s society we see less: less clothing on women, and more money in corporate chairman’s wallets. Frankly, society has always male dominated, so it is no surprise to live in a world of heterosexual dominance. Society has been made to focus on the desires men without thinking about the pressure it puts on a woman. In the reading Valenti makes the point that females are made to believe they must act, dress, and talk a certain way in order to impress a male; however, the lengths at which females must go to has turned out to be ridiculous. This idea of dressing and acting slutty to call attention is self deprecating to women everywhere. The idea that women must “put out” puts them in jeopardy of being called a slut; however if a girl is to remain a virgin she is then criticized for not pleasing a man, and ends up being called a lesbian. This double standard runs the risk of ruining young girls’ minds; it causes them to believe that boys are always watching their bodies and actions. Examples of this are everywhere, one just has to look.

For instance, just last week my sister and I helped my younger cousin (she’s about 14) create a Facebook. When it came to selecting a picture for her page my sister and I picked a few we thought she looked nice in; however, we were both startled when out of nowhere she showed us a photo of her in skin tight shorts, and a tank top that left almost nothing to the imagination. What was most alarming to me about this picture, is the fact that it lacks her face; her head is nowhere in the picture! It’s depressing to realize that even at such a young age, my cousin already knows that it’s her body that will get her noticed and recognized. She is already beginning to cater her entire self being to pleasing men and their desires.