Are you objectifying people without realizing it?
objectification
[ uhb-jek-tuh-fi-key-shuhn]
Noun: the act or an instance of treating a person as an object or thing.https://www.dictionary.com/browse/objectificationCopy
Porn fuels objectification
Porn often perpetuates objectification of performers by depicting them as sexual objects to be used rather than complex human beings deserving of respect.
Research regularly shows that frequent porn consumers are more likely to sexually objectify and dehumanize others.Mikorski, R., & Szymanski, D. M. (2017). Masculine norms, peer group, pornography, Facebook, and men’s sexual objectification of women. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 18(4), 257–267. https://doi.org/10.1037/men0000058Copy Skorska, M.N., Hodson, M.N., & Hoffarth, M.N. (2018). Experimental effects of degrading versus erotic pornography exposure in men on reactions toward women (objectification, sexism, discrimination). The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 27, 261 - 276.Copy Zhou, Y., Liu, T., Yan, Y., & Paul, B. (2021). Pornography use, two forms of dehumanization, and sexual aggression: Attitudes vs. behaviors. J.Sex Marital Ther., 47(6), 571-590. doi:10.1080/0092623X.2021.1923598Copy
People can fuel objectification. Objectification doesn’t just happen in porn—it can happen on social media and in person, too.
Hyper-focusing on other people’s bodies, scrutinizing or sexualizing people based on their clothing, or otherwise reducing people to their physical appearance is always objectification.
Examples of problematic comments objectifying real people on Fight the New Drug’s social media:
Objectification is demeaning, dismissive, and dehumanizing.
No one deserves to be objectified—not for any reason, or under any circumstance, ever.
If you notice yourself objectifying someone, consider asking yourself these questions:
- Why am I focusing solely on this person’s physical appearance?
- Is it this person’s responsibility to control my objectifying thoughts?
- How can I better take responsibility for my own thoughts and actions toward this person, and others in the future?
Real connection starts with seeing others as whole people with unique thoughts, feelings, dreams, struggles, and so much more.
Let’s be the kind of people who treat people like people, and not like objects.
Your Support Matters Now More Than Ever
Most kids today are exposed to porn by the age of 12. By the time they’re teenagers, 75% of boys and 70% of girls have already viewed itRobb, M.B., & Mann, S. (2023). Teens and pornography. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense.Copy —often before they’ve had a single healthy conversation about it.
Even more concerning: over half of boys and nearly 40% of girls believe porn is a realistic depiction of sexMartellozzo, E., Monaghan, A., Adler, J. R., Davidson, J., Leyva, R., & Horvath, M. A. H. (2016). “I wasn’t sure it was normal to watch it”: A quantitative and qualitative examination of the impact of online pornography on the values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of children and young people. Middlesex University, NSPCC, & Office of the Children’s Commissioner.Copy . And among teens who have seen porn, more than 79% of teens use it to learn how to have sexRobb, M.B., & Mann, S. (2023). Teens and pornography. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense.Copy . That means millions of young people are getting sex ed from violent, degrading content, which becomes their baseline understanding of intimacy. Out of the most popular porn, 33%-88% of videos contain physical aggression and nonconsensual violence-related themesFritz, N., Malic, V., Paul, B., & Zhou, Y. (2020). A descriptive analysis of the types, targets, and relative frequency of aggression in mainstream pornography. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(8), 3041-3053. doi:10.1007/s10508-020-01773-0Copy Bridges et al., 2010, “Aggression and Sexual Behavior in Best-Selling Pornography Videos: A Content Analysis,” Violence Against Women.Copy .
From increasing rates of loneliness, depression, and self-doubt, to distorted views of sex, reduced relationship satisfaction, and riskier sexual behavior among teens, porn is impacting individuals, relationships, and society worldwideFight the New Drug. (2024, May). Get the Facts (Series of web articles). Fight the New Drug.Copy .
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