An Object Lesson for the Object Campaign
by Rosalind Adams

Consider the Object Campaign, launched in the UK as a response to the sexual objectification of women in the media and pop culture. The group attributes this apparently growing trend to violence against women and sexism. Its goals include increased regulation for “lads magazines” and lap dancing establishments. Unfortunately, the Object Campaign is an example of misdirected efforts, of the frustration of coming across a problem that is unwieldy and far-reaching (how do we lift women up in our society?).

The sexualization of females is only wrong when it is against the will of a female. Can you recall an interaction that has turned sexual against your will—perhaps while at work, or talking to an authority figure? Discomfort crawls along your skin, and you’re not exactly sure how to handle the situation, because women are not socialized to be as sexually forward as men. And this often means that women are not always sure how to say they’re uncomfortable.

When I was younger, I could only handle these situations with a tiny giggle, and I still catch women my age doing this. Nowadays, my best move is to come back with a brazen sexual remark that shows I’m not afraid of it. But even still, I am not skilled at communicating my discomfort, at asserting boundaries in what is okay and what is not okay for someone to say to me. THIS is a problem that we need to tackle. And this is where I think the confusion begins to come in. Sex traditionally has been an area that men have found power over women in, because we are not trained to talk about it in the same ways. By extension we somehow seem to blame the sex industry. But maybe we should start thanking them for expanding the conversation.

Beyond these unwanted instances, sexualization is simply a natural part of being human. Sometimes we forget that people are sexual creatures—perhaps because we are so busy regulating what’s appropriate to discuss and share when it comes to sex. But quite honestly, there are times when women (and men) want to be sexualized, when we desire to look attractive to other people. This is why we at iatg are bellists—we believe in an expanded definition of beauty, but it doesn’t mean that we denigrate someone for wanting to look attractive.

The problem with the sex industry is not the sexualization of women—if anything this is their job. Rather, the problem is the degradation and manipulation of women that can be prevalent within this industry. The testimonies of former lap dancers on the Object Campaign’s website reveal this as well, as they talk about high fees from the clubs and mistreatment from the owners.

Unfortunately, sexualizing and degrading something is not the same thing and this is why the Object Campaign misses the mark. This doesn’t mean that the various sex industries are not in need of a major overhaul (because they are), but instead this means that going after these industries is not the way to change how we treat women around the world. What we really need is an expanded conversation about sex—to teach other women how to assert their boundaries regarding it—rather than another way to regulate it and dismiss it.

Find out more about the Object Campaign at Object.org.uk

bellist, iatg, object campaign, objectification, sex, sex industry, sexuality, uk