I strongly agree that comics showing women as sexual objects, wearing overtly sexual and revealing outfits give adolescents the illusion of a woman. Women in general are demeaned and made to appear as eye candy for the rest of the world rather than what they really are which is intelligent, equal beings, the counter part of a man, no less, no more. It is highly irresponsible of the media and of comic book creators to allow these images to be displayed. They are, or should be, fully aware of the massive influence they hold over the general public- especially teenagers who are their main target and their main customers. Obviously teenage boys are more prone to buying comics that have half naked women parading about the covers, but what perhaps the creators do not realise is the type of ideas and the state of mind they give these boys.
Televisions, novels, magazines, newspapers, radio, internet… comic books. These are all forms of media that influence the public and the way they think and there is no denying this. It is the responsibility of these outlets of information to make sure they provide the people with the appropriate, hopefully correct, information and meaningful, right ideas. Especially if they cater mostly to teenagers and children, the most easily persuaded and influenced part of society. Comic books are bought mostly by collectors and teens. If these comic books contain nothing more than women with voluminous breasts and shapely figures that are revealed in skimpy outfits, fighting crime or being damsel’s distresses, then what sort of images are being fed to the bendable minds of the youth? The girls will become insecure of themselves as they compare their own imperfect bodies with those of the goddesses that adorn the pages while the boys lust after these bombshells and begin to think that these are the only type of real women in the world. They also look down upon women. They think of them as the part of the society that are meant for the entertainment and pleasure of men and as the figures that are just there to be the ‘victims’. Women cannot stand up for themselves, and even if they can, they can’t seem to do it without revealing some skin. Clearly, this does not reflect real life or the people in it, so why lead young minds astray and cause them to go through the difficulties of having to find out the truth over time after years of confusion, pain and insecurity?
We cannot forget of course, that comic books were originally intended to escape reality and allow us to delve into worlds unlike our own. However, this is not an excuse to create an illusion of the people of the world. No woman is so perfectly created so as to have large breasts, a rounded butt, perfect hips, flowing locks, a stunning face; no wrinkles, blemishes or imperfections. If this is the ideal woman, then every teenage girl will grow up worrying that there is something wrong with her and that she is ugly and fat. This is probably one of the main contributors to the plastic surgery craze that the world seems to be in. Everyone wants to have themselves changed to look more beautiful, thinner and sexier. It is the insecurity of women and the expectation of men that has lead to this and comic books with it’s almost-nude women is just one of the many influences that have lead to this state of mind. Creators should be more aware of the affect they have and try to create heroes that perhaps are closer to reality, real heroes. Ones that people can actually aspire to be.
-shai pie
Televisions, novels, magazines, newspapers, radio, internet… comic books. These are all forms of media that influence the public and the way they think and there is no denying this. It is the responsibility of these outlets of information to make sure they provide the people with the appropriate, hopefully correct, information and meaningful, right ideas. Especially if they cater mostly to teenagers and children, the most easily persuaded and influenced part of society. Comic books are bought mostly by collectors and teens. If these comic books contain nothing more than women with voluminous breasts and shapely figures that are revealed in skimpy outfits, fighting crime or being damsel’s distresses, then what sort of images are being fed to the bendable minds of the youth? The girls will become insecure of themselves as they compare their own imperfect bodies with those of the goddesses that adorn the pages while the boys lust after these bombshells and begin to think that these are the only type of real women in the world. They also look down upon women. They think of them as the part of the society that are meant for the entertainment and pleasure of men and as the figures that are just there to be the ‘victims’. Women cannot stand up for themselves, and even if they can, they can’t seem to do it without revealing some skin. Clearly, this does not reflect real life or the people in it, so why lead young minds astray and cause them to go through the difficulties of having to find out the truth over time after years of confusion, pain and insecurity?
We cannot forget of course, that comic books were originally intended to escape reality and allow us to delve into worlds unlike our own. However, this is not an excuse to create an illusion of the people of the world. No woman is so perfectly created so as to have large breasts, a rounded butt, perfect hips, flowing locks, a stunning face; no wrinkles, blemishes or imperfections. If this is the ideal woman, then every teenage girl will grow up worrying that there is something wrong with her and that she is ugly and fat. This is probably one of the main contributors to the plastic surgery craze that the world seems to be in. Everyone wants to have themselves changed to look more beautiful, thinner and sexier. It is the insecurity of women and the expectation of men that has lead to this and comic books with it’s almost-nude women is just one of the many influences that have lead to this state of mind. Creators should be more aware of the affect they have and try to create heroes that perhaps are closer to reality, real heroes. Ones that people can actually aspire to be.
-shai pie
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