According to the Holy Scriptures:

“The Almighty created the man as a keeper of the nature then out of the Man’s ribs, He created the woman for the man to have a servant.” (Genesis 2:22-24)

But nowadays, some of men depict women as a sexual object or only for their own pleasure. Aside from traditions, sex videos, pornography, prostitution and the way of their clothing are the factors on why women are still below men. Because of these factors, a man depicts a woman as a sexual object and just for pleasure.

Over the centuries, women have battled discrimination and inequality when it comes to rights but in today’s society, they’ve become the targets of objectification. Going farther as being called “damaged goods” and other labels with negative connotations to being viewed as an object to satisfy those male sexual desires for the most part, it’s no secret that women are victims of objectification. Materialism is a different thing but it’s somehow related to the issue that women are battling today. With the prevalence of objectification of women, it’s no surprise that the attitude of materialism is following right behind its lead. This only proves that in today’s society, objects—especially money, are treated far better and as seen more important than women.

According to National Organization for Men Against Sexism (NOMAS):

“Objectification is the depiction of women in ways and situations which suggests that women are objects to be looked at, ogled at, touched or used; as if they’re anonymous things or raw materials that you could purchase, perhaps take; and once tired of, discarded, to be replaced by a newer or younger edition—certainly not treated as human beings with equal rights and needs.”

The statement given by the NOMAS only proves that objectification is a serious matter and is an issue that shouldn’t be ignored.

An erotic kind of clothing shall see by a man as a work of art and not for sexual satisfaction. Because nowadays a clothing is not just a clothing or one of the fundamental necessities for a human to live, it’s an expression of a person’s mood but not a person’s personality.

It is not the revealing clothing that makes a man objectify the body of a woman, it’s himself. His weakling personality to endure lust and other immorality brings himself to objectification. Inorder to surpass this kind of hardships of the Stage, a man shall wear a revealing clothing too—yes, a revealing clothing that braggs his hustle, loyalty and respect among women and among creatures that have to earn it.

In wrestling, a man puts his straps down in order to move freely and beat his opponent with ease. While in the real world, a man also has to put the straps of his earthly desire in order for his hustle, loyalty and respect to move freely into his body to control himself and beat his earthly desire. Always remember that the body is the temple of God, we have to respect as it’s His home (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Although objectification applies to all genders, women are more valued for their appearance—making them, most often, the targets of objectification. This most often results to mistreatment of women when they are used (for sexual gratifications) rather than respected and treated with dignity—simply dehumanization. It’s no different when a woman walks down the street—a man decides to talk to her not because she seemed like she had a nice personality but it’s because of how she dressed and her sex appeal. Another example of objectification among women is how they’re depicted in most men’s magazines and even fashion magazines. If you look thoroughly a magazine and stumbled upon the advertisements, there are huge and disturbing differences with how a man and a woman advertises a clothing brand. Moreover, these advertisements show that women’s breasts and butts are used as a certain company’s marketing strategy to sell.

Wrapping up objectification, what exactly is materialism and how is it related to this issue among women?

Materialism takes a lot of definitions. One being that, for philosophy, it’s a form of philosophical monism that adheres all things are results of material interactions. Another definition for it is that it takes the form of an attitude wherein one is taught that physical well-being and worldly possessions are far more important than spiritual values. In other words, it is having an intense desire for money, objects, possessions, etc. rather than spiritual or ethical values. In the modern society, people—especially children, are falsely taught that their success and happiness in life depends on how much stuff they possess. This kills the concept of “earning” and is replaced by “getting what you want without working for it.”

Most people mistaken materialism as an affliction that only affects those in the higher class of the society but studies have shown that those in the lower class can be likely influenced by this (materialism). According to George Monbiot from The Guardian:

“Allowing ourselves to believe that having more money and more stuff enhances our well-being is a terrible mistake we’re making. It is a belief that not only affects those poor deluded people but also every member of almost every government. Worldly ambition, material aspiration, perpetual growth: these are a formula for mass unhappiness.”

How women are objectified with the way they are depicted in magazines, movies and even in music and how objects are perceived as “treasured possessions” tells how the modern society thinks of humans, in general. With the society continuously promoting such issues, it is considered sad to know that objectifying women and this materialistic attitude may persist among those included in our society. So, what is it with possessions and materials that made society obsessed with them? Why are women portrayed as objects whereas objects are given more importance than women?