How come men don't complain about being objectified in the media and society in general?

I've read several articles about men objecting to being objectified in the media. They clearly are as objectified as women. The media pushed image is just as unrealistic as that for females. Men are becoming sex objects in commercials, movies, tv shoes, etc. As the commercial industry has come to realize that women enjoy looking at good looking men, they've taken off on the same route that is used for women in the media.

A prime example: Every see the commercials for "Bod"? Its for a colone (in what looks like a Windex bottle for some reason). In any case, the premise of the commercial is to show half naked men performing strenuous exercise-- each with an over the top perfect body and to the background chant of "I want you bod". If that's not objectifying men, then I don't know what is.

This trend is (relatively) new but there are still many articles of men and women speaking out against it. You just have to look in the right places. Why don't they have rallies or protests? Social pressure. Socially men are discouraged from making the same complaints that women make. Its not right, but men typically are supposed to be "manly" and "unconcerned" about something like this. Its a complete crock of s*it, of course. This effects men just as much as women, but I think they're more reluctant to speak out because of how they fear other men will view them.

There are just some things that women have more social freedom to do, sad to say.

Hi Lioness, I tried to find "objectified" and "objectification" in the dictionary and no joy. Well, I'm not exactly sure I understand your queston, but think I might have an idea. Anyway, have you ever heard of the "bell curve"? It's a curve that is shaped like a bell and does a good job of representing statistics. As for beauty, at one end of the curve we have the least attractive and at the other end the most. The same would be true for income ... poorest on one side and richest on the other. In the middle of the bell we have all the average folks. I think what you're saying is true, but just simply a fact of life. We have the full spectrum for both genders. As for why guys don't protest ... I guess they realize that it's just the way things are and protests are unlikely to change anything. Hope this helps!

Well I wasn;t really complaining, I mean I know some women are materialistic, but I know that many aren't and I understand that she doesn;t want the guy to be a bum nor would I want to myself of course. The questions and answers I brought up were not , because of being upset personally, but just pondering about such things that some other women complain about and thinking of it in another sense. I think many women don't feel that way or that they are objectified as well as many guys realize they should have a decent occupation and they should want that out of themselves anyways.

I brought that up to just counter attack such arguments by some women, since men love sex and being desired, which perhaps would like more of, which is the very thing some women complain about and just saying how men would like that more, but don't complain about that and would love to be lusted more for their body than their mind or money or whatever, since many guys, esepcially when young don't really want relationships or serious ones and just want a fun time for the most part.

I agree with John R too as he made a good point. Oh, ok, I was just making sure, lol.

I would not disagree with you at all. I would only add that we are all objectified by the media and society. All of us women, men and children are open to objectification if there is a buck to be made by it. I will grant you that women probably are more often objectified, because there is more money to be made by their objectification. But David Beckham in his Armani underwear is just an example of men being put in the same sales bin. I think the sad message is that all of us are viewed by the powers that be as either someone to consume or something to be consumed.

Level 6 Lioness, You site an interesting question. The objectification of men is kept silent. It is an unfair practice but as you clearly state very real.

I falls to the mystery of any catch 22. Men must not appear as weak complaining about unfairness, however true, any rebellion would be considered a sign of weakness and the inability to reach the status/power position that is such a unmerited measuring stick.

Ideally, all men and women should be never be measured or even honored but rather valued for simple self identity. Identity of self-awareness and the courage to be merely who they are, with the drive to find more of the self. Then, with that awareness, offering it for the goodness of all.

I think with men it is not as severe an issue. Men are objectified to a degree as you describe, but we are not constantly being inundated by ads, commercial, and other media presentations as being either wealthy or not worth crap. Women on the other hand suffer to a much greater extent because they are given the message...constantly...that anything less than this ideal figure and face is considered to be of no value. A perfect example was a recent tabloid headline I saw where it talked about some starlette who was "fat" and they showed pictures of her in a bathing suit...well, she was a little chunky, but by no means was she fat, nor was she any less attractive, but the media presentation was that she was some kind of sea cow-looking thing. It was ridiculous.

So, the reason men don't complain or protest is because it really isn't that big of a deal for us right now. Not to say it couldn't get worse in time as the middle class continues to vanish and we are left with only the poor and the wealthy...but still...

According to society, men cannot be victims of any type of gender discrimination because, according to the dumb-asses, we are the discriminators and women are the discriminated. What is the point of putting up rallies and forums if it is going to be shown as a "Chauvinist's rally" by females who feel that men are not victims and gets special treatment.

I guess I feel like a guy who tries to have a voice will be shunned by the public, especially by other guys believe it or not. It's worthless to speak on any of the issues because we won't be believed, we won't be taken seriously, and we will be looked upon as female-oppressive scum. Almost the same reaction as feminist get except for the part about being believed and being taken seriously. Many of them are looked upon as male-oppressive scum ;)

Most men have a more efficient way of behaving towards "objectification": indifference. In such case, self opinion matters more than whatever a stranger may perceive, I think.

good question. and, no, it's not just "financial status/power position", it's also physical attributes. just look at mtv or even disney(just look at all of hannah montanna's crushes). men ARE being objectified. and i, for one, am always complaining about it.

and actually, i think more women are closer to possessing the attributed they are always being portrayed to have. i don't know, but to me it seems like more often than not, average women are just as attractive as the ones on t.v. with guys that is not the case. very few guys actually match up to the guys in the media.

The short answer is that men just don't care about inconsequential stuff like that.