Are women sexualising themselves?

From less to more to less and why

Originally, the need to cover ourselves is believed to have stemmed from migration out of Africa. This migration needed the covering of our genitals in order to stay warm due to colder climates, between 200,000 years ago to 170,000 years ag0. Makes sense. But throughout the time of migration and leadership across the world, it slowly became a societally based norm for men to control what women wore and how they were seen due to their power at the time. This was prevalent after 200BC when women could no longer wear the toga in ancient Rome just like the men did. Women were told that they had to change from a toga to a floor length modest gown called a 'stoga', this was just the catalyst for the power women lost over their clothes and the equality they had with men. 

Women's fashion was then dictated by men until early 1900's when women could start wearing trousers. However, between this time, women across the world found restrictions faced upon them regarding how they appear. In China, 900AD the bounding of feet began because the Emperor found small feet attractive, in France, 1550 women's thick waists were banned and they were forced to wear corsets, whilst in the middle east in the 1600's women were made to wear Hijabs as a legal obligation if they were rich, regarding status and female piety. These are just a few examples of the domino effect of the control over women's bodies and how it has been portrayed globally, but never as a result of female autonomy but male supremacy at the time. 

Sexualisation, is it out fault?

Telling a woman that her body being sexualised is her fault is the same as telling a child that it's their fault that paedophiles exist. A bit extreme, but not wrong. Why? Because it is the mere existence and nature of self that is being blamed for other people's behaviours and assumptions. You have boobs that are slightly seen, you over-sexualise yourself, you have a big bum and wear something fitting, you're showing off. But how do we rid of these hyper-sexualisations of the female anatomy? We're so surprised when we see boobs on a screen or in real life, yet men's naked bodies are just anatomy to us. Nothing too surprising. 

Let's discuss bikinis... oh how dare we women show so much skin. The introduction of the bikini was a part of the rationing within the war and not having enough materials to supply full swimming costumes. So, the bikini was introduced. This still had its limitations as the belly button was not allowed to be on show, however, if you really want to blame anyone for the lessened clothing, I'd maybe blame the people who started the wars...

Nonetheless, it was in 1890 that women in the UK were forced to cover themselves head to toe, even having table legs covered due to their representation of female legs. Trousers were only introduced as a form of leisurely activity but would sometimes be covered by a skirt anyway. Although trousers called the bloomers was introduced at this time, they gradually faded out and skirts remained the ideal. Trousers after this point were only ever seen through the war for women who took over the male duties, which only started to become a fashion statement in the mid 20th century, between 1960 and 1970. This was also when the rebellious mini skirt was introduced, as an act of feminism, the mini skirt was introduced as a symbol of sexual revolution, but what does that actually mean?

Feminism and the sexual revolution

The sexual revolution really started to bloom off the back of the contraceptive pill being introduced, women now had some form of autonomy over their bodies and sexual exploration was now a part of this. In this, women started to become more open about sex and how they felt about it. Openly admitting to enjoying it and now becoming more sexually liberated. This allowed for women to make more decisions on what they did with their body and who they did it with and with the abortion law introduction in the mid 70's, women never felt more sure to explore themselves sexually. The purpose of the trouser and mini skirt in this time was the representation of the feminine movement, where women were moving away from their domestic roles and becoming more equal to men. 

Can a woman sexualise herself?

The argument is real and the debate is here. We live in the 21st century, in a society with its rapid growth in technology and social media. But even though the times are changing, women are shamed for living within their bodies. From my own opinion and experience, I can state that I do not feel comfortable in my skin as a woman. I either feel too covered up or too on show. The "old-fashioned" men make comments about the tops I like, the dresses I've worn and the skin I've shown. But what woman ever makes a comment on a mans skin? Could we as women start the sexualisation of the male body and limit the ability for them to simply take off their shirts because it's "inappropriate"?. Stupid, right?

Women can't be something that doesn't already exist. To sexualise themselves, there has to already be a sexualisation of the female anatomy. We blame women for dressing inappropriate, but we have for so long blamed women for having their bodies and existing in it, that women are simply no longer giving into old ideologies that once helped men keep their women at bay or so they thought. For a woman to dress in certain clothes, does not dictate her actions but what we allow in society is the pre-conceived, out-dated ideas that women's bodies belong to men and only men. My boobs, bum, body, only belongs to me. But society tells me that it belongs to anyone I decide to be intimate with. Yet, my man's body can be seen by many, without judgement or care from my end or anyone else. 

Is it really a woman's issue?

We treat women as though it is their fault that men have the hungry desire for what is their bodies. Women are shamed and ridiculed for simply existing in such a thing. The real issue with "too much skin" always comes back to the source of men. If a man doesn't want her woman to wear "revealing" clothes, it's not because there's something wrong with her body, but it's merely that he knows how men think. Women are judged for showing "too much" not because their bodies are sinful, but because of the way that men look at women's bodies. This has therefore, transpired in women judging other women for simply owning a body also. We see it all over the internet, the hate towards only fans models, "thirst traps" and women who simply wear less. But why be mad at the player of the game? The game was invented by men and they really enjoy playing it. Men are the reason that these women who make a living off their bodies can, so instead of shaming women for being smart enough to make easy money, start having conversations with the men who are funding it. Women deserve to feel the liberation of the wind on our skin when it's warm, as much as men do. The short skirts or the small tops emulate the similar exposure as a male in just shorts. The control over a woman's body was merely to satisfy the insecurities of other men and their unwillingness to normalise the female anatomy. But now is the time to push the agenda that, our body is not your problem. The problem in today's society is that women are still perceived as unsexual creatures and men as sexual creatures. But it takes two to tango. Our literal existence is merely from our sexuality alone, so let's quit acting like women don't have sex and focus on the more important things in life.