Women incorporate the values of the male sexual…
““Women incorporate the values of the male sexual objectifiers within themselves. Catharine MacKinnon calls this being "thingified" in the head (MacKinnon, 1989). They learn to treat their own bodies as objects separate from themselves. Bartky explains how this works: the wolf whistle sexually objectifies a woman from without with the result that, ''"The body which only a moment before I inhabited with such ease now floods my consciousness. I have been made into an object'' (Bartky, 1990, p. 27). She explains that it is not sufficient for a man simply to look at the woman secretly, he must make her aware of his looking with the whistle. She must, "be made to know that I am a 'nice piece of ass': I must be made to see myself as they see me'' (p. 27). The effect of such male policing behaviour is that, "Subject to the evaluating eye of the male connoisseur, women learn to evaluate themselves first and best'" (Bartky, 1990, p. 28). Women thus become alienated from their own bodies.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote describes how women internalize male objectification, leading them to view their bodies as external objects, causing alienation and self‑evaluation through a male gaze.
In simple terms: Women internalize objectification, alienating from their bodies.
Key Takeaway
Objectification reshapes self‑perception.
Themes
gender oppression
objectification
self‑alienation
male gaze
feminist theory
Mood
frustration
disillusionment
anger
Type
analytical
theoretical
critical
When to use this quote
- walking down a street
- receiving unwanted attention
- media representation
- workplace interactions
- public spaces
Key Concepts
body as object
internalized sexism
subjectivity
social conditioning
Practical Applications
- critical gender studies
- activism against harassment
Questions to Reflect On
- How does internalized objectification affect women's mental health?
- What strategies can disrupt the male gaze?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that agency can resist objectification, but pervasive cultural cues often limit such resistance.