I came across this article through GOOD magazine online, and thought you all might be interested. It is interesting to see what happens when science takes on matters of feminism--we have talked about this before with studies of genetics and procreation (discourse). The science here seems like a bit of a stretch. Testing mental and physical awareness in various states of undress...
http://www.good.is/post/the-upside-of-sexual-objectification/?utm_content=headline&utm_medium=hp_carousel&utm_source=slide_4
In my opinion, this is presenting old ideas in a new, "scientific" way. No matter how it is supported, I have a hard time believing that I am more moral if I am an object of sexual attention. Still, this is area of sexuality/gender that science is exploring, so I thought I'd throw it out there.
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ReplyDeleteRight... I think I agree with you Peyton that unfortunately in order to arrive at the conclusion the authors here are asking for, then you must first acknowledge the trend that is the objectification of women in relation to less agency.
ReplyDeleteThe mind-body divide points to the underpinnings of the human moral universe. The more agency a person has, the more we hold them responsible when they hurt others. And the more they're capable of feeling, the more we feel responsible for protecting them from harm. The researchers claim, then, that objectified people—who can't do much, but can feel deeply—"may have more moral status, not less." They list this as one of the potential "positive aspects" of objectification, in that it "may lead others to protect this person from additional pain."
I also took issue with this paragraph. Though I understand the argument being made and can see its validity, I think that it relies too heavily on the initial assumed connotations of a woman's body with less agency. Some relate these sort of 'primal' instincts of feeling etc. to be characteristics of less developed human beings. So we still have the problem of a woman who is unable to think through her feelings and senses. Some may say this is a good things, other may call it a sign of less intelligence.