The three photos of a turkey with a bikini top tan line, an angry momma pig with her babies nursing, and an image that shows a big with heels and booty shorts with the background “best butts in Georgia” shows us a complex connection between the objectification and sexualization of both women and animals. These images show us societal attitudes toward bodies whether they belong to humans or animals and reveal a disturbing imagine framing these bodies within contexts that highlights our overall problem within the women community. Objectification is when physical properties sometimes disregard someone real purpose and value. The photo of the turkey wearing a bikini top show that the animal is a thing created for visual appearance and entertainment. Like the photo of the pig nursing her babies shows her stressing her reproductive system and also how she supports the babies by nurturing them. These show common societal tendencies to perceive women and animals mostly by physicality more than to appreciate them for what they do.
Sexualization also connects to these issues – the image of a big women / pig wearing shorts and heels with the messaging that point out her body, shows how societal norms often point of obvious appearances. These images proves that women are much like the animals that are frequently valued for their bodies rather than their intellect or individuality. The “consumer” is those who are creating these views through engagement with such images. Women and animals turn into the ” consumed” objects of a society that frequently values them based on their looks. In the text it says,” Animals are assumed to want it like women. One can consume either a pig or a woman. One can exploit and destroy a calf or a woman.” (Kemmerer 2006) This shows a wider societal issue where societal norms dictate behaviors and values – the imagery shown in the three photos is an impressive view on the objectification and sexualization shown in contemporary society. Both women and animals are subjected to views that highlight their appearance over substance. Point out these behaviors is important because it gives women a more respectful and nuanced understanding of bodies.
The photo of the young lady with fork and knife in front of a large piece of raw meat can be an explain of Adams argument that the consumption of meat is linked to patriarchal structures and the subjugation of women. The image means more than a simple meal; it becomes a symbolic view of the complex power dynamics. The raw meat symbolizes the objectification and commodification of the female body. Adams describes how the meat industry consistently de-animalizes creatures which reduces them to simple products without consciousness. In the text is says, “Women are animalized and animals are sexualized and feminized. 7. Anthropornography naturalizes sexual trafficking in and use of women.” (page 13) This is important because it shows the treatment that women and animals get – this relationship is important to understand because the meat industry turn them into nothing more than commodities, stripping them of their consciousness and individuality.
Adams, Carol J. 2010. The Sexual Politics of Meat: A Feminist-Vegetarian
Critical Theory. London and New York: Continuum.
Kemmerer, L. (2006). The pornography of meat by Carol Adams. Philosophy Now: a magazine of ideas. https://philosophynow.org/issues/56/The_Pornography_of_Meat_by_Carol_Adams