Is it okay to sexualize fictional characters?

Sexualizing fictional characters is a relatively safe way of introducing sexuality and sensuality as an everyday part of life. In the real world for most individuals, sexuality and sexual attraction is just another fact of existence. Sexuality is a daily norm.

uiwomenscenter.wordpress.com - Sexualizing Fictional Characters: Right or Wrong

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By Hailley Smart

Is it wrong to sexualize fictional characters? That is the question we’ll be looking into today, and there is no concrete yes or no answer that we can come to. However, we will look into many of the positive and negative aspects that can occur due to the trend within western civilization of sexualizing imaginary people. To clarify, I will not be discussing characters that are innately designed to be sexual, such as historical or mythological succubi and incubi, but rather characters that have storylines and plots outside of their sensual behaviors (though their storylines may be altered and impacted due to their use of their sexuality). We will be using four prime examples in order to dig into this question; Poison Ivy from the DC comic franchise, Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider video games, Lola Bunny from the Looney Tunes, and Megara from Disney’s Hercules. While each of the examples I am using are females, the same arguments can be made for sexualized male characters such as Jereth from the Labyrinth, Li Shang from Mulan, or DC’s Nightwing. The ways in which sexualizing made up characters can be positive and negative fall into two main groups that we will be discussing: Exposure and Normalization.

Exposure:

Pro. The first way that sexualizing fictional characters can be positive is that it exposes young audiences to influences that have embraced their sexuality in healthy ways. Characters such as Meg can be seen to have accepted the fact that their sexuality is a part of them. This can be seen in the way she woos Hercules but does not allow it to define her. Meg has her own set of goals and desires that are not caused by the way she embraces her sensuality. Yes, her sexuality is a part of her, but it is not all that defines her. It also represents characters that have embraced their sexuality as the form of power that it can be. Poison Ivy is a prime example of this. She has a defined goal that she intends to reach. She has a bigger mission and she merely uses her sexuality as a tool and a form of power. Instead of being sexual simply to get attention, it is a part of her character in the same way many women come to embrace their sexuality as another part of them. Con. However there is a downside to exposure as well. Exposing younger viewers to sexualized characters who fall into a singular mold can narrow ideals of attractiveness to a singular type. While there are exceptions to this (such as Nani from Lilo and Stitch who embraces her wide hips, thick thighs, and rounder belly and still chooses to wear crop tops and shorts) many of the characters that are emphasized are those that fit into one stereotype of beauty and attractiveness. The female characters are tall, and thin, and curvy. The males are broad, and toned, and muscular. Think Lara Croft and Disney’s Gaston. This can often lead viewers to compare themselves and find themselves lacking to the unrealistic ideal. In one study by Brotto, Heiman, & Tolman, it was found that due to this, “Negative effects (e.g., shame) that emerge during adolescence may lead to sexual problems in adulthood”.

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Normalization

Pro. Sexualizing fictional characters is a relatively safe way of introducing sexuality and sensuality as an everyday part of life. In the real world for most individuals, sexuality and sexual attraction is just another fact of existence. Sexuality is a daily norm. By allowing viewers to see characters both male and female embracing their sexuality as just another trait of themselves, it allows them to begin to approach the idea of sexuality being a normal part of life. Poison Ivy is a great example of this. No matter how much others may judge her for her sexuality, it is simply a fact of who she is. It is also relatively rare to see fictional characters shamed within their world for embracing their sexuality. Despite being overtly sexual, Lara Croft is never slut shamed in the original game. Con. While normalizing sexuality is a good thing overall, normalizing the way people react and behave in regard to characters that embrace their sexuality is not. While few characters are shamed for embracing their connection to their sexual side, they are often objectified because of it. This can be seen in the Looney Tunes franchise with Lola Bunny. While she has her own personality and characterization, she is often treated as a prize for Bugs to win. This can also be seen in Meg. While she has her own character arc and can be seen to grow within the movie, she is also used as a pivotal object to change Hercules’s mindset and a damsel in distress to save. Normalizing this type of behavior is very harmful and can actually lead to increased rates of sexual harassment and sexual violence. All in all, there is a wide variety of positives and negatives that arise from the sexualization of fiction characters. It normalizes and exposes viewers to characters that have embraced their sexuality. It is also fairly exclusive in the body types and stereotypes it exposes, as well as normalizing the objectification of those who do embrace their sexuality. So, is it wrong to sexualize fictional characters? Like most things in the media it’s hard to come to a singular answer. There are parts that are wrong and harmful, but there are also parts that can be helpful. Do you agree or strongly disagree? Is there some major point I missed? Let me know what you think in the comment section below.

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uiwomenscenter.wordpress.com - Sexualizing Fictional Characters: Right or Wrong

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