Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Where do I begin???

I was out for a walk with the kids at the local conservation area, and I saw a car parked with this bumper sticker. It is wrong on so many levels I'm not sure where to begin...


In case you cannot read it, it says "my other ride is a hooker"

After the walk, I mentioned the bumper sticker to my brother's friend, who responded something along the lines of both are products and services. I can understand how sex work is a service, but I do not like how this bumper sticker takes that and turns women into products. Vehicles are often referred to as she, given women's names, and used as a status symbol for men, much like an attractive girlfriend.

I'm not going to really go into detail about this here, but I feel like I should mention that I am not opposed to sex work in theory as I believe there could be a place for it if it is what someone wants to do, however, I do not see how it can be empowering to be viewed in the same way as a car. This type of product exists because we live in a culture where women are constantly being objectified and judged for their willingness to please men, visually and physically.

I do not find this sticker humorous at all, I find it very offensive... I also think the fact that this type of message can be attached to a car is evidence of just how accepted it has become to objectify women. It reminds me of the decals and mudflaps that show the outline of a nude woman with cartoon-like curves.

I have yet to see a man objectified in this way on a vehicle.

3 comments:

  1. perhaps he is a tow truck driver.

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  2. I agree that it is offensive and proof that sexism and objectification is widely accepted.
    http://queersunited.blogspot.com

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  3. Absolutely! As a freelancer, I can fully attest to the fact that just because you provide a service for someone, that doesn't mean that they own you or that you're a possession.

    Though I must say that even in a field like design, many clients carry this misconception.

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