I'm not sure what you're describing is all that much of a problem really. If you switch the word 'objectify' for a word such as 'dehumanise' you get a better sense of what's meant by it and where the issue would lie.
You aren't going to stop yourself from noticing that a sexually attractive person is a sexually attractive person. That's perfectly normal and natural and fine. And you don't need to, as long as you bear in mind the 'person' part. You aren't wolf-whistling anyone or shouting out horrible sexualised things at women in the street or describing any kind of misbehaviour really -- you're just... noticing. That doesn't strike me as objectifying behaviour. Just ordinarily human.
*Shrug*
Based on how attractive I perceive her, I make assumptions about things like her personality and interests.
As for this part, I suspect that most people do something like this subconsciously. I think there's a long-standing association in society between attractiveness and goodness, for example. And with unattractiveness and wickedness. That goes right back in literature.
And you're consciously aware of the tendency in yourself, and consciously aware that it's a bit silly. Being consciously aware of it is the first step towards correcting it.
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aliensalmon (5607)
10 months ago
Thank you for the input, I appreciate it! You make good points and I also agree that being aware of "pre-judgement" is a good step towards improving myself in this matter.
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capuchin (3187)
10 months ago
Eh. I wouldn't be too hard on yourself really. We're bombarded with this stuff. It's like wearing eye-glasses being movie shorthand for 'smart' or, for women, sometimes 'dowdy'.
Or the common association between being pretty and stupid (for both men and women). 'Brains and beauty', like it's an oxymoron.
I think most people go through life without examining this stuff and their own biases to see if it makes any sense, so I think you're one up on most folk just through being thoughtful enough to question it all.
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