Jessica Valenti’s “Sex Object” is a memoir detailing the author’s personal experiences with sexual objectification. Valenti recounts her experiences of being treated as an object to be consumed by others rather than a person with her own identity and needs. Through the novel, Valenti examines the societal norms and expectations women have to adhere to and how these can be oppressive and detrimental to their self-confidence and sense of agency.
The novel is divided into thirty-one chapters, each exploring a different aspect of sexual objectification. In the introduction, Valenti sets the context for the book, describing the media’s obsession with female bodies and sexualizing women in order to boost sales. She goes on to explore the way that objectification of women is embedded in every area of life, from the choice of words used to describe women in the workplace to the types of clothing they are encouraged to wear.
In the following chapters, Valenti looks in detail at the ways in which objectification can affect a woman’s self-esteem. She discusses the way that objectification can cause women to doubt their worth and be self-critical in order to conform to society’s beauty standards. She also explores how objectification has impacted her relationships with family and friends, and how she has had to adjust her expectations of friends and lovers in order to protect herself.
Valenti investigates the different ways in which objectification can be challenged and deconstructed, proposing solutions to change the current cultural norms that are oppressive to women. She looks at the power of female solidarity, exploring the way that building a supportive sisterhood can lead to more positive experiences for all women.
In addition to discussing her own experiences, Valenti examines the broader societal implications of objectification, looking at how the media perpetuates its prevalence and how this impacts both individuals and the entire culture. She looks at the differences in how men and women are treated, and the implicit and explicit messages that perpetuate gendered inequality.
Finally, Valenti concludes the book on an uplifting and hopeful note, offering ideas for improving our culture that make it less susceptible to objectification. She issues a call to arms for women to stand up and reclaim their power, to fight back against the disparate power structures in society, and to create a more positive and supportive environment for all genders.
“Sex Object” is a powerful and necessary statement about the ways in which women are treated and the importance of having agency over one’s own body and life. Writing from a place of personal experience and critical analysis, Valenti provides a passionate and articulate exploration of the impacts of objectification and what can be done to combat its prevalence. Through her writing, Valenti shows us the urgent need to create a culture that is supportive and affirming of all genders and to combat the oppression that women and other marginalized individuals face.
