Video Source: Jessica Gomez

Masculinity, femininity, and sexualization are portrayed in particular ways when it comes to the advertisement and video game industries.

In advertisements you see specific types of female bodies, as well as a specific type of male bodies. Female bodies are slim, hairless, and sexy, and while the men are also sexy, they are almost always muscular and strong looking. These type of depictions send out certain messages of what it is to be beautiful in our society.

The video game industry caters to men. Although, women are now being portrayed in them more than ever, which is not a lot at all anyway, they are portrayed in a specific way for a specific purpose. Females in video games have certain body types (big bust, small waist), and are dressed in revealing clothing. They are sometimes protagonist (not often), but they mostly fill in the roles of sexual objects or damsel’s in distress. Men are portrayed as masculine by having muscles, being strong and aggressive, and being a hero.

Gender and sex are big topics of discussion within these industries. The way different genders are categorized and portrayed, and bodies (especially the female body) are sexualized because sex sells, specifically to men who want these women, and also women who want to be these women.

Header & Background image source: Carly Garofalo