Ferris Museum of Sexist Objects
Starr 314,
901 S. State Street
Big Rapids, MI 49307
(231) 591-5846
[email protected]
The objects in this category capture the pressures put on women to attain or maintain a particular beauty ideal. Once women and girls accept the premise that "figure flaws" exist, internalized pressures can result in eating disorders, skin lightening, plastic surgery, and corsetting. Overt body-shaming can also take place in more public forums.
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The Perfect BodyAttaining the Beauty Ideal: manipulated images present a beauty ideal that is impossible
to attain. This can result in anxiety about appearance that sometimes leads women
to take drastic measures. |
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“Ugly” WomenArtifacts in this section exaggerate features that society considers ugly or unattractive in women. Women are portrayed as old, wrinkled, or fat in ways that unfairly dismiss them. Not Funny ~ Julie Alexander |
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Women of ColorFrom sub-human, to servant, to Jezebel, women of color face a number of sexist and racist stereotypes. These objects show the extent to which they can be both sexualized and marginalized. |
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Old WomenIn a society that values young women, old women are thought to have outlived their attractiveness and usefulness. They are sometimes considered more vocal, weak, needy, and vulnerable then they should be. |
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“Dumb” WomenThere are many ways society downplays women's intelligence, This objectification makes them seem easy to take advantage of and to control. This phenomenon is evidenced by common discourse such as: "Don't worry your pretty little head about it" or "I just had a blonde moment." |