Women don’t like being sexualized. Obviously.
But it’s a tricky distinction between sexuality and sexualization.
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We see the models on the cover of the magazines and want to be as beautiful and as alluring as they are. We want to enjoy sex and experience pleasure. And yet, we don’t want to be objectified or made to feel as though our bodies are the only things of value that we as women have to offer. And that makes it a fine line to walk in current society, especially when trying to explain and express the desire to others.
Well, Rashida Jones‘ new documentary, Hot Girls Wanted, sums it up perfectly. And in a beautiful and elegant interview at Sundance, Jones broke it down, earning women’s gratitude everywhere.
“That’s a huge thing, too, that we talk about all the time is the difference between sexuality and sexualization. Because it’s reformative, you know, women aren’t feeling joy from it,” Jones explained. “This would be a whole different conversation if women were like, ‘We’re having sex. We love it so much. We want more of it. We feel so good about our bodies and ourselves.’ But that’s not the conversation.”
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The film brings up all of the big issues of women’s sexual exploration through the lives of young women who have decided to join the porn industry.
“For me, the takeaway is, whatever the cost is of saying, ‘Oh, you know what, I’m having sex anyway. Why not just do it on camera for money?'” Jones continued. “They’re not considering the real cost, the psychological cost, the emotional cost, the physical cost, the trauma that it does on your body to have sex for a living is a real thing. And I think by the time they realize it — it’s not too late because they can go back to their lives — but they’ve lost their childhoods.
“It’s so tricky to have that conversation,” Jones said of the idea that making money from sex is “empowering.” “Because you’re making money and, therefore, you’re empowered, but what is the real cost to your soul, to your psyche? Women should feel pleasure and have sex and feel good about it.”
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Jones said that kids care less about the paper trail of their deeds, but are more focused on the long-term emotional takeaways.
Watch the full interview with Jones below.
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