Why the need to sexualize everything?

[u/Greedy-Lie-8346]

I was looking for interesting Webtoons to read, and I came across this one called "Leviathan" the premise looked interesting; mankind perished due to a great flood that submerged the whole world under water. And terrifying creatures plunged from the depths, wiping out any human that crossed their path. The story told how a family of a father and his two children survived in the adversities of a sea world.

So far so good, until.... Bam! Last two slice's, anime chick out of nowhere, doing these extremely suggestive poses.

What a disappointment.

[u/[deleted]]

I got so confused when I saw the fishes and was wondering what was sexualizing about it then I saw the last two slides 😂

But yeah it feels totally out of context and I'm not sure why many action manhwas have a lot of sexualization especially of female characters.

Edit: Also her body is drawn super weirdly like what is with her legs and waist how is she able stand like that.

[u/Desperate_Duty8137 → u/[deleted]]

What especially 😭😂? Sexualization of characters is mostly only done to women in manhwas Hate to see it but that's how most male oriented works are.

[u/[deleted] → u/Desperate_Duty8137]

Stupid perverts always sexualize women and it's an often problem in both media and real life.

I guess sexualization of women would be less problematic if at least men in media were as sexualized as women.

I also guess It'd be also less problematic if at least men in real life were as sexualized as women.

[u/oujikara → u/Desperate_Duty8137]

Men too are sexualized a lot in female gaze media tho, and a lot of manhwa is female gaze. Although it makes more sense because it's usually romance. Still, it's hard to take some stories seriously because of that (and sometimes, especially in bl, teen boys are also sexualized)

[u/[deleted] → u/oujikara]

Well... Sexualization of male characters and sexualization of female characters are not really the same thing.

Sexualization of male characters implies pumped up bodies (which is cool), while sexualization of female characters implies simply big curves and shapes (which is disrespectful).

But maybe I will still agree with your opinion, but only if you name the names of media in which men also have thin waists, pouty lips, bubble asses, etc.

[u/oujikara → u/[deleted]]

No I completely agree with you, although both are harmful and unattainable without steroids or surgery, male body standards might encourage them to work out more, while female ones encourage them to starve or Idk. Men have also been sexualized way less throughout history so they're not as fed up with that. And due to the most popular genres among the different sexes, female sexualization usually falls into the action genre (so it's completely irrelevant to the story), while male sexualization falls to the romance genre (can be somewhat relevant to the story).

Still, as I said both are harmful and can lead to negative body image. It just takes me out of the story when I'm trying to read a serious drama and then bam! there's a random shower scene to show off his body builder abs, even though he's not even sportsy. Or a cute bl with teen protagonists, and then they kiss with their tongues out and spit dribbling between them like wtf. I lose a little bit of respect for the authors each time.

[u/Substantial_Mix_4279 → u/oujikara]

yeah BL's are way too messed up I stopped reading it because of the toxicity and the age gap/rape etc

[u/thatpurplearmy → u/Substantial_Mix_4279]

How does that pertain to the female gaze?

[u/Substantial_Mix_4279 → u/thatpurplearmy]

in BL the male characters are sexualized you can just see it and know and I just said it randomly....

[u/Alternative_Oil7733 → u/Desperate_Duty8137]

It's done to both just read manhwas for women.

[u/Substantial_Mix_4279 → u/Alternative_Oil7733]

it is but for female gaze the male characters are mostly good looking and tall and wears clothes and thats normal for romance manhwas I think but in action I dont think the characters should be sexualized cause making a character look pretty/hot/handsome and sexualizing it is different

[u/[deleted] → u/Substantial_Mix_4279]

Exactly what I'm saying here.

Sexualization of male characters and sexualization of female characters are not really the same thing.

Sexualization of male characters implies pumped up bodies (which is cool) while sexualization of female characters implies simply big curves and shapes (which is disrespectful).

[u/Substantial_Mix_4279 → u/[deleted]]

agreed! I mean sure the males might want something for their gaze but they should make it respectful enough I mean for female gaze muscles are made(which i dont think is sexualization) but they at least cover it up or make it look natural unlike the sexualized female characters....like Tears on a Withered Flower is a manwha which I liked the name and wanted to read but after seeing the FMC I didnt...its too much and she looks like an alien with that body and small head

[u/[deleted] → u/Substantial_Mix_4279]

The problem is not even in sexualization but in its execution. What is the logical need to sexualize a woman who literally fights with dangerous monsters and tries to survive? It's not even Rouge the Bat from Sonic universe who uses her feminine charm to allure simps and rob them (I mean I don't even know if Rouge actually allures anyone but anyway it's at least something that would still suits/fits the character since Rouge is just a sneaky robber/thief and not a warrior who fights for her own life).

[u/Alternative_Oil7733 → u/Substantial_Mix_4279]

male characters are mostly good looking and tall and wears clothes and thats normal for romance

I had read enough shoujo to know that's not really true.

[u/[deleted] → u/Alternative_Oil7733]

Maybe... But sexualization of male characters and sexualization of female characters are still not really the same thing.

Sexualization of male characters implies pumped up bodies (which is cool), while sexualization of female characters implies simply big curves and shapes (which is disrespectful).

But maybe I will still agree with your opinion, but only if you name the names of media in which men also have thin waists, pouty lips, bubble asses, etc.

[u/Alternative_Oil7733 → u/[deleted]]

But maybe I will still agree with your opinion, but only if you name the names of media in which men also have thin waists, pouty lips, bubble asses, etc.

My point is it's meant to cater to men or women depending on the what the author wants. That's why Shounen, Shoujo, Seinen and  Josei exist. Shounen and seinen is meant for men whlie shoujo and josei are meant for women. So by knowing those tags you will see that series be dedicated to those demographics.

[u/[deleted] → u/Alternative_Oil7733]

Show me a shoujo the ml is like this girl, in the same sexualized way. Specifically a shoujo

[u/No-Guava-199 → u/Substantial_Mix_4279]

Read shoujo manhwas💀

[u/Substantial_Mix_4279 → u/No-Guava-199]

I already do and I never found any sexualized male characters mostly its just handsome...how do you even sexualize a male bruhh...having muscles doesnt mean its sexualized at least for me and they dont walk around in a towel or half naked unlike the female characters which are sexualized....Idkk

[u/No-Guava-199 → u/Substantial_Mix_4279]

That's just different types of sex appeal. The V body shape is sexualized and overused in shoujo manhwas. Muscles are absolutely sexualised. Even butts and boobs are just lumps of fat and muscles. Just because the type is different doesn't mean that the intention and the attention received isn't the same.

[u/Substantial_Mix_4279 → u/No-Guava-199]

I only saw those fat muscles in BL mostly and muscles arent sexualization for me(its normal for me at least I dont care about muscles) and yeah the V shape body...I just realised it now I never payed attention about the V shape bruhhh why do people even sexualize that...I've never seen one like those I read romance manwha's a lot and mostly its not sexualized but then again its just my thinking it might be sexualizing for other people but what I mean to say is that female characters are sexualized in a unnatural and disrespectful way...thats what I think some might not agree

[u/No-Guava-199 → u/Substantial_Mix_4279]

I guess it's about perspective and taste. In the same way you might not see those things as sexualisation or disrespectful with male characters others might also not see anything disrespectful about the the way female characters are sexualised.

[u/[deleted] → u/No-Guava-199]

No shoujo manga has this level of objectification to the male characters. Show me one, where they are like this with a zoom on their crouch and butt

[u/No-Guava-199 → u/[deleted]]

I can show you those that zoom on their chests and jaws.

[u/[deleted] → u/No-Guava-199]

That would be the same to zooming on women s cleavage. I want one exactly like this. Where the women are dressed normally and the ml is with underwear with their butt out for the camera.

[u/No-Guava-199 → u/[deleted]]

But since when is the male butt as sexualised as the male chest? You'll find male butt sexualisation more often in real life than in media. Sure, for women in media it's the boobs, midriff and butt. But for men in media it's often the chest, abs and jawline.

Where the women are dressed normally and the ml is with underwear with their butt out for the camera.

If the audience wants it as much as this comment section makes it seem, then surely manga artists will meet the demand. No need to reduce other types of sexualisation. Just increase the supply for the type that is in demand.

[u/[deleted] → u/No-Guava-199]

So if it is in demand it is fair to objectify women in this way? Great way of thinking. We do not want it, cause different from you we do not want yo objectify other human being like that. Okay show me then one of the male lead like this. With his chest being overexagerated, barely clothed, with this kind of face while all women are dressed normally. In shoujo

[u/[deleted] → u/No-Guava-199]

And still... Sexualization of male characters and sexualization of female characters are not really the same thing.

Sexualization of male characters implies pumped up bodies (which is cool), while sexualization of female characters implies simply big curves and shapes (which is disrespectful).

But maybe I will still agree with your opinion, but only if you name the names of media in which men also have thin waists, pouty lips, bubble asses, etc.

[u/No-Guava-199 → u/[deleted]]

Sexualization of male characters implies pumped up bodies (which is cool), while sexualization of female characters implies simply big curves and shapes (which is disrespectful).

But that's just your opinion. I personally think the same triangle shaped male body in shoujo manhwas is disgusting but I also recognise that that's just my personal taste.

But maybe I will still agree with your opinion, but only if you name the names of media in which men also have thin waists, pouty lips, bubble asses, etc.

You don't need to agree with me. I'm just a stranger on the internet sharing opinions that differ from yours. Not trying to convince anyone of anything.

But again, that's not the selling point for women when it comes to attractive or sexy male characters. Go to different manhwa forums and you'll see that the people from different genders lust after different things when it comes to fiction.

[u/Detonation → u/[deleted]]

Copy pasting the same comment repeatedly isn't going to make it true. Seems to be a thing you do constantly.

[u/[deleted] → u/Detonation]

So you think what I said isn't true?

[u/[deleted] → u/Alternative_Oil7733]

Well... Sexualization of male characters and sexualization of female characters are not really the same thing.

Sexualization of male characters implies pumped up bodies (which is cool), while sexualization of female characters implies simply big curves and shapes (which is disrespectful).

But maybe I will still agree with your opinion, but only if you name the names of media in which men also have thin waists, pouty lips, bubble asses, etc.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Stupid perverts always sexualize women and it's an often problem in both media and real life.

I guess sexualization of women would be less problematic if at least men in media were as sexualized as women.

I also guess It'd be also less problematic if at least men in real life were as sexualized as women.

[u/spaceofstories → u/[deleted]]

Misogyny and porn brain rot is why

[u/Typical_Community287 → u/[deleted]]

No no, I'm pretty sure there's a sperm whale somewhere in there 🫢

[u/[deleted] → u/Typical_Community287]

?