It's Just a Thought *shrugs*

We, as woman, constantly complain about being objectified. I always hear complaints about men gawking at breasts or behinds and how disgusting they are for doing that. I wonder, though, what they believe they are doing when they see an attractive man and comment on his body, or even his eyes or clothing. The problem with objectification is that people see it as a personal statement about them as people. The truth is: objectification is natural. When you first see someone, most people only see what is attractive on the person. Not because you think they are shallow, and not because you are shallow, but because our basic animal instincts are to find an attractive mate to have sex.
Every animal (yes, I’m including humans in this term) wants to reproduce and keep the species going. For many species, the way to reproduce is through sex. Every animal feels the desire for sex. It seems that only humans, though, have added an emotional aspect to mating and sex. That wouldn’t be a problem, except that it’s made us ultra sensitive to things that are not necessarily a personal thing.
I’m no stranger to “being objectified,” so to speak. I constantly receive comments about my breasts. In fact, many people call me “clappin’ from the front.” When I hear that though, I simply laugh, or resume normal conversation. I have become immune to “objectification” because I have accepted myself as I am, and because I am confident enough to know that any comments about my body do not say anything about me as a person. I know that people are going to pay attention to my breasts, but I also know that they will pay attention to what I have to say because I have more to me than my body.
Now this is not to say that every comment or gesture is appropriate, especially in a public place.  Like Kim'Dra said in her blog, boys constantly walk down the street referring to females by articles of clothing or by calling them "baby" or "boo."  The man who gives out the Express newspapers once told me that I had nice legs.  I agree that those names are tasteless and should not be hollered down the street, but how can you fault the males for thinking a woman is attractive?  And is he completely wrong to treat a female as if she has no class if her dress and attitude provoke that thought?  For instance, when the Express man commented on my legs, i had on short shorts, so can i fault him for noticing?  I don't believe I can, because I made the choice to wear those shorts, knowing that showing more leg turns more heads. I don’t believe that thinking of someone as attractive, and not as some special person right off the bat, is inappropriate. I think that people need to stop being so sensitive. Just because someone thinks you’re attractive doesn’t mean that they want to marry you, and you certainly don’t have to want to be with them.  Just remember that at some time or another, whether you spoke the words or not, you've objectified someone too.  And remember that it was harmless -- an involuntary thought about someone's physical features that you thought were attractive, or mateable (& no, that's not a word).