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GETTING DOWN TO BRASS TACKS

Policy Watch SA provides links to empirically based research pointing to a link between objectification and gender-based violence

"Sexual violence is a consequence of a dehumanized perception of female bodies that aggressors acquire through their exposure and interpretation of objectified body images. Integrating these findings and identifying triggers for sexual violence may help develop remedial measures and inform law enforcement processes and policy makers alike" (Frontiers)

"Sexual harassment is about power; therefore, a target who is dressed provocatively is not the ideal target for the would-be harasser, who appears motivated at least in part by his ability to dominate his victim. Provocative dress does not necessarily signify submissiveness but instead may be an indication of confidence and assertiveness. It is clear, however, that comments about dress directed at plaintiffs are a component of sexual harassment allegations. Comments about dress are used to undermine working women’s authority and should be considered seriously by courts assessing sexual harassment claims" (Theresa M Beiner, Duke Journal of Gender Law & Policy)

Inasmuch as men are highly aroused by the revealing look, it stands to reason

that this very stimulation may be the basis for their misconstruction of women's aims.

In essence, men may be projecting their own arousal onto the object of their lust,

erroneously concluding, in a rather self-centered manner, that since they have become

aroused this must have been her goal ... Such misconstruction of motivation may then result in blaming the victims of unwanted sexual exchanges" (Avigail Moor, Journal of International Women's Studies)

apparently, men misconstrue women's motives for dressing alluringly; women are unaware of  the implied signals revealing clothes send to men

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