when angels aren't | Policy Watch SA

Policy Watch SA explores how the sexualised images of angels are used to objectify women

traditionally, angels were non-gendered symbols of comfort and hope

MORE FEMALE OBJECTIFICATION?

"Almost every religion and culture' worldwide has some form of angel as its 'archetype of communication between mortals and the divine" (Owlcation). In most theological and scriptural traditions, angels are generally considered to be spiritual beings without a physical gender (Tamika Rice in LadySanity)

In western culture, obviously female angels first appeared during the Renaissance. By the 19th century, gendered angels had become the norm (Wikimedia Commons).

Generally seen as symbols of empathy and compassion, angels are associated with purity, kindness, protection, comfort, support, hope and inspiration (Jodie Lawrence in BrainWiseMind).

In that context, as powerful "psychological archetypes" they may even inspire individuals to work towards achieving "their highest potential". This may be why, in Irish folklore, wayward fairies are sometimes understood to be fallen angels (LibraryIreland).

With all that in mind, why – on a popular AI text-to-image international art community platform – are angels so explicitly sexualised? Rarely if ever are they portrayed in a context remotely reflecting altruistic intentions. Taken from a popular community art platform, the images below clearly illustrate this. When first published, not one had been labelled 'NSFW'.