There are two forms of culture, high culture and low culture. High culture would be philosophy, intellectual pursuits or arts and low culture would be the everyday consumption of goods and services, popular activities, entertainment and sports.
Our culture is reflected in the objects, services, communities around us. An example of culture being shown through possessions is children's toys, in particular girls dolls. The article 'Oh, You Beautiful Doll' (The Weekend Australian Magazine February 12-13 2011) written by Greg Callagham talks about young girls growing up with toys and role models endorsing the idea that you need to look gorgeous and sexually attractive. "These dolls foster impossible-to-attain body images...", the dolls all have super skinny waists, pouty lips, big eyes which the average female doesn't look like. The article also says, "dolls with flawless bodies and skimpy cloths are priming girls for premature sexualisation..." which i agree with. You just have to look at what young girls are wearing today to see the evidence of this.
The denotation of barbie is blond hair, pouty lips, big blue eyes, large bust and tiny waist. The connotation of this is innocence, compliance, submission, manipulation, sweetness and unquestionable love.
This sexualisation of women is see as power, girls are now educated and encouraged to gain education in order to gain power and status in the workforce. Although they are still seeing these models as role models thinking they need to look a certain way to get power and status.
So much of our culture has changed but the sexualisation of women has consistently stayed the same.
Advertising
Cartoons/Animation
Fashion
Celebrities
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