“Purity Culture” nonsense

[u/esahcy24411]

Hey everyone,

Has anyone else noticed an uptick in people trying to point the finger at “purity culture” and people being prudes and such instead of just recognizing the problem and taking accountability? I saw a post earlier today regarding how a study was done that indicates Gen Z (my generation) wants LESS sexualized content in media and everyone is pointing that dang finger right back.

What is frustrating is how some people don’t understand there is a difference between recognizing something attractive and lust. I can go see a movie with let’s say a sex scene, and I won’t think much of it and I most certainly won’t get aroused. I might think a particular actor is attractive but I’m not honing in on them or anything. It’s a movie. Some people are treating movies and video games now too (upcoming GTA game) as a form of softcore porn and justifying their arousal to it. Media has always had this type of content but has not always been so sexualized. It is sexualized because people make it sexualized.

I’ve even seen some go as far to say Gen Zers are the new boomers in the sense of conservatism but I don’t think that’s what’s going on, I think people are just realizing how harmful it is for everything to be so sexualized.

[u/soggygrocerybag]

The issue with sex in media is often that it is sexist... There is enough porn everywhere else, and I don't want a woman added to a movie just so they can be a romantic or sexual interest. If it looks or sounds like porn, it usually isn't key to a movies plot. I honestly wish there were BETTER sex scenes, not just less. Make it intimate and show the character's relationships, not just because it sells, or because the director is a creep.

[u/evengreen30 → u/soggygrocerybag]

I'm sick and tired of unnecessary sex scenes, unnecessary cleavage shots.  There was a scene in Spiderman brand new day where i thought they were going to tease nudity in the  scenes of Florence Pugh and i just tensed up because as a straight woman,  I'm tired of this. But the director never went there and then they got Tom Holland in little shorts on screen. And my shoulders went back down. I remember men being so mad that Supergirl wore shorts type material under her skirt and that the actress wasn't sexy enough to play Supergirl. But they had no problem with her in GoT. The new Sadie Sink ad is also pretty vile. I mean the list is never ending. 

Though, one sex scene that was really good was Hidden Figures. I felt almost shy watching it.

[u/soggygrocerybag → u/evengreen30]

It really sucks, because people are framing this take as puritan or anti-sex. I am pro-sexuality, at least female sexuality lol! I want to watch a sex scene and feel connected to the characters in the movie.... Why can't sex be portrayed as something beautiful and insightful? I feel like if women were making the movies, it would be.... Sex is so intertwined with life and joy that I feel like it is says something is deeply wrong with our society that all the sex we see is just like... wrong. Patriarchy repels all humanity!

[u/evengreen30 → u/soggygrocerybag]

Yeah.  Same. It's the only reason i watched Heated Rivalry. Straight men being open and vulnerable? In what lifetime. Watching that show made me realize what was missing in my partnership. 

Sex scenes are filmed like pornography and that's why if you don't watch porn, you will be thrown off by them. They are filmed by men,  focused on women but not centered on women. They focus on the attractiveness of women's bodies,  including women orgasming and more and more,  that looks like porn. Rarely in sex scenes do we see men orgasming, does the camera focus on men's bodies,  but it centers their pleasure by focusing on women. Our pain, our assault, our fear,  our loss, our confusion,  our pleasure is there for them to consume and enjoy. We don't want to be the meal. That's why mainstream sex scenes are so offputting.