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Objectification

Philosophy
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Objectification is the process of treating a person or living being as an object, denying their subjectivity. It reduces them to a passive thing to be used or possessed.

Detailed Definition
Feminist theory critiques the objectification of women. In poetry, it can be a theme of loss, oppression, or desire. A poem may depict a character being treated as an object, or a speaker may objectify another, revealing power dynamics. Conversely, poetry can resist objectification by giving voice to the objectified, reasserting their humanity. This term highlights the ethical and emotional stakes of representation.
Example
Example in poetry:
A poem that portrays a woman only as an object of male desire is an example of objectification; The description of a person's body in an impersonal, commodified way in a poem is objectification; A speaker who reduces another person to a mere trophy or possession in a poem engages in objectification; The act of depicting a person as a type, rather than a complex individual, in a poem, is a form of objectification.
Additional Notes
Objectification is the process of treating a person, a being, or a concept as an object, a thing, thereby denying their agency, subjectivity, and humanity. It reduces a complex individual to a passive, usable item. In feminist theory, the objectification of women is a central critique of patriarchal culture. In poetry, it appears in themes of oppression, dehumanization, and loss. A poem might depict a character being stripped of their humanity, or the speaker might objectify another, revealing a disturbing power dynamic. Conversely, poetry can resist objectification by giving voice to the objectified, reasserting their inner life and dignity. This term highlights the ethical and emotional stakes of poetic representation and the power dynamics inherent in language.
Also Known As
Reification (related) Dehumanization Commodification
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