Reflections of Her: Responding to Objectification of Women through Music, Art, and Identity

Abstract

This introductory essay argues that this objectification of women is not a relic of the past, but an evolving system that adapts to new cultural contexts, while perpetually reinforcing long-standing inequities. At the same time, this introduction will also reveal the complexity and ambiguity inherent in the concept of objectification, making it hard to arrive at a singular definition and, therefore, underscoring the need for its critical interrogation. This essay will also explore the consequences of objectifying women—taking into consideration the limitations of efforts to disrupt this cycle—while also exploring the possibilities for resistance, redefinition, and the need to center women’s voices in cultural narratives.