Oct. 6 Festival and Film to Kick Off UPR's Original Series, 'Objectified'

When advertising tell us its ideal is a Barbie-shaped body possessed by, oh, 1 percent of women, what does that say about the other 99 percent?

And when women employees are paid two-thirds of what their male counterparts are, does that mean they’re worth less?

Our culture often sees women, and some men, as little more than a hair color or weight tally rather than a thinking, caring person. Now, an original radio series by Utah Public Radio, a National Public Radio member station, is seeking to change the conversation.

 “We want to take back the power of the body and the mind,” said UPR development officer Ted Twinting. “We’re more than just our physical appearance.”

And if media is part of the problem, adds UPR news director Kerry Bringhurst, “why not make media part of the solution? Let’s focus on what we can do to make changes.”

UPR introduces an original radio series, “Objectified: More than a Body,” with a kick-off celebration that highlights this serious issue at a not-so-serious event. The UPR-hosted fall festival is 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, in the parking lot at UPR, 745 N. 1200 East, Logan.

Carnival-themed refreshments will be available at no charge. Festival visitors can also visit booths hosted by community-service providers that are a resource for women.

The multi-part “Objectified” series will be broadcast beginning Oct. 11, airing Tuesdays during NPR’s Morning Edition and Wednesdays during All Things Considered.

UPR was awarded funds for the series’ creation by the Utah Women’s Giving Circle, a Salt-Lake City-based assembly of “everyday philanthropists” that, according to the organization, “leverages modest, individual donations into a powerful investment in programs that empower Utah women and girls.”

The organization “saw this as an opportunity to share stories and enlighten a larger number of people with examples of those who have overcome objectification,” said Bringhurst. “Really, we are just the conduit. We’re in a fortunate situation where we can make these stories public, and they thought it was worth the investment to have the means to share stories.”

A large chalk board that’s made its way around campus has invited students to share responses to the prompt: “I feel objectified when …”

Some comments focus on societal issues — “People talk over me.” “I’m told to smile.” “I’m expected to get married.”

Other comments point to media’s influence in portraying women as sexual objects. “… I get the chest stare.” “Companies use woman’s bodies to sell products. Ahem, Carls Jr.” “I’m told my outfit is distracting.”

Objectification is largely seen as a women’s issue, but Bringhurst said men also feel the pressure.

“The first person to sign the board was a young man,” she said. “He expressed his frustration of being compared to other individuals that society feels a human should be like” — in his case, Edward and Jacob from “Twilight.”

The Oct. 6 festival will also feature the outdoors showing of the short film “Killing Us Softly: Advertising’s Image of Women.”

Although media is often blamed for these harmful perceptions, said Twinting, we as consumers can change the conversation.

“If advertisers are doing something, they’re only doing it because it’s effective, period,” he said. “They think the public wants something, and the public reinforces that by clicking on it.”

The radio series and fall festival are designed to “make people aware” of such motivations, he added. “When we become conscious of what they’re trying to do, it’s gone.”

UPR can be heard in Cache County at 91.5FM and via translator stations state-wide.

Related links:

“Objectified: More than a Body” Event

Utah Public Radio

USU College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Contact: Jennifer Christensen, 435-799-7343

Writer: Janelle Hyatt, 435-797-0289, Janelle.hyatt@usu.edu