18 Times Women Were Sexualized And Unrealistically Depicted In Movies

• By Sana
• April 24, 2023
• 7 minutes read

Sexualization of women in movies has been a persistent issue in Hollywood.

The film industry has long been criticized for its unrealistic and often sexualized portrayal of women on screen. From hypersexualized outfits to unnecessary nude scenes, Hollywood has a history of objectifying women for the male gaze. Female characters are often portrayed as objects of desire, with their bodies and appearance being emphasized over their personalities and actions. This trend not only perpetuates harmful gender stereotypes but also creates unrealistic expectations for women in real life. Here are 18 movie moments where women were sexualized and unrealistically depicted.

1. When Clare kisses a new student named Bender in “The Breakfast Club”:

Via: Universal Pictures

2. The intimate scenes in “Blue Is The Warmest Colour”

Via: Wild Bunch / Cinéart /Vértigo Films

The sex scenes are depicted in a way that is intended to capture the intense and passionate nature of Adèle and Emma’s relationship. They are shown exploring each other’s bodies with an uninhibited sense of desire, and the camera lingers on the details of their physical interactions.

3. The masturbation scene in “Iron Jawed Angels”:

Via: HBO Films

The film Iron Jawed Angels tells the story of the suffragette movement in the early 20th century and the fight for women’s right to vote. However, there is a random and seemingly out-of-place scene in the film where the main character, Alice Paul, is shown masturbating in her bed. While some argue that this scene shows the human side of a historical figure, others criticize it for being unnecessary and sensationalized. Additionally, some argue that it detracts from the focus of the film.

4. The pool scene in the movie “Wild Things”:

Via: Columbia Pictures / Entertainment Film Distributors

The pool scene in the movie Wild Things is notorious for its explicit content where Neve Campbell and Denise Richards engage in a steamy make-out session in a pool while Matt Dillon’s character watches from a nearby balcony. The scene has been criticized for its objectification of women and use of gratuitous sexual content for shock value.

5. Sharon Tate is a promising young actress but her appearance in “Once Up A Time In Hollywood” was limited and the number of close-ups of her ass annoyed viewers:

Via: Sony Pictures Releasing

6. The ending of the film “Kingsman” has been the subject of controversy due to the inclusion of an unnecessary anal scene.

Via: 20th Century Fox

In the scene, the villain, played by Samuel L. Jackson, attempts to seduce the protagonist by offering to let him perform an act of anal penetration on a female character. The scene is uncomfortable to watch and has been criticized for its crude and offensive content. It has been criticized for perpetuating harmful stereotypes about sexual violence and coercion.

7. The scene where older women were advised to use bigger tampons in the film “Blended”:

Via: Warner Bros. Pictures

In the movie “Blended”, there is a scene where the main character, played by Drew Barrymore, is advised by an older woman to use larger tampons as she ages. This moment has been criticized for perpetuating harmful and untrue stereotypes about menstruation and aging.

8. In the movie “It”, there is a scene where Beverly, a child, is instructed by the group of boys to flirt with an old pharmacist so that they can steal supplies from his shop.

Via: Warner Bros. Pictures

This scene has been criticized for its inappropriate and uncomfortable content. The sexualization of a child character for the purpose of facilitating theft is highly problematic and sends a disturbing message to viewers.

9. In the movie “Red Sparrow”, there is a scene where the character Dominika, played by Jennifer Lawrence, manages to dye her dark brown hair to platinum blonde using just one box of hair dye.

Via: 20th Century Fox

This scene has been criticized for its unrealistic and inaccurate portrayal of hair dyeing. In reality, it is highly unlikely that someone with dark brown hair would be able to achieve a platinum blonde color using just one box of hair dye, as it typically requires multiple rounds of bleaching and coloring.

10. In the movie “Dodgeball”, there is a moment when it is revealed that Kate, played by Christine Taylor, has a girlfriend.

Via: 20th Century Fox

This representation of a same-sex relationship was a progressive move for mainstream cinema. However, the scene where Kate kisses Peter at the end of the film has been criticized for its inconsistency and perpetuation of harmful stereotypes. The moment suggests that Kate’s same-sex relationship was simply a phase, and that ultimately she is attracted to men. This undermines the legitimacy of same-sex relationships and can be harmful to the LGBTQ+ community.

11. The movie Showgirls is known for its excessive sexual content and has been widely criticized for its gratuitous portrayal of nudity and sex.

Via: MGM/UA Distribution Co.

Most of the movie, including the random kiss between Nomi and Cristal, has been criticized for its unrealistic and exploitative portrayal of female sexuality. The film portrays women as objects of desire for men, perpetuating harmful gender stereotypes and objectifying women’s bodies. The random kiss between Nomi and Cristal is just one example of the film’s gratuitous and exploitative sexual content.

12. In Avengers: Age of Ultron, there is a scene where Natasha, played by Scarlett Johansson, compares her inability to have children to being a monster.

Via: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

This scene has been criticized for its insensitivity towards those who struggle with infertility or who have chosen not to have children.

13. In Love, Actually, there is a scene where Mark, played by Andrew Lincoln, declares his love to Juliet, played by Keira Knightley, by showing up unannounced at her door and using a series of cue cards to express his feelings.

Via: Universal Pictures

While the scene is often portrayed as a grand romantic gesture, it has been criticized for its problematic and creepy undertones. Mark’s actions can be seen as manipulative and disrespectful towards Juliet’s marriage, as well as perpetuating harmful gender stereotypes that women should be pursued relentlessly even if they are in a committed relationship.

14. In “Justice League”, Wonder Woman’s costume has been criticized for being impractical and sexualized, particularly compared to her previous film appearance.

Via: Warner Bros. Pictures

Her signature red, blue and gold armor was changed to include a more revealing top with a lower neckline and a shorter skirt, exposing more skin. The change in costume design is seen by some as a reflection of the male gaze, which objectifies and sexualizes women’s bodies, rather than prioritizing functionality and practicality in combat.

15. Harley Quinn’s costume in Suicide Squad has been a topic of controversy, with many criticizing the impracticality and sexualization of her outfit.

Via: DC Films/ RatPac Entertainment/ Atlas Entertainment

In particular, her iconic “Daddy’s Little Monster” t-shirt and booty shorts have been a point of contention, with some arguing that they objectify and sexualize her character for the male gaze. The shorts, in particular, have been criticized for being highly impractical for a character who is meant to be a skilled fighter and acrobat.

16. “The Tomorrow Man” has been criticized for its problematic plot, which essentially revolves around a man stalking a woman until he succeeds in dating her.

Via: Noble Jones

The film follows the story of Ed, a lonely and obsessive man who becomes infatuated with Ronnie, a woman he sees at a local grocery store. The film has been criticized for romanticizing this kind of behavior and perpetuating harmful ideas about stalking and harassment. The storyline reinforces the idea that women are objects to be pursued, rather than individuals with their own agency and right to privacy.

17. The portrayal of Leia as a bikini-clad slave to Jabba the Hut in Return of the Jedi has been a subject of controversy and criticism.

Via: 20th Century Fox

The scene has been criticized for its overt sexualization of Leia’s character.

18. The casual portrayal of statutory rape between a teacher and her student in the film That’s My Boy has been widely criticized as inappropriate and offensive.

Via: Sony Pictures Releasing

Here is a cat tax:

Via: Reddit

“Someone just got spayed.”