Female sexualization can be traced back to 411 BCE in Ancient Greece, during the period of the Peloponnesian war. Adiele and Eghagha explain that women began self-sexualizing in response to “a patriarchy-dominated society, and attracting the patronage of their male counterparts” (3). This self-sexualization was implemented for women, and by women to gain leverage by exploiting men’s sexual vulnerabilities.


Women in Aristophanes Lysistrata utilized the tool of  “sexually enticing attitudes through clothing or seductive exposure of the body to promote sexual attractiveness for gain.” (3). In today’s world this device is no longer held by women, the consumer world has repurposed this desirability to gain attention, and drive sales. While sexualization began as a mechanism for empowerment, and social influence which directly profited women, today the profit flows to the companies running the advertisements. Since the origins of women’s sexualization have been established, the next step is to identify when men began to weaponize it.


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