logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2022
56m 56s

How society sexualizes us

Vox
About this episode

Vox’s Emily St. James talks with the celebrated author and trans activist Julia Serano about her new book, Sexed Up. They talk about what "sexualization" really means, and why sexualizing behaviors are so pervasive and widespread throughout society. They also discuss why we're so prone to classify and categorize people, how patterns of what Julia calls "enforced ignorance" are communicated to children, and how we might build a society with a healthier sexual ethic — one that better protects marginalized people.

Host: Emily St. James (@emilyvdw), Senior Correspondent, Vox

Guest: Julia Serano (@JuliaSerano), writer, musician, activist

References: 


Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Conversations ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Conversations by subscribing in your favorite podcast app.

Support Vox Conversations by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

This episode was made by: 

  • Producer: Erikk Geannikis
  • Editor: Amy Drozdowska
  • Engineer: Patrick Boyd
  • Deputy Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Aug 18
So, what exactly is the “New Right?”
A loose movement of radical intellectuals is driving American politics. They’re called the “New Right,” and they share a basic hostility to American liberal democracy, a real desire to fundamentally overhaul it, and real influence in the White House. But why do they think that? H ... Show More
51m 36s
Aug 11
America is losing big on sports betting
Almost every tech platform is designed to grab and hold your attention, to keep you clicking, scrolling, and buying for as long as possible. Sports gambling has become one of the clearest examples of this. The industry has created frictionless apps on your phone that let you bet ... Show More
53m 49s
Aug 4
It’s time to get weird
The internet was supposed to set us free. But somewhere along the way, it became a tool for surveillance, extraction, and control. What happened? And is there still time to reclaim the weird, untapped potential of the digital world? This week, Sean is joined by Douglas Rushkoff. ... Show More
1 h
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2022
Hollywood’s (Still) Embarrassing Gender Gap
Hollywood has a reputation for being a fairly progressive industry, but when it comes to gender equality, there is still plenty of work to do. Matt is joined by CNBC's senior media & tech correspondent Julia Boorstin to talk about her new book, ‘When Women Lead,’ and discuss the ... Show More
32m 24s
Oct 2023
Fucking Feelings: The Attunement Model of Consent
In Episode 56, we announce that Fucking Cancelled has moved to substack! Please follow us fuckingcancelled.substack.com if you haven’t already, and consider becoming a supporter of the pod for $5 Canadian a month. You’ll get a bunch of bonus content and help keep the podcast aliv ... Show More
1h 28m
Jun 2021
The death of ‘girlboss’ | What's the Story?
It’s been almost a decade since the idea of the “girlboss” emerged in the corporate world. And while the concept had feminist intentions, the conflation of feminism and capitalism has lead to its downfall. Senior culture writer, Alex Abad-Santos (@alex_abads) explains why we were ... Show More
14m 4s
Jul 2021
The myth of pandemic productivity | Tell Me More
There’s been a lot of pressure to become a better person during the pandemic — to pick up a new hobby, read more books, or learn a new language. And as life gets back to something like normal for many Americans, that pressure is coming around again. Some employers are reportedly ... Show More
11m 47s
Sep 2020
#107: Guys We F****d with Corinne Fisher and Krystyna Hutchinson
Stand-up Comedians Corinne Fisher and Krystyna Hutchinson are the hosts of the popular podcast "Guys We F****d." This podcast is most known for changing the way society thinks about female sexuality through a merging of humor and expansion. This week I am so delighted to have the ... Show More
1h 22m
Dec 2021
#52 - Que signifie un like sur la photo d’un corps féminin stéréotypé et sexualisé ?
Que signifie un like de mon partenaire sur la photo d'un corps féminin stéréotypé et sexualisé ? Pour Illana Weizman, sociologue, il est important de rappeler qu’un like est un acte mineur, faiblement significatif. Pour autant, rien de plus légitime que de se poser cette question ... Show More
11m 4s
Oct 2022
The Media is Making Your Sex Worse
No one knows marketing and media more than this week’s guest and my good friend Kristi. We met during our time working at Playboy, so we kick off the episode by discussing the #1 question we used to get: Where is line between objectification and sexual empowerment? We also talk a ... Show More
52m 40s
Dec 2023
The TRUTH of Being Apart of the LGBTQ Community
Hailee and Kendra are a married couple who have become a beacon of hope for members of the LGBTQ community. The couple’s entire content niche is dedicated to the love they share for one another, a simple way to advocate for the normalcy of queer people in society. Hailee and Kend ... Show More
48m 50s
Apr 2023
Trans Liberation and Solidarity with Alyson Escalante
Our transgender comrades are under attack — not just by incendiary reactionaries on the right, but also by many of those on the more liberal or even left side of the political spectrum. The attacks come in many forms, from outright violence, to genocidal language, to the often ar ... Show More
1h 8m