Sexy Selfie Nation

Beginning in childhood, women are relentlessly sexualized against their will. This sexualization occurs with gendered school dress codes, which allow teachers and administrators to scrutinize and comment on girls' bodies; nonconsensual sharing of intimate images ("revenge porn" and "deepfakes"), which portray girls and women as sexual objects deserving of public humiliation; and the aftermath of sexual harassment and assault, when victims are told--still today, even after #MeToo--that they were "asking for it."

In Sexy Selfie Nation, Tanenbaum speaks directly to young women about why they've chosen to sexualize their appearance as a method of standing up for themselves and taking control over their bodily autonomy. Tanenbaum demonstrates that above all, "sexy" does not mean "inviting sex," and that when young women embrace a sexualized aesthetic or post sexy photographs, they do so on their own terms. Their gestures have consequences both positive and negative--for themselves and others-- so while their actions may be fulfilling, they also exact a cost.