We’re living in an era where sex positivity is much more embraced, and the sex positive movement tells us that we should have no shame in enjoying sex and finding sexual pleasure in whatever we find attractive or seductive, so why shouldn’t artists use their sex appeal in the way that they want to? It can arguably be good for fans to help them explore their own sexuality and take pleasure from it.
This could help fans who are discovering their own sexuality to explore it and possibly come to terms with it, if they come from a background that hasn’t allowed them to do so yet.
There are always going to be artists that don’t use sex appeal to sell music, for example Joni Mitchell has made it clear that she is somewhat against artists sexualising themselves and using it to sell music. There’s also the option to just listen to an artist’s music and not interact with them otherwise, and therefore the only aspect of their sex appeal being used that you might notice is on an album cover, for example.
However, there tends to be a lack of diversity in the way that celebrity sex appeal is displayed. Only seeing a certain type of body sexualised can make people feel as though they aren’t sexy if they don’t look that way, but this is changing! Lizzo, for example, quite simply said “I know I’m fat. It doesn’t bother me”. There’s always the assumption that being fat is automatically unhealthy and bad. Larger bodies exist, and therefore should be able to be admired and self-sexualised in the same way. On the subject of Lizzo, a prominent black artist, there is also the issues surrounding the way that black artists tend to be over sexualised and fetishised.
Some artists may feel pressured to use sex appeal and feel it is the best way to sell their music, particularly women. There is a difference in the way that male and female artists are sexualised, and women see a lot more pressure to look and behave younger compared to male artists.
Some artists may feel pressured to use sex appeal and feel it is the best way to sell their music, particularly women
Using sex appeal to sell music is not inherently bad and can be extremely healthy and positive, and of course many of us find artists attractive and enjoy their sex appeal. However, the use of sex appeal should not be something that artists are pressured into, and only done by choice, if they feel comfortable.