Abstract:
The three main objectives of this research are to: 1) analyze and compare meanings of discourse on sexy women featured in men and women's magazines 2) examine forms of the discourse expression, and 3) analyze factors influencing the contents and the negotiation. This qualitative research fundamentally applies the discourse analysis as a mean of examining meanings and presentation of sexy women discourses in 32 issues of 'Mars' and 'Image' magazines and in-depth interview with the magazines' publishers as well as subjects of the discourse. The analytical framework is based on discourse and concept of femininity and women's body.
Results of the research are as follows:
1) The meaning of sexy women presented in Mars and Image magazines can be categorized into 4 series. First, a sexy woman as a beautiful woman: a woman who dresses exposingly to show her beautiful and perfect figure. Second, a sexy woman possessing physically capital: a woman who uses her sex appeal to get more opportunities in many aspects such as work and love. Third, a sexy woman as a modern woman: a woman who always changes her physical appearance and improves personality to see herself as an up-to-date individual. And fourth, a sexy woman as a sexual aggression: a woman who expresses her erotic feelings through her seductive body language. The discourses presented in both magazines are not different in term of meanings, but in term of meaning presentation.
2) The discourse appears in 8 forms including front cover, social news, fashion set, article, feature, cartoon, advertisement and advertorial. Most of them are found in advertisement, fashion set and article. Sexy women are mostly featured in cosmetics and brand-name clothing ads in Image magazine while Mars magazine prefers sexy women in technology-related product ads. As for fashion set, Mars magazine emphasizes on model's gesture and pose than clothing while Image magazine focuses on both excellent clothing and model's pose. Mars magazine provides information on sexy women mostly in for-men columns while Image magazine prefers information on international sexy performers, singers and celebrities.
3) Factors influencing the presentation of contents in Mars and Image magazines can be divided into 3 levels; individual, media institutional and social factors. Subjects of the discourse often make their conditions of agreement during a negotiation with the magazines' publishers. Four conditions considered are magazine type, student status, concept of fashion set and photographer and stylist's credit.
The discourse on sexy women found in Mars and Image magazines empowers capitalism and patriarchy to define the meaning of women in terms of sex, gender and sexuality, and regard sexy models as commercial products in mass media.