Definition

Noun: 1. The commercial exploitation of sex or sexuality or explicit sexual material: The practice of using sexual themes, imagery, or content to attract attention and generate profit, often in a sensational, excessive, or degrading manner.

Usage

• The term is used to describe a marketing or media strategy that prioritizes sexual appeal over substance to sell products, movies, or ideas.
• It often carries a negative connotation, implying manipulation, objectification, and a lack of artistic or ethical merit.
• It is commonly applied to industries like advertising, film, and tabloid journalism.

Examples

• The low-budget film was criticized more for its blatant sexploitation than for its poor script.
• Many argue that certain music videos rely on sexploitation to gain views rather than on musical talent.
• The magazine was accused of sexploitation for using provocative covers to boost sales.

Advanced Usage

• Cultural Critique: The term is frequently used in media studies and feminist critique to analyze how sexuality is commodified and used to reinforce power dynamics.
  • The academic paper examined the history of sexploitation in 1960s cinema.

Variants and Related Words

• Exploit (verb): To make use of or derive benefit from something. (Note: This is the root word, but it has a much broader, often neutral, meaning).
• Exploitation (noun): The action of making use of and benefiting from resources. (The general, non-sexual form of the word).

Synonyms

• Sensationalism (when specifically sexual in nature)
• Titillation (for commercial gain)
• Sexual objectification (in a commercial context)

Notes on Meaning

• Sexploitation is a portmanteau (blend word) of "sex" and "exploitation."
• It specifically refers to the or aspect of using sex. Using sexual themes for artistic expression, for example, would not typically be labeled sexploitation unless the primary motive is deemed to be commercial gain through sensationalism.

Noun

1. the commercial exploitation of sex or sexuality or explicit sexual material
   • sexploitation by advertisers is notorious