objectification
UK[əbˌdʒek.tɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən]US[əbˌdʒek.tə.fəˈkeɪ.ʃən]
n
The act of treating a person as an object or a thing, disregarding their personality or humanity.
n
The representation of an abstract idea in a concrete or physical form.
Morpheme Breakdown
object
ify
cation
object
thing
ify
to make
cation
action or process
Etymology
The word 'objectification' is a modern philosophical and sociological term built from classical components. Its core, 'object', originates from the Latin obiectum, meaning 'something thrown before' the senses or mind. The suffix '-ify', from Latin -ificare, transforms this noun into the verb 'to objectify', meaning 'to make into an object'. Finally, the suffix '-cation', denoting an action or process, converts the verb into the abstract noun. Thus, the literal morphemic logic—"the process of making into a thing"—perfectly captures the modern concept of reducing a person to the status of a mere object, stripping away their subjective agency and individuality.
Analysis
Structure: object (thing) + ify (to make) + cation (action or process)
- object: From Latin obiectum (thing thrown before or presented to the mind). In this word, it functions as the base noun meaning 'thing'.
- ify: A verb-forming suffix from Latin -ificare (to make, to cause to become). It turns the noun 'object' into a verb.
- cation: A noun-forming suffix from Latin -cationem (action or process). It turns the verb into an abstract noun denoting the action or result.
Examples
The film was criticized for its objectification of women.
He discussed the objectification of ideas in modern art.
Social activists campaign against the sexual objectification prevalent in advertising.