Autonomy Under Algorithmic Control: Gendered Power Relations and Sexualized Commodification in the Platform Economy
ESTRUCTURALES DE LA MERCANTILIZACIÓN SEXUALIZADA DEL CUERPO FEMENINO EN PLATAFORMAS DIGITALES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.9771/rds.v7i0.70310Keywords:
algorithms, platform economy, sexual commodification, digital platforms, gender-based violence, OnlyFansAbstract
The rapid expansion of digital technologies and the consolidation of the platform economy have redefined the dynamics of representation, circulation, and consumption of the female body, embedding them within a historical framework of objectification that is being reconfigured through algorithmic architectures, empowerment narratives, and processes of sexual prosumption. Within this context, the aim of this article is to critically examine how the objectification and sexualized commodification of the female body are reshaped in digital environments, identifying the structural, technological, and discursive mechanisms that sustain them, as well as their implications for autonomy and social justice. The findings reveal that these platforms amplify historical patterns of exploitation through the integration of soft coercion and engineered consent, operating imperceptibly to shape decisions, while algorithms prioritize and reinforce sexualized content, reproducing intersectional hierarchies. In conclusion, this phenomenon constitutes a structural reconfiguration of sexual commodification that deepens inequalities and limits effective autonomy, thus requiring regulatory responses aimed at algorithmic transparency, labor protection, critical digital literacy, and the adoption of ethical frameworks.
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