Body politics
Sep. 27th, 2005 09:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sarahmichiganI recently signed up for the "Body Impolitic" feed, and I really enjoy it. In response to this post about "Female Chauvinist Pigs"
http://laurietobyedison.com/discuss/?p=68
My response is: it's all about choice, right? Isn't that what feminism is supposed to be about? It's about not allowing others to tell you what gender role you're *supposed* to follow. It's not about bashing you for being either a stay-at-home Mom or a high-powered exec, but allowing you to make the choice freely for yourself.
Same here. If you're slutting it up because you like it, you're reveling in a newly found happy body image and have decided to pass on freaking out about your imperfections (like me), then cool beans. If you're slutting it up because you feel you have no choice, because you can't make it in the world or attract a man without dressing like a ho, that could be a problem for you.
I don't think the average 16-year-old girl is wearing playboy bunny gear as a form of empowerment, but it's possible. Do I think it's possible for a 30-something woman who has formerly been really down on her body image and who is now beginning to accept herself to mindfully choose to dress like a stripper or a french maid for Halloween and not exploit herself? Sure. Do I think it's possible that one woman might hate porn but watch it with her boyfriend out of fear that she'll be considered uncool while another woman will joyfully watch porn with her boyfriend because it turns her on and she likes it? Sure.
Again, it's about your attitude and about your mindful choices.
http://laurietobyedison.com/discuss/?p=68
My response is: it's all about choice, right? Isn't that what feminism is supposed to be about? It's about not allowing others to tell you what gender role you're *supposed* to follow. It's not about bashing you for being either a stay-at-home Mom or a high-powered exec, but allowing you to make the choice freely for yourself.
Same here. If you're slutting it up because you like it, you're reveling in a newly found happy body image and have decided to pass on freaking out about your imperfections (like me), then cool beans. If you're slutting it up because you feel you have no choice, because you can't make it in the world or attract a man without dressing like a ho, that could be a problem for you.
I don't think the average 16-year-old girl is wearing playboy bunny gear as a form of empowerment, but it's possible. Do I think it's possible for a 30-something woman who has formerly been really down on her body image and who is now beginning to accept herself to mindfully choose to dress like a stripper or a french maid for Halloween and not exploit herself? Sure. Do I think it's possible that one woman might hate porn but watch it with her boyfriend out of fear that she'll be considered uncool while another woman will joyfully watch porn with her boyfriend because it turns her on and she likes it? Sure.
Again, it's about your attitude and about your mindful choices.
