Have you seen the Robin Thicke video Blurred Lines?
I hope not.
It is misogynistic sexist patriarchal bullshit.
Basically there are lots of half naked women strutting around as men touch them and sing about how they're "good girls" and "animals."
I have to admit I thought the song was catchy and cheery, until I listened properly to the lyrics.
Then my feminist mind went mad.
How DARE these men condone such things.
The video is basically advertising rape, sexual assault, patriarchal actions and negative gender roles of women.
Come on, it's 2013.
If you haven't already, I suggest you watch this video which is a parody of Blurred Lines called 'Defined Lines' made by feminist Law students.
Showing posts with label feminism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label feminism. Show all posts
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
Patriarchal Expectations Of Women: Shaving Your Legs
Today I shaved my legs.
Yes, I am beginning my post with that sentence.
Today I shaved my legs. Why? Because I wanted to? Not quite.
Because society expects me to. Because if I don't I am labelled 'gross', 'unattractive' and 'unfeminine'.
I could of course leave the hairs on my legs to grow ten miles long, because I'm a lesbian.
And lesbians don't shave their legs do they?
Yes, they do actually.
By shaving my legs I am giving into the patriarchal expectations set upon me by society but I am also kicking the myths about lesbians in the face.
I shave my legs because I want to. Not because I'm a lesbian, not because I'm forced to by society.
However a lot of women do shave their legs because society forces them to.
Turn on your TV and you will discover adverts upon adverts of women smiling as they lather their legs in foam and shave. Every beauty magazine drills it into us that smooth legs are sexy legs. Hairy legs are manly legs. Hairy underarms are for lesbians (and the French) and a hairy 'down there' means you aren't getting any.
But do I want to shave my legs because to me personally it feels nicer? Yes. But is this belief merely a delusion conjured up by societies pressures?
I want to shave my legs, for me, because the media has made me believe I will feel better in myself if I have shaved legs.
Yes, I have written the words 'shaved' and 'legs' too much and they are starting to sound weird in your mind.
Yes, I will continue shaving my legs. But I'm still unsure why.
Yes, I am beginning my post with that sentence.Today I shaved my legs. Why? Because I wanted to? Not quite.
Because society expects me to. Because if I don't I am labelled 'gross', 'unattractive' and 'unfeminine'.
I could of course leave the hairs on my legs to grow ten miles long, because I'm a lesbian.
And lesbians don't shave their legs do they?
Yes, they do actually.
By shaving my legs I am giving into the patriarchal expectations set upon me by society but I am also kicking the myths about lesbians in the face.
I shave my legs because I want to. Not because I'm a lesbian, not because I'm forced to by society.
However a lot of women do shave their legs because society forces them to.
Turn on your TV and you will discover adverts upon adverts of women smiling as they lather their legs in foam and shave. Every beauty magazine drills it into us that smooth legs are sexy legs. Hairy legs are manly legs. Hairy underarms are for lesbians (and the French) and a hairy 'down there' means you aren't getting any.
But do I want to shave my legs because to me personally it feels nicer? Yes. But is this belief merely a delusion conjured up by societies pressures?
I want to shave my legs, for me, because the media has made me believe I will feel better in myself if I have shaved legs.
Yes, I have written the words 'shaved' and 'legs' too much and they are starting to sound weird in your mind.
Yes, I will continue shaving my legs. But I'm still unsure why.
Monday, 2 September 2013
The Perfect Body
The porn industry has corrupted society's view on what is a 'normal' female body.
Women, and even younger girls are having cosmetic surgery to alter their bodies, especially their breasts and private parts.
Most porn stars have had cosmetic surgery to 'perfect' their bodies. They have hairless, smooth vaginas and huge round breasts.
Girls do not need the 'perfect' body, they probably have the 'perfect' body, but just don't believe they do.
You need to learn to love yourself before anyone else can love you.
Women, and even younger girls are having cosmetic surgery to alter their bodies, especially their breasts and private parts.
Most porn stars have had cosmetic surgery to 'perfect' their bodies. They have hairless, smooth vaginas and huge round breasts.
Girls do not need the 'perfect' body, they probably have the 'perfect' body, but just don't believe they do.
You need to learn to love yourself before anyone else can love you.
Friday, 26 July 2013
Society's View On Women
Society has a warped view on women.
It views them as sex objects or possessions.
Women have so many expectations to live up to. They have to have perfect hair, perfect make-up and smooth hair-free skin.
The constant pressure can cause mental illnesses such as eating disorders and body dysmorphia.
Why are women forced to be so 'perfect'?
Teenage girls as young as thirteen are wearing make-up, dyeing their hair and shaving their legs.
They are CHILDREN not WOMEN.
Not that the perception of men is completely fine, but generally men are not stereotyped or labelled as much as women are.
Society should accept people the way they are, not shove them into a box.
It views them as sex objects or possessions.
Women have so many expectations to live up to. They have to have perfect hair, perfect make-up and smooth hair-free skin.
The constant pressure can cause mental illnesses such as eating disorders and body dysmorphia.
Why are women forced to be so 'perfect'?
Teenage girls as young as thirteen are wearing make-up, dyeing their hair and shaving their legs.
They are CHILDREN not WOMEN.
Not that the perception of men is completely fine, but generally men are not stereotyped or labelled as much as women are.
Society should accept people the way they are, not shove them into a box.
Saturday, 11 May 2013
Is Feminism Necessary?
Is feminism still necessary in the year 2013 - the 21st century?
Yes.
Women may have more rights than they used to (thanks to the suffragettes) however they are still not fully equal with men. Just take a look at the media; it is filled with images of how women should look - big boobs, blonde hair, hairless legs and underarms. This is all for male sexual pleasure. Women are now adhering to the norms of society such as shaving their legs and getting rid of pubic hair and although it is a personal choice to do so, the pressure on women to conform to these beauty stereotypes shows that we still need feminist ideas.
Although women generally are paid the same as men they are still not paid the exact same and they are socialised to venture into careers that are traditionally feminine such as nursing, teaching and catering - and these careers all pay less than the traditional masculine jobs such as working with science, mathematics and businesses.
Women are still seen as property, just in a sexual way. The constant bombardment of the media does not help this. Films, TV programmes and novels all illustrate women as sex items, music videos in particular.
The aspirations of women have changed. It is now socially acceptable to want to gain a high achieving career rather than to marry and have children - this is a positive step in the right direction. However a lot of women do marry and have children (not that there is anything wrong with that) but the Marxist feminist belief of this is that: women are churning out new workers (children) for the Bourgeoisie and their husbands come home after a day's work and have a warm bath (this theory is called the 'warm bath theory') and are served dinner by their wife, they release their anger and tension at home so when they go to work the next day they are a good worker and the Bourgeoisie benefit from this.
I'm not a radical feminist - I don't want a matriarchy and I don't believe the world is patriarchal in its entirety but I do believe our society is male dominated. Men are still seen as the better sex, the more powerful sex.
I am a liberal feminist; I simply want equality between men and women (and LGBT people and straight people).
Feminism is still necessary.
There was a big uproar on Twitter when Tesco released a card that read 'Gleny's had heard all about sexual harassment in the workplace and deliberately wore a short dress with a plunging neckline to ensure she didn't miss out'. Apparently this card was meant to be humorous, I don't see how it is, it is simply promoting sexual harassment, objectifying of women and even rape. WOMEN ARE NOT OBJECTS. Their role is not just to cook, clean, pop put babies and give men sexual satisfaction. We are more than that; we are intelligent, beautiful, smart, funny and kind (well a lot of us, not all, sadly).
We endure the pains of periods and childbirth, which men do not, and that alone means we deserve respect. How would you (men) like to have blood leaking from you every month and a stomach that feels like it is being kicked multiple times? How would you like to have to squeeze a human being out of you? Think about that next time to are about to refer to women are as one of the following sexist names: slag, slut, whore, Missus, damaged goods, spinster, and I'm sure there's many more.
Women may have more rights than they used to (thanks to the suffragettes) however they are still not fully equal with men. Just take a look at the media; it is filled with images of how women should look - big boobs, blonde hair, hairless legs and underarms. This is all for male sexual pleasure. Women are now adhering to the norms of society such as shaving their legs and getting rid of pubic hair and although it is a personal choice to do so, the pressure on women to conform to these beauty stereotypes shows that we still need feminist ideas.
Although women generally are paid the same as men they are still not paid the exact same and they are socialised to venture into careers that are traditionally feminine such as nursing, teaching and catering - and these careers all pay less than the traditional masculine jobs such as working with science, mathematics and businesses.
Women are still seen as property, just in a sexual way. The constant bombardment of the media does not help this. Films, TV programmes and novels all illustrate women as sex items, music videos in particular.
The aspirations of women have changed. It is now socially acceptable to want to gain a high achieving career rather than to marry and have children - this is a positive step in the right direction. However a lot of women do marry and have children (not that there is anything wrong with that) but the Marxist feminist belief of this is that: women are churning out new workers (children) for the Bourgeoisie and their husbands come home after a day's work and have a warm bath (this theory is called the 'warm bath theory') and are served dinner by their wife, they release their anger and tension at home so when they go to work the next day they are a good worker and the Bourgeoisie benefit from this.
I'm not a radical feminist - I don't want a matriarchy and I don't believe the world is patriarchal in its entirety but I do believe our society is male dominated. Men are still seen as the better sex, the more powerful sex.
I am a liberal feminist; I simply want equality between men and women (and LGBT people and straight people).
Feminism is still necessary.
There was a big uproar on Twitter when Tesco released a card that read 'Gleny's had heard all about sexual harassment in the workplace and deliberately wore a short dress with a plunging neckline to ensure she didn't miss out'. Apparently this card was meant to be humorous, I don't see how it is, it is simply promoting sexual harassment, objectifying of women and even rape. WOMEN ARE NOT OBJECTS. Their role is not just to cook, clean, pop put babies and give men sexual satisfaction. We are more than that; we are intelligent, beautiful, smart, funny and kind (well a lot of us, not all, sadly).
We endure the pains of periods and childbirth, which men do not, and that alone means we deserve respect. How would you (men) like to have blood leaking from you every month and a stomach that feels like it is being kicked multiple times? How would you like to have to squeeze a human being out of you? Think about that next time to are about to refer to women are as one of the following sexist names: slag, slut, whore, Missus, damaged goods, spinster, and I'm sure there's many more.
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