Hey! Are You Offended By What Women Wear?
3:33 p.m. |
I was wondering, how many think pieces written by feminists will it take for the world to stop policing women's clothing? Aren't they explicit enough in their demands or is it because too many think it's not worthy of their time to read what women have to express about their oppressive experiences as second-hand citizens? Furthermore, will there ever come a day when women's choice of clothing will no longer offend anybody or even better, garner unsolicited opinions? Can someone please have a word with the oracle of Delphi and get the answers to my many questions?
Oddly enough, it appears to me that we can never win and it's due to the fact that we are damned if we do and damned if we don't. What we wear is either too feminine, too masculine, too short or too long, too modest or too slutty and my favorite, too inappropriate, whatever that fucking means.
I'd like to make this very clear, I am fed up with this misogynistic society. We, as a collective, need to start deconstructing the idea that it is acceptable to judge, in such harsh manner, what women choose to wear since in 2016, such effort has yet to be made. Perhaps, the backlash which singer Ciara faced recently is a great example of the work that needs to be done in order to avoid demeaning comments directed towards women's choice of garments.
I'd like to make this very clear, I am fed up with this misogynistic society. We, as a collective, need to start deconstructing the idea that it is acceptable to judge, in such harsh manner, what women choose to wear since in 2016, such effort has yet to be made. Perhaps, the backlash which singer Ciara faced recently is a great example of the work that needs to be done in order to avoid demeaning comments directed towards women's choice of garments.
In case you are unfamiliar with the story, a few days ago, Ciara performed the very patriotic American national anthem before the College Football Playoffs championship game. America's sport. Instead of receiving comments pertaining to her performance, the singer was faced with comments about her dress. Big surprise! The elegant and sparkly gown which featured a nude mesh around the chest area was deemed too revealing by some. The sentiment was that she needed to "cover up" and that the dress was tasteless giving the context. Needless to say, the uproar was palpable on social media, specifically on Twitter, and I witnessed it.
Below are a few reactions that left me angry, speechless and quite frankly, gave me a headache.
The commonalities which I've found in these tweets are that the singer's attire was inappropriate and that her "distracting nudity" needed to be "hidden", I guess in fear that she and her evil breasts may corrupt the youth (sarcasm). This rationale is sincerely problematic and is in dire need to be stopped. Too often, nudity in women is immediately associated with a certain lack of morality. Breasts are wrongfully sexualized. More than often, they become a selling tool. Breasts in beer commercials sells. Breasts in automobile commercials sells. Breasts on magazine covers sells. Bottom line is, the sexualization (or even hypersexualization) of breasts in advertizement is a major selling point. Problem is, way too often people forget it's primary function: breastfeeding (although this can be argued).
When it comes to displaying breasts, it's a double edge sword, for western countries have added a sexual component to nudity. In addition, this is sadly a statement that is more valid for women. Thus, when nudity or partial nudity in women is not shown in a sexual context or isn't sollicited by the gaze of others, it is regarded as indecent. Which leads us to this point, us women, no longer have a say in what we choose to wear and consequently show. This right has been snagged away from us since... forever and, truthfully, it's time that we regain it.
Therefore, to Whom it May Concern, stop policing women's clothing.
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