02 November 2009

So... what do we think of...

... women who bash other women for their appearance? And... I don't mean in a "she looks bad - why doesn't she pull it together" kinda way (though we all know that happens too), but... in a "she has a big chest - I bet they're fake - she had on a lowcut Halloween costume, therefore, she's a slut - she wears tight jeans, I bet she's easy and definitely not a feminist - oh, it goes on - you know it goes on....). And... for those of you who know me... I am not saying this because I've been anywhere from a 34DD to a 36D+ since I was 15.... I've just had it with this blatant, mean-spirited gender-bashing.

I would stay on my soapbox a lot longer, but.. I have kids to deal with. And, yes, I realize that these same women would probably think that I should be "working" outside the home if I'm a true feminist. Truly, such thinking sets feminism back many, many years.... as does condoning the plight of female graduate students who are not taken seriously in coursework because they look "like aerobics instructors" per their male professors, for example, or women who are deemed "sluts" at first glance because they are wearing something lowcut or clingy or spend too much time on fashion - never mind that they are, often, multi-degreed or hold positions of great responsibility and intellect in their respective careers.

I'm just tired of it.... these women who sit around and speculate on the morals and intellects of other women based on an outfit, a bra size or a first visual impression. These supposed feminists who use words like "sluts" liberally or actually spend time wondering if someone has a breast or butt implant - or chastise teens who wear appropriate but more form-fitting clothing because they like it, it looks good, it covers everything (like yoga pants - I mean come on! yoga pants are "slutty"??!!) - whatever (and, further, even speculate that their permissive mothers must be slutty or have implants - and, yeah - I was just made aware of a Facebook "conversation" to this effect - replete with the standard "ugh - I feel like I'm wasting my time as a feminist" - type comments - to which I say - yes, you are - until you open your mind, stop trashing others and get some self-esteem yourself. Anyway......

4 comments:

Emily said...

Hmm, I am just trying to guess what the heck happened. I subscribe to the Health-at-any-size (also known as "size acceptance" or "fat acceptance" movement. And one of the main tenets of that is: No person's body should be judged. Not just fat bodies, but average bodies, thin bodies, large breasts, small breasts, you get the picture. And one cannot accurately assign characteristics to a person based on the person's body, or clothing, etc. Our society, of course, does not describe to this line of thinking, generally. And it's true, women can be very tough on each other. It's a sad state of affairs.

Daily Dose of Fantasy said...

The net result is a relative shortage of women. Research shows that a woman who leads two men to think that they could be the father gains more resources from the possible fathers.

Sue said...

I think everyone sizes up appearance. It's the easy way...doesn't take much thought. But it's unfortunate and could cut you off from the surprises and benefits of taking the time to get to know someone. If I had a nickel for everyone who told me they didn't know what to think of me at first...haha.
I think the ultra-feminist is a welcoming and accepting person.

Facie said...

I am torn about this. I was criticized by a few people at my last job b/c I wore very loose-fitting clothes. For the most part, I am uncomfortable with tight things (though I was not always), even though I realize the baggy stuff makes me look sloppy.

Similarly, I worked with a woman who wore a lot of cleavage-revealing stuff. She was one of the first people who criticized what I wore, and that seemed odd to me. Why is it more acceptable for her to show off her chest than it is for me to hide my body?

I have to also add that I was a little appalled looking at pics of my six year old cousin in what looked like a hooker Halloween costume. Seeing this girl in a belly shirt giving a "come hither" look kind of turned my stomach.