merryn smith's Profile

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No, not "false consciousness", rather I see it as a western post feminist amalgamation of hetero-norms about sexuality, femininity and consumption re-sold with a new face. Old sexist stereotypes of what it is to be sexual and feminine are re-packaged to women as apparently now offering them 'empowerment'. We can see in the west that this has back fired severely with young girls being placed under extreme pressure to perform 'sexy' at younger and younger ages. Servicing the phallus-(performing traditional roles of being the object of male desire) is a double edge sword. We know how men treat women in the sex industry so why emulate this? How is this really empowering?? Is it because women are trying to appropriate the horrible sexism they see everyday with the attitude 'if you cant beat them join them'?

The 'empowerment' of women does not result from emulating the big business porn!!!!!! This is evidence of the insidious cultural colonization of non white women by sexist western ideals of beauty and femininity. Why, because you too are 'worth it'! Please read the info bellow from Object:

# The mainstreaming of the sex industries, in particular pornography, lap dancing and prostitution – is leading to the ‘pornification of culture’ in which images of women and girls influenced by pornography is increasingly prevalent.
# The sexualisation of women and girls is linked to the promotion and reinforcement of sexist attitudes which underpin discrimination and violence against women, as well negative effects on individual health and well being

http://www.object.org.uk/index.php/new-object-report-urges-tough-action-on-sexualisation-of-women-and-girls