Link Posted this cos it was in our commuter paper yesterday, with the part I bolded which made me howl Apparently flogging a book now on her ordeal, which I'm sure has nothing to do with being pissy about geting dumped by VS
It's cute of her that she should feel complicit in a visual culture that turns - some - men into porn addicts. Rather than playing the female objectification card, which casts men in general as victimizers - despite the fact that beauty standards in the fashion industry can hardly be said to be dictated by anyone, let alone an entire gender. But you know what? I respect her decision. I'm an atheist and as opposed to sexual moralism as can be. I like beautiful women in sexy clothing. Nonetheless, I can't help but notice that Victoria's Secret's designs often directly refer to the types of garments worn by turn of the century prostitutes, however classy and well designed. I don't know, maybe it's 'natural' for young girls to want to model themselves after prostitutes - but the thing is, I don't believe fashion has much to do with individual self-expression, much like we'd like to believe. It's more about abstract market relations finding their 'natural' expression through peer pressure, etc. Of course, it's up to young girls to decide if they really want to buy into this branded conception of the feminine or not - but then again, I think it's asking a bit much to expect this kind of self-awareness from thirteen to fourteen year olds - which tends to be the age now that girls start bugging their parents they need lace thongs and the like.
Hmmm. I'm considered religious, and I have sex and own lingerie...which includes lacy and racy, but also pedestrian cotton undies and bras. No longer married. Still having fun. Could it be that I'm in a faith that recognizes the beauty in human sexuality (mostly. The conservatives mess it up)? Or the fact that it is a requirement for men to "pleasure" their wives?
What an incredible post! First of all, I would go further in saying that prostitutes have for time immemorial been the unsung heroes of the fashion industry. I've been around long enough to notice trends catching on in the track before they did in the nightclubs. Good point about the automatic objectification card. I have no idea who this chick is, but she did the little addiction strawman thing. Which is what feminists do with prostitution. She conflated porn with addiction. The premise she framed her answers in is that porn viewing and addiction are one and the same. And when the interviewer questioned her, she glossed right over it, and reinstated the premise. Likewise, when feminists frame prostitution as slavery or child abuse. As though, there were no such thing as prostitution in the absence of slavery or child abuse. And, finally, since you mention the objectification card, the same strawman is used to frame male sexuality. Wherever men desire women sexually, it must be at the expense of women. Even though I'm a hard boiled atheist like yourself, there's nothing like a good Christian girl sometimes to challenge automatic liberal fads. Despite this chick's expected Christian hypocrisy, of course.