Ain't I A Woman?

One of the most valuable readings for tomorrow's class is a speech by Sojourner Truth entitled "Ain't I A Woman?" Truth highlights an aspect of women's movements that we often forget - the issue of race.

The Declaration of Sentiments from the Seneca Falls Conference in 1848, states, "we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal." Three years later, in Akron, Ohio, Sojourner Truth gave her speech at the Women's Convention, arguing that while white women were being granted certain privileges, those privileges were not also granted to black women. It is important to remember that both of these events were before the abolition of slavery in the United States, and while many white women were fighting for the same rights as men, many black women were fighting for equal rights as men and as women. Her words emphasize this feeling more than anything when she says:

"That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman?"

She continues to describe how she has worked, harder than any man, and as a mother, she has seen her children sold as slaves. She too was a woman, yet her voice was not heard, and her rights were not considered. While the Declaration of Sentiments blames men for establishing tyranny over women, Truth's voice brings to light a different question: what about men's tyranny humankind? With all of our discussions about the various directions of women's movements, and waves of different beliefs, this reading emphasizes the importance of a united front in the fight for women's rights, for all women of all colors.

The Future that Never Happened

Over the course of Levy’s chapter, “The Future That Never Happened,” the author outlines the progression of the feminist movement since the 1960s. The reading reveals the integration and collaboration of the women’s liberation movement and the sexual revolution helped mold the way in which society views women today and provoke the “raunch culture” that is so prevalent.

One of the points on which Levy focused was especially intriguing to read about. The author focuses a large portion of her attention upon the group CAKE. The organization claims “the new sexual revolution is where sexual equality and feminism finally meet” (70) and promotes notions such as female pleasure in addition to ideas of equality between all members of society. While the intentions of CAKE and those who participate in its activity may be in the right place, is this feminist organization also damaging women’s position in society further?

To explore the issue at hand, Levy conducted a series of interviews and appearances to examine if what CAKE claimed their mission to be was cohesive with how they went about spreading their message. Rather than an empowering or educating women on a specific issue, Levy identified the organization as more of a “hypersexual sorority” (71). Large functions and parties held by CAKE generated a great deal of revenue however included stripper poles, female dancers and simulated sexual activity. While reading this chapter, I could not help but think of the way in which females subject themselves to and perpetuate the objectification of women even if they do not intend to do so.

Growing up in the 90s, a great deal of my elementary school years was spent listening to the Spice Girls and other various pop artists of the time. After I received the Spiceworld cd for Christmas one year, I would spend (too much) time leafing through the small collection of photographs that came within the disc’s track list and lyrics pamphlet. While the group promoted “girl power” and the independence of women, all five members were rarely seen without midriff or cleavage being exposed. Reflecting on this now, I wonder if the group would have been as successful had they not objectified their bodies through provocative clothing and lyrics. In today’s world, I would guess The Spice Girls would have had trouble without their suggestive image, however merely recognizing this type of phenomena is the first step in deconstructing it.

Teal Kratky

The American Branding of Sex

Plain and simple, sex sells. Levy makes it quite clear in the first chapter of her text that women have embraced and taken control of a new self image in society. One interesting point that Levy makes is that there are women involved in this revolution both as the 'sexy' images as well as the members of the corporate sturctures responsible for marketing and creating these images. The sexual expression that was formerly taboo and behind the scenes has become a cause for woman to rally around. Events like the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show witness interest akin to the Super Bowl and Levy makes the point that it is no longer the 18-25 year old 'fratty' males embracing shows and other media such as this but women as well. The phrase "if you've got it flaunt it" is being followed more and more with the ubiquity of 'sexiness' and the general acceptability of sex in the media.

While there will always be those women and men that disagree with this sexualizing of the American media I found it interesting to see how women are behind the scenes pushing this movement forward. One of the most vulnerable targets for criticism on this matter, Playboy Enterprises, in fact employs a female CEO. This is an eye opening fact for both of the reasons that women have been able to advance up the corporate ladder in a nearly half billion dollar industry, especially an industry that markets the naked images of women. From personal experience I have only seen this revolution progress further and further, most notably with the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and this past year witht the ESPN the Magazine "Bodies Issue." The SI Swimsuit Issue has only added more pages and subtracted more clothes with a portion even now dedicated to women with bikinis airbrushed on their naked bodies to create the illusion of them actually being in clothes. The ESPN the Magazine Bodies Issue is pertinent because it is along the lines of Levy's conversation on the link between athletics and sexiness. This magazine however included the naked bodies of both men and women and celebrated the muscular, fit, and chiseled bodies of athletes from all sports. It is safe to say that both men and women are responsible behind the scenes for the success of these magazines and it will be interesting to see if this marketing of the sexy will continue to bring in revenue as the American acceptance of pushing this envelope progresses.

Levy brings about many interesting points in these portion of the text. It does not seem this revolution is stopping and sex and sexiness will only continue to be in the American limelight.

Female Chauvinist Pigs

The post-feminist movement is in full swing today. Ariel Levy, in Female Chauvinist Pigs, discusses the new notion of the perception of women in society that has emerged in approximately the last fifteen years. I think the “18-25 age group” can strongly relate to her message regarding popular culture and the new societal norms for a successful woman. Today, mainstream Americans see a successful grown woman as having the brain of the forty year old that they are, but the physique of a twenty-five year old; this woman has kids at home and balances a high-power and successful career, all the while being thin and polished. The liberation that the feminist movement of the 1970s was working to achieve has been reached – women have more opportunities professionally, are more independent. However, I think every person who has any connection to popular culture can safely say that sexuality, and the “raunch culture” Levy discusses is before our eyes at all hours of the day. It is part of the stereotype of an empowered woman today. Girls Gone Wild is in fact, a common household name. With the advances in technology and changes in family structure taking place today, more children are exposed to things at earlier ages, and parental supervision has decreased. The pornography industry, once in “back alleys” is now on primetime TV. Just like anything else, sex and image are businesses in America. It is what the general public craves, a source of entertainment and leisure. The feminists of the 1970s, those women who the masses looked to and admired have become the sexualized over-achievers we see today that are the looked to and admired ones. We increasingly place vanity and sexuality above intellectual capacity and personality. I think saying that pornography is everywhere may be over-exaggerating a bit, but it is not uncommon for normal females to engage in risqué behavior, if you will. Women are constantly seeking approval, both from other women, and men. However, it would be a mistake to leave out the approval men seek from other men, and women also. The macho-ism men experience is equal to the sexual image a woman wants to achieve. Power relations, as we discussed in class, play a large role in the new image of females. The interaction of men and women has led to this behavior, where women feel the need to be “one of the guys” in order to climb the corporate ladder or what have you. Levy is right, women do not want to face exclusion. Christie Hefner is just one woman in the entertainment industry who is promoting the sexualized image of women. However, her ideals are drastically different than what one would initially think. She stands for the promotion of women’s rights, and for the personal success and confidence for each individual hard-working woman. To her, the Playboy Bunny is a means for women to express themselves. “Sexiness” should not have to connect to a woman’s perception of herself, but if that is an aspect a woman sees in herself, she should be free to do so, and not criticized. Unfortunately, part of the obsession with being sexy is the result of massive media campaigns and the lifestyle in the twenty-first century. I think every woman should feel free to express her sexuality, just as men do, without criticism. However, we will run into trouble if all women begin believing that sexuality should and needs to be a main component of her humanity.