Feminism or Exploitation?
Dear dedicated and awesome readers of lip;
Today I have a topic for you that has been in the media for a long time; the slimline differences that there can be between feminism and crossing the line to the exploitation of women. I realise that there hasn’t been much in the media lately to spark the recent fire inside that has gotten me to writing this article today; but I feel as though there shouldn’t have to be. I’m fed up with seeing people demean women for the attributes that we all should be embracing; not trying to change. The models we aspire to look like shouldn’t be the people we see in the celebrity magazines. They shouldn’t be the people who have plastic surgery to ‘enhance their good looks’. There shouldn’t even be people employed to criticise people on their looks; can’t everyone be treated as beautiful as they are in any aspect of their personality?
Coming up in the near future, there is a fantastic opportunity to do this; International Women’s Day is coming up on the 8th March; which is a day dedicated to the celebration of all women. Be a part of this, be proud of who you are, be proud of what you achieve, be proud to be womanly. This doesn’t only mean you’re genetically female; this also encompasses loving your womanly body, embracing the facets of life that we view from the woman’s perspective and celebrating the fact that there will always be women across the globe that you can, without knowing them, have that special, unified womanly bond with.
You are beautiful. I am beautiful. We can share a unified notion that we are magnificently beautiful within ourselves, and that’s what we need to be happy. Make-up, no make-up, designer clothes, non designer clothes, the latest hair cut, colour and style… it doesn’t matter. Why should we allow our beauty be determined by someone else? We are the ones that have to live with our bodies; be happy for who you are. In saying this, I would also like to emphasis this quote: “You don’t have to be anti-man to be pro-woman. I’m for equality and similarly; I believe it is important for all people to be able to love their own bodies and embrace not only their gender specific attributes, but their lives on a whole. Though it is important to be able to help people discover their true beauty and reasons why celebration of life and their bodies will enhance the quality of all things great, we must begin with ourselves. Get out there, girls; enjoy yourselves as young women and always aspire to be the best you can be in the happiest way that you can. There is no such thing as normal; normalcy is still different. Embrace and celebrate the differences and in doing so, you will enjoy your journey in this life and in this body.
Embrace.
SiobhanMarie.
