Page 3 and "Choice" Feminism

Welcome back all,

As promised in my post about book review of Caitlin Moran's 'How To Be a Woman', here are my thoughts on these, so called, 'choice' feminists.

First up, for those who don't know, Choice Feminism is a branch of feminism that believes that whatever we choose to do as women is a feminist choice, and therefore shouldn't be disagreed with because we are making our own choices. Sound good, right?

Therefore, extrapolating from this train of thought, it follows that a woman who engages in sex work, topless modelling, or (and expect a sternly worded blog post on this as well) dances to Blurred Lines is making a feminist choice, and therefore it can't be criticised. Right?

WRONG.

VERY. VERY. WRONG.

So, given that it makes me so angry, I thought I'd address a couple of the reasons why this seemingly logical argument of choice feminism (because it is when you first read it) is actually just very damaging to women-kind. For now, let's focus it solely on the topic of Page 3.

Page 3 is the The Sun Newspaper's daily soft-pornography page. Every morning it features a different topless woman pouting at the reader from the confines of the newspaper. There are several big problems with this in terms of its continuing impact on feminism, and most of the women who engage with it are quick to say they aren't feminists. Or, if they are, it's okay because they are employing this technique of Choice Feminism.

The fundamental problem with Choice Feminism is this: it undermines potential 'background' reasons and influence for making the decision to model for Page 3. It fails to discuss what effect upbringing (parenting, education, class etc) has on the woman's decision.

For instance, if a girl is raised in a background in which Page 3 exists, that girl can grow up believing that this is something to aspire to, despite the fact that Page 3 continues to promote only valuing women based on their looks. Therefore, that girl grows up into a woman, having had a blue-print created about herself and woman-kind which says that feminism is evil and what they're doing is ok. And then they encourage other young impressionable girls to do it.


I've got a message for you: it's just plain wrong.

Choice Feminism also undermines for the rest of us feminists the true fight: to not be admired solely on our physical attributes, but also our intellectual ones. Page 3 is a disgusting blight on our society that perpetuates our underappreciation as women.

Many people, men and women alike, support choice feminism because they say that activities like Page 3 don't do any actual harm. Except, from a social point of view, this isn't actually true: by exposing soft pornography to young children on such a public platform we are showing younger generation that it is socially acceptable for women to be objectified and valued on their beauty and physiology as opposed to intelligence. I believe that true feminist choices can only be achieved once we eliminate platforms that encourage the exploitation of women - then and only then can women's choice to expose themselves for men or women's enjoyment be seen to be truly objective. Indeed, the only positive I can see for Page 3 still existing is that its public criticisms and inevitable downfall will serve as a very powerful political form of empowerment for the future feminist cause.

And anyway, perhaps more fundamentally, why is it acceptable for women to do this and not men? Why is it okay to have our breasts out in full view, but not men their penises?! Nowhere on Page 4 of The Sun do I see a naked man with his private parts out, reducing men to a picture of attractive physical attributes! In many ways, this highlights another problem in the media of double standards (also seen in the number of broadcasters who are women over 50).

Finally, I have seen women recently who engage in this type of work and then come out to sell their story, and say they're not feminists because modern-day feminism is wrong. They don't want anything to do with it.

I just want to address this issue by saying this: that is damaging rubbish.

To tell the nation that you're not a feminist is to continue the cycle of young girls believing that feminism is poisonous and they shouldn't support it. That it's okay to have men drool over your breasts on a daily basis. That it's okay for those guys at the bus stop to wolf whistle at you every morning. To be flattered by it, even. To aspire to be a Page 3 model, and have that as your ultimate career aspiration growing up.

Modern-day feminism is being taken forward by the United Nations and their Goodwill Ambassadors, people like Emma Watson and Angelina Jolie who are doing incredible work (expect a gushing fan-girling post about the UN's #HeforShe and IMPACT 10X10X10 campaigns). Feminism today is a hugely positive force, which aims to achieve TRUE EQUALITY. You can't just not be part of it because it doesn't suit how you feel right now. I say 'right now' because at some point in the future, when you get another job and realise that you're only paid 70% of the salary of your male counter-part, you'll realise that feminism was your friend after all.

Women who say they aren't feminists and can't identify with modern-day feminism needs to take a look at REAL FEMINISM, NOT EXTREME FEMINISTS. They let the side down just as much as Page 3. Feminism is about equality of the sexes, so to say you're not one means that you don't want men and women to have equal rights. Simple as.

And Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, THAT GOES FOR YOU TOO.

Ladies, to conclude, you are solely responsible for letting society judge us on our physical attributes alone and ignoring our intellectual ones. The rest of us are working flat out to try and change this and... well... some of you are letting the side down.

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Lots of love,

Philly