Girl Power

 I am your everyday kind of girl, grew up in the 80's , went to school, had a few boyfriends and eventually settled down with my husband and had two kids.  But you see apparently I am a little different and I don't get why.There is something that has intrigued and confused me for some time now and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to see if I am alone in my thinking.  Just a heads up... I think I might be, but lets see how we go.  Today I want to throw the gates open for your opinion, particularly on feminism, or what it means to be a woman in 2014. 

Lets go back to where this idea for this discussion came about and you might understand more of what I mean.  The Grammys.    I like most people, had heard a lot about the first performer of the night ( Beyoncé) and her recent album launch and subsequent change to a more raunchy style.  Fine if that is where she is going good for her, whatever floats your boat.  I watched her performance and although I didn't see anything earth shatteringly different to other shows, I did enjoy her new music and performance.  What I didn't enjoy, was reading for days later articles about how Beyoncé changing her style was a sell out to feminism everywhere and how her performance ( with her HUSBAND I might add) was "nothing short of pornographic".   Really?  Pornographic?  Honestly?   Look I have to be truthful; I haven't see a truckload of pornography in my time, but I can honestly say that from what I have seen and what I saw in Beyonces performance, pornography is not the first word that comes to mind.   I wouldn't even call it M rated.  PG at best. 

These articles and their writers in their self appointed wisdom decided that because a performer chose to dress in a "sexy" manner and be a little more suggestive in her style, that she no longer championed women's rights.  That her dancing on stage in a seductive manner with HER HUSBAND seemed to mean that she now somehow feels that women deserve to be nothing more than weak little eye candy, standing around waiting to be objectified by men.  Seriously one writer actually had that in their article.  So I guess this brings me to my question for you.  Do you think it was that bad? 

On a deeper level, why would there be anything wrong with a successful, strong, independent woman deciding to promote her feminine side or display her sexuality?  Why is it that whenever a women focus's on her appearance, or portrays herself in a more feminine or "sexy" manner she is supposedly weakening herself to the male population.  Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I've always felt that in a situation where a woman is comfortable enough in her own skin to promote her "assets" that it is quite an empowering situation for her.  Who hasn't felt pretty awesome, when you finally hit your goal weight after months of hard work, slip into that sexy little dress that has been waiting in your cupboard and head out for a night on the town?  If you are then noticed and appreciated by men during your evening doesn't that make you feel good?

Now before anyone takes it a step further, I am talking about this on a fairly innocent level here.  Yes there are situations where women are objectified and made to feel lesser based purely on their appearance. And yes this is a bad thing, as no one invites this kind of unwelcome attention. But that's not what I am talking about here.  There is this wide sweeping generalisation that a woman who is aware of her body and appreciates the attention she receives when she puts herself on display, is demeaning her entire gender.  I have to say I heartily disagree.  I think it is quite empowering to know that others find you attractive and quite an ego kick, even as a married women.  This is different to dressing in low cut tops and short skirts and perching on a male colleagues desk at work to get out of a task or grab their attention.  I'm just talking about good old fashioned appreciation of the opposite sex. ( or same sex if that's what you are into).  Feeling like even after so many years of marriage or babies or suburbanism you can still be an attractive being. 

Maybe I am alone out on a limb here. I have been told in the past that I don't think like "other" women, so maybe I'm wrong.  Or maybe, just maybe I am part of the new generation of women who aren't afraid to stand up for their feminine rights..... all whilst dressed in their favourite LBD,  red hot lipstick and raunchy lingerie  ;-) 

Something to think about.....

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