I, Object.

If you have read a couple of my other posts, or know me in general, you will probably know me to be an ill-informed feminist.

The Pornification of Britain's high street:
why enough is enough.

By this I mean, I am proud to call myself a feminist, there are still issues that effect women today, I will not stand for injustice and I know when I am being discriminated against for my gender and looks. Having said all this, I am not up to date on the latest arguments, and I often don't feel confident enough in my knowledge to sit here and write about  the ins and outs of feminist topics.

This doesn't mean I don't have an opinion, and I am of the belief that keeping quiet on something you believe in doesn't do the fight any good, so here we go, I'm about to loose my feminist article virginity.

Take a look at these two screen shots...

30 Ugly Celebrities without make up.
When will we say enough is enough on that?

They are both screen shots of an article posted on the guardian website titled 'The pornification of Britain's high street: why enough is enough.'  The article is great and raises some very relevant points. The kind of points I normally shy away from making myself although whole heartedly support.

In many ways this is not a post in direct response to this article, let me draw your attention to the second screen shot.  This is of the extra 'related links' at the bottom of that very same FEMINIST article.

In the second row, second picture along you will notice one of the suggested links is '30 ugly celebrities without make-up.' And it is THIS that I HAVE to write about.

There are many big battle to fight, the pornification of our high street being one of them. Flaunting naked bodies of women across newspapers, t-shirts, cereal boxes, of course teaches us all that women like myself are nothing more than objects. It's disgusting, it is blatant, it is a problem, but lets look at this suggested link. It is less obvious in it's objectification of women, as it is directed at female readers, it may even be classed as confidence boosting. Perhaps they could even argue that it highlights the fake and dangerous portrayal of beauty in the media by removing the 'air brush' factor. But what else does it tell us?

That even though you have 'made' it, even though you may be incredibly talented and successful in your field, it can all be undermined at the drop of a hat, or rather, the snap of a camera flash, if you don't look your best all the time.

Sorry love but who cares that you're an incredible actress and you have been rehearsing for 3 months straight? Who cares that you have the voice of an angel and have been touring and performing in front of millions every night for the past week? You need to sort out your priorities and find the time to go buy yourself a decent foundation.

If your face doesn't fit...

As a young woman trying to make it in business and the arts I am aware that I am my own product. People have to be impressed by my skills, warm to my personality and undeniably on some level my face has to fit. I am aware of this, and I often spend as much time deliberating over what outfit to wear as to what props to pack, and I will be applying my make up whilst running lines. I like to make the effort, present myself in the best possible light, show that I have taken this seriously and that I value first impressions. Plus, looking good helps me feel more confident.

Similarly I expect just as much from who ever it is that I am meeting. If I turn up for lunch to discuss my next project and the person hasn't washed, well quite frankly, I am going to question their dedication.

That is a harsh fact about the vanity culture we live in. However, I would also like to believe, that if I am having a bad hair day, and don't look my 100% best then my skills and personality will pick up the short fall. After all, that is what people should, and will focus on.

Unfortunately, this isn't, evidently, what the media focuses on. And while these 'celebs with out make up' pieces are aimed at boosting female confidence, are frivolous, cheap reads, and admittedly entertaining and addictive, they are also a fight for feminism to take on. And quite frankly I am disappointed and appalled that after such a wonderful article about feminism and fighting gender inequalities, The Guardian completely undermined the piece, by 'suggesting' an article, that equally objectifies women. This is a grass roots battle, one that doesn't involve a law change, one that we can fight peacefully, I refused to click on that suggested article.

In the eyes of the media, I may only be a pretty face, but I, object. x