In the last 6 hours, I’ve seen two links to stories and articles that are downright frightening. First, writer Tracie Egan Morrissey with Jezebel writes about one of the “Real Housewives of Orange County,” Alexis Belleno, states that women’s liberation ruined America. Just how, you ask?
Well, she doesn’t exactly give you that equation. But she does say the following:
I think America is going through a liberal movement, and the older, more traditional marriage values are becoming something of the past. Jim and I are one couple who still favor a more traditional marriage rather than a liberal marriage, and because we do, it makes my marriage an interesting conversation topic. However just because we have a more traditional marriage does not mean I do not make my own decisions. As you can see just in this one episode, I chose to wear the dress I wanted, not the dress that was Jim’s first choice.
Yep, that’s right. She got to pick her own dress — so obviously she is a woman of her own word! She also said, according to Morrissey, “Everybody thinks [my husband] bosses me around. And it’s OK because he is the man.”
Yep. So glad you're such a great role model for our girls. What's the discussion tonight, ladies? Politics? World culture? Oh, wait, catty gossip! DO SHARE!
I’m not saying men should be de-balled because for the last BILLION centuries they’ve been the decision-makers. If she wants to live in her little fantasy world of “reality,” she can do that, by all means. But how on earth can we continue to put these people on a pedestal, give them fame and fortune, while the crumble the moral fabric of women’s rights? I never watched this show to begin with, and you better believe I’m never watching it now.
And I didn’t hit the tip of the ice berg. In the video from the link above, she actually uses the Christian excuse of “coming from a man’s rib” as the reason that she takes his orders.
Which brings me to the best bumper sticker I’ve ever seen. “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” – Ghandi.
So go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back, Alexis, for being ever-so-Christian with your beliefs in the household. Oh, and put your boobs away and stop acting catty like a 14-year-old. I don’t think Jesus digs that.
In another article, a woman whose name I’ve ignored because I don’t want to give her the pleasure of being tweeted, talked about, or, in my case, blogged about, claims that “slutwalks” are the future of feminism. Wanna see this business? Click here and watch the discussion on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.
I get what she’s TRYING to do, albeit sadly trying to do. She is trying to say that women should be able to wear what they want without being an object. I totally get that. But why does feminism have to be based on what we wear or how we look? Isn’t that totally steering the wrong direction of feminism? What happened to the freedom of character, the freedom of morals and beliefs?
Now the gist behind SlutWalks is a little more than just being slutty. According to Huffington Post, which wrote an article about this back in April, it started in Toronto after a police officer told a group of students that rapes and sexual attacks can be prevented if women “stop dressing like sluts.”
Am I offended? You bet. It doesn’t matter if you’re wearing sweatpants and a hockey jersey, if someone wants to rape you, they’ll find a way. Claiming that the police officer was “victim blaming,” a core group of women formed SlutWalks, which has taken Canada and the United States by storm with thousands protesting and joining the movement.
While I agree that the police officer should’ve phrased his words differently, or better yet, just focused the avoidance of rape as 1.) Don’t go out alone 2.) Carry protective gear such as pepper spray, etc…the women in SlutWalks claim that dressing sexy is an expression of their sexual emotions. Really? That’s the best you can do? What happened to stressing self defense classes, or safety in numbers? Rape, burglary, physical assault — all of these things can be covered with those two examples in particular. Dressing slutty isn’t teaching anyone ANY lessons, and it’s only sending the wrong message to younger generations. You’re not going to have any serial rapists sit back and say, “Wow, you go girls. I’m going to leave you alone now.”
Education is key, and it always has been. As is communication, which continues to be a binding force for women’s liberation and any successful progress. Want to help women protect themselves from being victims of rape and assault? Encourage self defense classes and safety. Provide education on how to handle such a situation. Provide free pepper spray to every woman in the country. Do something, but don’t encourage wearing next to nothing to encourage expression. It just doesn’t work that way.
