Ariel Levy’s book, Female Chauvinist Pigs: Woman and the Rise of Raunch Culture, examines and often criticizes women’s decisions to participate in raunch culture. The author, as a feminist, questions why women continue to feel intrigued as well as empowered by this objectifying culture. Is a women’s wish to fit in with the male culture an adequate reason for such a choice? “They wanted to be ‘one of the guys’; they hoped to be experienced ‘like a man.’” (Levy, 4) While Levy thoroughly explores aspects of women’s decisions to participate in this industry, she omits various conflicting views.
Levy interviews women who substantiate her argument. Although she mentions the money that is often exchanged for participation in this “adult industry”, she does not adequately explore how this money is being used. This income may pay for graduate school, a child’s medical bill, a mortgage, or extravagant, frivolous goods. One must consider that these jobs pay significantly higher wages than working in Starbucks or Barnes and Noble. Perhaps, some of these women are taking advantage of their marketable appearance in order to accomplish specific goals. Is this subgroup of women devaluing themselves or working for profit? When a woman exposes her breast for only a t-shirt, has she made a poor decision? When an eighteen year old voluntarily decides to expose her body, does she comprehend later ramifications? Society consists of a world in which privacy is often limited. Actions are often documented on video, the Internet, and magazines. Ten years later when this woman delivers her first daughter, will she dwell her past decisions? This often impulsive decision made as a youth, which was once viewed as empowering, may now be regretted.
Levy does not explore the role of parents in their adult children’s decisions to participate in this raunch culture. Parents often attempt to instill their values in their children. Can upbringings be modified in order to prevent future generations from making similarly decisions? A woman’s objectification of her body as well as women’s chauvinistic objectification of other women’s bodies has been perpetuated over time. Each woman’s decisions must be evaluated individually. While it unacceptable when a woman is abused or forced to participate within this industry, is it wrong if a woman voluntarily partakes in raunch activities? Male strippers and porn stars are infrequently criticized. It may be more effective or prudent to first eliminate women that are forced to participate in this industry instead of the woman that choose this path.
I had a similar reaction to Levy's "Female Chauvinist Pigs" as my co-bloggers (HI GUYS!). The introduction and first chapter of this book are well-organized and raise profound questions that demands everyone of this generation to re-think what we deem as appropriate. The news media showers us with these raunchy images on the daily. Our culture is sex-obsessed and this surprises no one. How and why did this happen? What can we do to stop it? These are all solid points made by Levy but some holes remain in this argument.
ReplyDeleteThe fact of the matter is we're dealing with youth culture. Though some of the raunchiness has spilt out to the older generations, its the young people who are predominant. And young people are rebellious. We do what we're told not to do because you tell us not to do it. We do what hasn't been done because we want to be the first to do it. Such has been the case throughout history and such will remain the case. Which, in my opinion, makes a lot of this argument a moot point. If organizations begin movements to silence industries such as GGW and the like, it will simply make this outlet all the more appealing (or should i say, "sexy"...) This is not to say that I condone what is going on in our Paris Hilton-praising world. Clearly this issue is raised because it has negative repercussions, this I do not doubt. But there are certain aspects of life that can be categorized as the "uncontrollables." Young people pushing the envelope, and acting provocatively fits this notion.
That being said, I'd like to reinforce a few points made by my fellow bloggers. Emily brought up the fact that nearly all of the girls who "choose' to flash the GGW cameras are choosing to do so under the influence. So the fact that these cameramen claim to not be provoking the girls actions is a lot of crap. Asking a drunk person to do something crazy is by no means the same as asking said person whence they are sober. On the same token Emily brought up the issue of how this all affects the even younger generation who look up to people our age. I completely agree on this point. Innocence is precious and shouldn't be taken away as easily as the news media allows it to. On the subject of "uncontrollables" this is an aspect which does not fit this category. We can control, or at least try to control, what is reaching the children. Over-exposure to this culture at an early age is certainly something worth fearing.
Nice work on this first series of posts. You've all done a good job of troubling some of Levy's points, and raising counterarguments; we'll talk about some of these in class. good work dialoguing with one another too!
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