Feminism is a word that three years ago I would have never had heard or something that I wouldn't bother asking about if I did happen to hear it.
Nowadays it's EVERYWHERE.
Not that this is a bad thing.
Being a girl myself I'm all for womens rights and being treated equally etc etc and recently I've been thinking about the subject of 'Feminism' and what it actually means.
If you are on Twitter and into blogging and YouTube then I'm 90% sure you would have read somewhere or even seen a tweet about the 'risky' photo Blogger/YouTuber Zoe Sugg snap-chatted a few weeks ago.
The internet went crazy over this photo with headlines on online newspapers such as '...Zoella ditches wholesome image with bedtime snapchat...of her in her knickers'
and being the lovely community that the online world is - lots of other YouTubers/Bloggers tweeted their own version of the photo to Zoe to show their support.
I sat back and watched this all happening online one evening and suddenly another point of fighting for Feminism was opened up to me.
Upon taking this photo Zoe I can only assumed thought nothing of it and innocently snapchatted it to her followers as a simple goodnight message - but it was the media that blew it out of proportion by accusing her of 'ditching the wholesome image.'
There is nothing sexual about the image at all.
You can see her underwear - but more is covered up than would be if she was on the beach in a bikini WHICH is considered absolutely okay.
Before she has posted Instagrams of her on holiday on the beach in a bikini showing a lot more than in the above photo - and the media said nothing, yet this snapchat is somehow 'worse.'?
Lets take the fact she is wearing Calvin Kleins...
Above is my search results for just Googling 'Calvin Klein.'
The first thing I noticed was it's mainly men featured - ALL IN JUST THEIR UNDERWEAR - which is perfectly fine...right?
Looking at Justin Bieber in the bottom right hand corner - do we see any media accusing him of loosing his 'innocent side' bearing in mind he started out his singing career looking cute and totally innocent
or are any of the Calvin Klein models in the paper for modelling in just their underwear?
Kim Kardashian is also another celebrity to be targeted for the same sorts of reasons.
She is completely confident in her body and shows it off on Instagram - covering up everything that 'she should' and receives a lot of hate for doing so yet male celebrities
can post topless photos and receive nothing but compliments.
Not okay?
Okay?
(I'm not picking on Justin Bieber - honestly!)
The same body part - just on a different sex.
One sexualised and one not.
But I think in a world where Feminism is such a massive topic and an on-going debate we forget to remember where the males stand in all this.
Girls have it bad with - 'how we should look' but do you ever think Boys have it bad too and sometimes in a worse kind of way.
I've been with my boyfriend for three years now and we are both pretty laid back people. We eat relatively healthy, both exercise every now and again and sometimes even jog together in the Summer but aren't massive Gymaholics or properly stick to a healthy diet - I guess we just have a normal healthy lifestyle.
Recently as Summer is approaching I - as the female in the relationship - start frantically realising that soon - I won't be living in huge woolen jumpers and the bikinis, shorts and vest tops will soon be appearing which means I need to start exercising and be 'Summer ready.'
For me this means - nice tanned legs and a flat stomach (because that's how girls are supposed to look in a bikini...right??)
So what do Boys do to be Summer ready?
As I write this blog without anybody I personally know reading (as far as I know anyway...hello if I know you) I don't think my boyfriend will mind me adding this in.
Last Summer I noticed him exercising a lot more than usual and upon me asking him why I was surprised for him to answer 'because I'm self-conscious of my body at the moment and not happy with it.'
And that was the moment it kind of hit me...
Girls are not the only ones.
In a stereo-typical world Girls are the ones who sit in front of the mirror on a daily basis - brushing their hair, putting on makeup and wearing nice clothes, and Boys are the ones who go out to work do all the heavy lifting (as they are naturally strong - of course(!)), and don't have a worry in the world.
But think about it.
If I wake up in the morning with blemishes on my skin, spots everywhere and messy hair.
I have the comfort of knowing that on my desk lies concealer for covering up my spots, foundation for making my skin perfect and straighteners for sorting out my messy hair.
Yet boys cannot wear makeup - because society tells them that they can't.
They must go out the door with the blemishes they are self conscious about, leave the spots for all to see and hope that a simple comb of the hair will sort out the mess, because if they are to be seen using products that may be considered as makeup or skincare - they are instantly victimised or labelled such as 'gay' or the classic 'you are such a girl.'
And to a point theres an image for boys as well as girls as to how they should look.
Going back to Calvin Klein, all the models have 'perfect bodies' which are most likely air-brushed to give this 'perfect' look which gives boys an incentive to look that way.
And if for some reason a boy doesn't like going to the gym they are instantly labelled as 'lazy' or 'weak.'
Because 'boys are supposed to be strong and are supposed to go to the gym.'
Who else will do all that heavy lifting that 'girls cant do?!'
I admire Males for getting up in the morning and going out the door without having maybe even looked in the mirror because I know that even now I can't leave the house without makeup on because in my opinion I look better with makeup on and therefore should wear it - 'because that's what girls do.'
It's an interesting topic to think about and will probably drive you crazy or on an angry rampage no matter what sex you are - which is why I wrote this post, not that I'm angry..but more interested in other peoples views on this topic?
In conclusion -
Girls boobs and showing a bit of underwear in an innocent manner is not SEXUAL unless you want it to be.
#freethenipple
And Boys - I salute you for being more confident than I think anyone realises and skincare and straightening your hair is OKAY!
Molly
xox
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