Mainstream "women's empowerment" is a lie.

onlyeightfingers · 2021-04-29T01:23:21+00:00

I’ve been wondering for years why female empowerment always seems to involve getting naked in Hollywood. Lost some weight? Get naked. Pregnant? Pose naked. Oh you were in an amazingly clever and cerebral Oscar-nominated film? Haha cool come be naked in our magazine. Bizarre.

PinkBlair99 · 2021-04-29T01:20:35+00:00

Actual female empowerment:

Freedom from violence

Freedom of movement

Free birth control and abortion on demand

Money

Equal pay for equal work

Equal legal and financial rights

Literacy

thowawaywookie · 2021-04-29T02:20:03+00:00

Might as well add in women singers expected to be half naked.

Pasdepromesses · 2021-04-29T02:08:49+00:00

Showing your breasts to random men that you don’t know will never be empowering. I never got it, it always seemed like a very vulnerable position to be in as a women. Especially when the men are fully dressed. It’s a weird power dynamic. Not only in a stripclub, but also on the street.

They sexualise our breasts. But if a mom is feeding her child in a restaurant they all scream like a banshee that it’s improper and that it’s disgusting while they’re trying to eat. No sir, this is the actual use of the organ.

I think that a women and a man who are topless aren’t a good comparison. I think a topless woman is more close in vulnerability to a fully naked man. And patriarchy made it this way. This is my hill to die on.

ThrowRA_lantern · 2021-04-29T06:05:50+00:00

I also want to add “Going with your partner to a stripclub”. Still not sure how this is empowering but I notice how many of my friends are proud they do this with their bf and normalise it and claim they’re good girlfriends for doing this?? Really??

cheezbrod · 2021-04-29T01:24:03+00:00

Ah yes the ol’ our ability to provide sexual entertainment is our greatest weapon and that’s why we’re so powerful /s

Until, you know, we (or others forced into these paths) are taken advantage of in every single one of those situations. Used and abused. But hey, empowerment.

hedevaries · 2021-04-29T05:26:36+00:00

That's why I'm wary of the free the nipple movement. Sure, women should be allowed to be shirtless in places where men can be shirtless and a shirtless woman doesn't deserve to be hassled, but you're delusional if you think that men will change.

SeaNegotiation8 · 2021-04-29T06:27:10+00:00

It is so sad that even in the year 2021, the only “empowerment” some women can fathom is from getting naked or letting men fuck them for money.

So fucking sad.

soundslikeautumn · 2021-04-29T12:36:58+00:00

Also, hobbies, interests or activities that women enjoy that aren't for male entertainment or that aren't super active (like playing a sport, hiking, fishing, etc.) are considered lame by men like book clubs, knitting, pottery making, art classes, gardening, decorating, reading, writing, shopping, crafting, meditation, soap making, jewelry making, etc. If it doesn't benefit them in some way it's worthless even if you get a lot of joy or relaxation from it. Just like when we were little. It was cool if a girl was into "guy" activities, but if a boy was interested in "girl" activities he was considered a loser, weird or gay. It's all just so fucked up.

nymira-1 · 2021-04-29T05:32:37+00:00

Empowerment for women: why don’t you do an onlyfans ?

Empowerment for men: Definitely go for STEAM, trust me

Mirandalovespickles · 2021-04-29T11:28:03+00:00

The ‘threesome’ (or multiple lovers/partners) scene is another one IMO. It’s literally the same as religious bullshit that allows men to have multiple wives. I know some women are the ones who benefit from it but I think the mainstreaming of it and trying to make it ‘cool’ and modern is just a way to make people accept the religious version of it. Also the mainstreaming of head coverings for women. There are so many things that we could add to this list.

spicyspa · 2021-04-29T03:13:03+00:00

There's absolutely no power in exposing you body to a man. In fact, it used to be the utmost in vulnerability to do that which is actually the opposite of empowering.

Someone said that our is making men weak with desire. A warm loaf of bread with hole in it will do the same thing. It's not the flex some women think it is.

2021-04-29T02:10:26+00:00

may as well call that list 'female ~~empowerment~~ enscrotement'

polardonut · 2021-04-29T07:50:48+00:00

Exactly. A few months ago there was a "feminist" protest in my city and the way they protested was..... they were just standing topless asking for whatever attention.... like please can someone tell me how does being topless equal to protesting for the gender equality?

Absolutely ridiculous.... being naked only gets u horny men attention, not "respect me" attention so I really dont see wtf they were doing. Miss me with dat shit.....

mariacolada · 2021-04-29T07:06:45+00:00

Lol at protesting topless. I mean, I get it, men get to go around topless and it seems unfair that there would be laws against women doing so. At the same time, those protests seem very counterproductive. The reason why they gain attention is mainly because men want to stare at some naked breasts which is why the law is there in the first place. I don't think it should be illegal but you won't be catching me at one of those protests getting legally photographed for pervs on the internet.

LilithWon · 2021-04-29T02:57:33+00:00

Burlesque is another one. It's also just weird as fuck to me. So uncomfortable to watch because most aren't even good dancers. Imagine being so privileged that you do stripping as a "hobby"

Big-Respond8481 · 2021-04-29T10:56:33+00:00

BDSM: what would they say if we women wanted to abuse men more often in this scene? Many people would feel more icky about it.

2021-04-29T12:18:39+00:00

I agree with all of this (except the protesting, I don’t know why they do that so I can’t comment on it).

Will also say that sexualizing the body is a foreign imposition to many. Co.lonizers found many peoples scantily clad and came to our lands and/or kidnapped us and imposed their barbarism on us.

I think it’s gross to get an Oscar and then be invited to pose in a bikini, but in certain contexts, asking people to put on clothes is dehumanizing.

What I’m saying is, context matters. Also, letting men police us within an inch of our lives is not empowering and is not freedom and will leave us just as effed over.

PossiblyJennay · 2021-04-29T12:44:11+00:00

Mainstream “women’s empowerment” is for porn but against chivalry.

Holding a door for me = sexism

Me stripping for you = empowerment

Make it make sense

ladylabrys · 2021-04-29T15:14:54+00:00

Make up (men benefit)

Shaving/waxing (men benefit)

High heels (men benefit)

So commonly I hear women desperately explain that these things empower them. But your kidding yourself if you don't think men benefit from nearly every woman they know trying to look like super models (or p*rn stars). These things only provide power in the form of male validation. It gives power... Over OTHER WOMEN. Not men.

janeaustenfan99 · 2021-04-29T04:04:49+00:00

SEx PoSItiVity~ is just another lie that benefits men

thelilpessimist · 2021-04-29T07:52:34+00:00

i fail to comprehend how getting naked and basing your whole worth as a person on sexualizing yourself is empowering

instantsilver · 2021-04-29T12:00:56+00:00

People get so mad when you say this but it's true.

PokePrincess95 · 2021-04-29T14:46:58+00:00

I actually like my pole dancing classes. I just do them at my women only studio and I’m in the best shape of my life. No man has ever even seen me touch a pole. I do that for me

cici_sweetheart · 2021-04-29T16:30:00+00:00

Isn’t that an issue in itself that women can’t just be. It’s a double standard.

asianinindia · 2021-04-29T02:33:07+00:00

I remember when I wanted to learn pole dancing because I wanted to improve upper body strength. Thankfully no classes existed in my city. Then I discovered calisthenics. There's isn't a calisthenics class near me either but at least that's actually empowering! Excited for one to open so I can start working on it.

AnniaT · 2021-04-29T08:55:47+00:00

Totally agree with the list. As to pole dance I had classes with women and it was very fun and good to gain strength and flexibility but I never performed it for men. I think it depends on why a person does it.

findnbalance · 2021-04-29T03:51:11+00:00

To be frank, i’m not sure why pole dancing classes are listed here as they tend to be all female anyways. Personally, It’s brought me more emotional healing, empowerment, self-confidence, and strength than anything else in my life and has helped me recover from an abusive relationship. It’s a form of dance and self-expression and is not always the “sexy” version you see at strip clubs. I couldn’t give a rats ass what men think of my hobby, I do it for the joy it brings me and for myself alone.

Lady_Schmoobleydong · 2021-04-29T13:00:55+00:00

I tried pole dancing because I wanted to build strength and muscle and maybe try something fun. Turns out other than my lack of coordination and upper body strength made me a bad pole dancer. It was also far too sexual, I remember many years ago I did a Pole Fit class which was actually fitness oriented and focused on the workout, not the sexuality. A friend tried it too and entered classes with other instructors who were even more sexual in their instructions, that was the brand of the fitness studio I guess, they closed up shop during Covid, which was unfortunate, because they had a great lunch (non pole) class I’d attend often.

yggiwtmiih · 2021-04-29T19:21:02+00:00

Someone get back to me when Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos poses nude on a magazine.

If it's so empowering why don't the most powerful men in the world do it?????

itsyourgirlfinn · 2021-04-29T12:48:31+00:00

It's empowering only in pure theory. In practice, it's the opposite.

ciaramcw · 2021-04-29T14:41:19+00:00

Don't fall for it all this female empowerment when it is for the men's entertainment and it is not empowering at all.

Artemis-Liberated · 2021-04-29T06:42:02+00:00

I think the list is accurate, and I love pole dancing. It’s a beautiful way to self-express and get in tune with your body especially if you have a hard time looking in the mirror like myself. It’s the objectification of women through a sexual lens, because pole dancing is used as that. When we learn to love ourselves and feel safe in being ourselves we dont need anyone to take notice of what we are doing because we’ll do it regardless.

devilooo · 2021-04-29T10:31:03+00:00

I want to break a myth about pole dancing being for male entertainment, it can be, if it’s used that way but I’ve done pole dancing classes for a couple of months and I felt amazing!

-There were no men to watch us, it was in a class full of girls training to climb poles. I could only train there cause I had no place to add a pole.

I literally got such strong arms I was able to climb up a pole and hold myself in a specific position without falling, hell yea I felt empowered!
I wasn’t learning to dance per say, I was learning techniques to climb, spin and turn upside down. I was doing something cool for myself.
It was a great exercise for back muscles and while I was doing weekly pole dancing lessons my back never hurt, now I stopped and my back hurts due to office work

I just want to say that pole dancing is not women empowerment IF you learn it to impress males.

Pole dancing is empowering if you do it for your own entertainment and health. Maybe it shouldn’t even be called pole “dancing”, because the dancing was used for impressing men. It should be called pole training.

Thesociodark · 2021-04-29T06:21:30+00:00

It's sad that pole dancing is a very hardcore sport otherwise, you need great strength and skill for it. A few years ago I really wanted to start it, BECAUSE of how hard it is, but I had a hand surgery and I don't think I would be able to cling onto the pole for too long :(

ladylabrys · 2021-04-29T15:22:34+00:00

There's a few posts at the bottom about how pole dancing is good actually.

Any exercise is better than none. Getting stronger is empowering. But even if you have dissociated pole dancing from strip teasing, the fact of the matter is that the only reason it's a popular option is because of female objectification. It's basically grooming: convincing women to train to be a sex object for the male gaze under the guise of "fun" and "exercise". I feel the same way about burlesque.

There are hundreds of classes and exercises out there. You don't need to role-play being a sex object.

Edit: said "male objectification" when I meant female

Natalia_Bandita · 2021-04-29T12:23:00+00:00

I mean...I'm into BDSM....but I'm also the Dom in the situation. So I'm the one supplying the power and the pain. I've pegged a dude. Let me tell you....THAT was a powerful feeling.

Is that looked down on?

thefirststep999 · 2021-04-29T07:35:52+00:00

Yep! All of this.

Jingoboi · 2021-04-29T01:32:51+00:00

[permanently deleted]

Title	Mainstream "women's empowerment" is a lie.
Author	Jingoboi
Upvotes	2591
Comments	197
Date	April 29, 2021 1:00 AM UTC (5 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/FemaleDatingStrategy
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/FemaleDatingStrategy/comments/n0tc2f/mainstream_womens_empowerment_is_a_lie/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/FemaleDatingStrategy/mainstream-womens-empowerment-is-a-lie.760402 https://theredarchive.com/post/760402

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