Can I just reiterate how much I love Jessica Valenti and the way she writes. One of my favorite things about her is that she doesn't just complain about a problem, she gives a solution. In the chapter titled "Pop Culture Gone Wild" Valenti talks about how society pressures women to be the "perfect girl" which doesn't actually exist. I think that here she has a really good point. How can we as a society expect women to be sexy but virginal, accessible but mysterious, and to "act" like lesbians but really like men? And the sad thing is that she is absolutely correct. This, like many other aspects of American society is a dichotomy, one that all women are forced into. If you have sex, you're a slut but if you don't have sex, you're a prude. This double standard is a lose-lose for many if not all of the women who fall under the scrutiny of the public eye.
Realizing that this double standard exists can seem overwhelming. It's hard to be optimistic when you are dealing with a lose lose situation but Valenti does a good job of finding a solution. It doesn't exactly solve the problem but it gives women an outlet for dealing with it. She says that as long as you are aware of the social stigmas, and do things because YOU want to not because society is pressuring you, then you can overcome this double standard.
No comments:
Post a Comment