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Ideally, feminism supports people, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, to be who *they* want to be
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That's the key word. And how often do growing political movements fully live up to their original intentions? Yeah, that's what I thought.
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the straining for elegance is what makes us human. Whether or not the fight is ever "won" is really beside the point. Striving for an ideal sets the stage for progress, without it we fall into lethargy. How many revolutions have been staged on the basis of creating a classless utopian society? Have any of them succeeded for any length of time? no, but does that mean that we should stop trying to make the world a place where anyone and everyone should have the opportunities to provide for themselves and their families in a way that goes beyond survival? However, Feminism is a movement that has not only provided women with a purpose and a cause, but also has made tremendous progress in changing the way women (and all humans) are viewed in society today. We are
that much closer to the ideal. When men, women, blacks, whites, browns (or blues for that matter!), jews, christians, muslims, and pagans alike can be treated in society equally -- to a society when the people who deserve something get it...regardless of "who they are".
Feminism doesn't fight the media simply because it portrays "pretty," thin, large busted women, because yes, these women do exist and should be allowed -- nay, encouraged-- to feel pretty. The problem arises when these women are ALL thats shown in the media. When they are presented as the ONLY ideal of beauty. How many little girls have grown up watching the mentioned Disney movies, how many have been trained to want as their most powerful attribute a tall, thin, big eyed body in order to attract prince charming! These things aren't bad, but when they are held higher in esteem than good conversation, knowledge, humanity, and friendship, they can harbor unhealthy implications. Eating disorders plague millions of girls and women (and yes, men too!), and this in the same world in which millions starve to death! Being thin and fit is NOT bad, its just been elevated to a position it never should have reached. We as people need to start putting forth ideals more balanced, rearrange our priorities, and then the media will reflect that.
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Yeah but men are held to a lot of social standards as well. And nobody complains when men sell their sexuality, or express it in a way that the other sex finds attractive.
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You argue that men never complain about the way the media portrays them in the media, well I say, you should! Feminism has gathered momentum because women have been oppressed for soo long. If the media (which can be considered the visual embodiment of a society) oppresses the image of the ideal man, then fight it! There is a lot more to life than sex and sexuality, in case you didn't notice.
You are oppressing feminists in the same way that you argue they oppress the rest of women and men. Not all feminists (indeed, not even the majority!) strive to catagorize women into "GI janes." Infact, that incredible generalization is exactly what the ideals of feminism are agianst. People are radically different from eachother, whether they are male or female, and whenever we try and put large groups of people into little boxes based on the actions of a few radicals, well thats what we should all try and fight.
Also, you say women should dress/act sexy if they want to. The question is... would they want to if the media and our society handled sexuality and attractive-ness differently? Would you be so attracted to the thin large-breasted women if you hadn't been raised to do so?
Personally it offends me that the photo of Beth Ditto is such a big deal. Larger women (and men) shouldn't have any more reason to be ashamed of their bodies than anyone else. We're all human!