www.campustimes.org/news/2005/03/17/Opinions/Womens.Weekly.Sexuality.Discussed-896818.shtml
Women's Weekly: Sexuality discussed
By DULL KRS FAN
Published: Thursday, March 17, 2005
We've all heard the worn double-standard that boys who are sexually active are called "players" while girls are just "sluts," even if they have had the same number of sex partners.
The distressing thing about this belief is that while it may be tired, it still holds true. What usually fails to be brought into consideration is the larger argument - women and girls are not supposed to be sexual.
We are not allowed to have sexual gratification, not even through masturbation, according to society's norms. However, this claim tends to conflict with all the images we are being fed by the media.
We are being pulled in two different directions - one telling us that sex sells, and the other telling us that as women we are expected to be chaste.
Girls are starting to become sexually active at a younger age, sometimes even before they receive proper sex education, which has become less and less comprehensive due to the efforts of the current government.
The whole topic of female sexuality is so overwhelming because there is so much to say about it, and every facet seems so important and essential to the concept as a whole.
Back in the Victorian era, women were thought to be morally superior to men, so we had to lead others to a virtuous life by example.
Some of that is still seen today. Girls generally want their men to be a little more experienced than they are, while guys still stick to a slightly more virginal characteristic in women. As seen in the recent Kobe Bryant case, a girl's virginity can be a major point of contention in a rape case.
Boys are even allowed to masturbate more than girls are. It is completely acceptable for a guy to masturbate several times a week, but if a girl does it, then she is gross and unnatural. We are expected to either repress our urges or never get urges to begin with.
However, with shows like Sex and the City, women are more able to realize their sexuality.
The escapades of Miranda, Charlotte, Carrie and Samantha have renewed women's pride. The series showed how women's sexuality is nothing to be ashamed of, but instead should be embraced.
Unafraid to discuss masturbation or vibrators, they set out to - as Kim Cattrall's character, Samantha, puts it - "have sex like a man." Such an attitude empowers women in today's society.
The only complaint is that while they are praising singlehood, they all end up with someone at the end - the four protagonists ultimately find a man.
It's almost like saying that they are getting too old and it's time to settle down. We can only be loose for so long before it becomes too late and we are alone - except for our 163 cats.
Female sexuality is nothing to be ashamed of, although our Judeo-Christian-dominated society is telling us that sex is sinful and that we should feel guilty about our dirty thoughts.
Conversely, the media uses women as a gimmick to sell something. Women are not in control in those ads, and that is a problem - this other extreme is equally as unhealthy.
We need to find a happy medium as individuals, where we accept our sexuality but do not push ourselves past our comfort levels.
― absolutego (ex machina), Friday, 1 April 2005 00:29 (twenty-one years ago)
Political Views: Very Liberal
Interests: feminism, vegetarianism, loving everyone (except for hipsters), hugs, beating people up, rainbows, annoying my roommate, OOF, sunshine, being a spazzz, books, music, Margaret Cho, yummy food, posters, Hello Kitty, Lifetime movies, my hamster Valentina, Bob Nanna, cats, The Golden Girls
Clubs and Jobs: Women's Caucus, Grassroots, UR Veg, The Vagina Monologues, The Tiernan Project
Favorite Music: Fugazi, Sleater-Kinney, Throwing Muses, Hey Mercedes, Bikini Kill, Tori Amos, Aretha Franklin, P.J. Harvey, Jets to Brazil, Le Tigre, Heavens to Betsy, The Butchies, The Dismemberment Plan, The Gits, Braid, The Blake Babies, Julie Ruin, Jawbreaker, Minor Threat, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Gossip, Milemarker, Songs: Ohia, Troubled Hubble, Veruca Salt, Black Eyes, Stiff Little Fingers, Cap'n Jazz, Babes in Toyland, Karate, The Fall on Deaf Ears, Bratmobile, Bangs, Katastrophy Wife, Mineral, Knapsack, Husker Du, The Spice Girls
Favorite Books: Bastard out of Carolina, The Fountainhead, Cunt: A Declaration of Independence, Listen Up!: Voices from the Next Feminist Generation, A Clockwork Orange, The Vagina Monologues, The Virgin Suicides
Favorite Movies: Empire Records, Bastard out of Carolina, Dancer in the Dark, But I'm a Cheerleader, Die Mommie Die, Sister Act, Iron Jawed Angels, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2, Dangerous Beauty
Favorite Quote: "wait, nuns can't have kids? can't they just get injected with shit?"
*anna shapiro (a.k.a. anna banana)*
"But for now we are young let us lay in the sun and count every beautiful thing we can see"
*neutral milk hotel*
"let's ignore our mothers' well meant advice"
"What inspires you should entire you. Live how you want to be loved"
*troubled hubble*
"God gave me this rock career to keep me busy. Back in 1991 I used to hit old people with folding chairs. Suddenly, I moved to the north side of Chicago, Illinois in 1992. It made a rock star out of me at last. I am the daddy of rock 'n' roll! "
*wesley willis*
About Me: Hmm...I'm actually a pretty boring person, believe it or not.
People either think I'm a total sweetheart or a complete bitch (but I usually find that the people who fall into the latter category are assholes anyway).
I don't care what other people think but I'm still a considerate person.
I want to make the world a better place.
I might tear up during Maury, but I won't pitch a fit if I get my new shoes dirty.
― absolutego (ex machina), Friday, 1 April 2005 00:47 (twenty-one years ago)
two months pass...
one year passes...