Sexism // Rising Again

Women being used as objects of desire or as a promotional tool, we see it over and over yet it nothing ever seems to change. Last time I talked about this issue was back May with a post all about what I'd refer to as 'Hipster Sexism', if you missed the post you can catch up all about it // here //. I felt like currently this seems to be an issue which keeps rearing it's ugly head.

First point of call in the wide array of all things wrong is this video, I'm sure many of you will have seen it and have an opinion on it. Whether you think the song is catchy or not we still have to question why the video has been directed in such a way and how the director Diane Martel can even dare think the video isn't sexist, making comments such as: 

"Look at Emily Ratajkowski’s performance; it’s very, very funny and subtly ridiculing."

"I directed the girls to look into the camera, this is very intentional and they do it most of the time"

Here is where the main issue lies with me, hipster sexism is all based around the idea of the joke being there and everyone being aware. It plays up to the idea that something is meant in an ironic way or delivers a mocking fun/playful feel. She talks about how it was all a perfomance she intended to achieve which means it's not sexist. I think Diane is completely wrong she knows it is what it is, wouldn't it not be more interesting to sexualise the men and flip the gender conventions we hold? 

Here we have yet another video to cause controversy, now of course Miley's doing this whole new 'image' change and coming from her Disney past you can't blame her although you could blame the director. Amazingly enough we already all know the director, none other than Terry Richardson. Suddenly all the pieces fall into place, here you have a man who has such a massive part in the whole idea of Hipster Sexism.

Amazingly if you listen to the song it's lyrics seem to hold a lot of meaning, it could've become a powerful anthem for women but sadly no 'Uncle Terry' got his hands on it. With pop music nudity is almost a given, we've seen it all before but here we see Miley and a sledge hammer a little too close. Something she was apparently 'told' to do and encouraged into by Terry...

Caryn Franklin Co-Founder of //All Walks Campagin// heads to twitter to voice her opinion about the video, thankfully disapproving of Terry and making her opinions known. Thank god women like her exist, willing to educate and celebrate diversity and challenge real issues!

The main issue here is the fact Hipster Sexism is seen as a 'trend'. It's seen as a clever selling tool rather than a degrading issue to be taken seriously. All I hope is the world stop being such a passive audience and wake up to what is going on. 

 Are people making an issue where there's not one or is Hipster Sexism really being used as a tool to degrade women but being passed off as empowering them, what do people think? Let me know!

Hipster//Sexism

Something we're used to seeing constantly is women being seen as sexual objects but with the new rise of certain ad campaigns and photographers, has it almost been accepted?

For example, take American Apparel who constantly bring out images of women as sexual objects, rather than having respect for them. I think firstly these adverts are awful and secondly if you're trying to appeal to such a young audience as American Apparel do why promote this? Do we want to teach youth that it's alright to look at women in this way, we wonder why there are so many people who think about rape with the view 'your outfit says you were asking for it'.

I understand the need to be risque and controversial but this is a step to far, creating an ad like this once and it being deemed with such negative issues should clearly make you change your stance when creating ads surely?

Another mention goes to Terry Richardson whos also created this idea of hipster sexism, I honestly think that people who are so youth orientated really need to think about the messages they send across with the photos/ads they're putting out there. For example Terry Richardson being someone who has worked with everyone from Beyoncé to Lady Gaga, all the huge influential names should he really be releasing photographs of women in next to no clothing.

Without even thinking about how this affects the children, just in general he seems to be somebody who continously shoots women in either a sexual way or extremely provactive. Which isn't to disregard his work as a photographer there are pieces I've seen and loved. 

Like this image, I don't understand why he feels the need to create such images and also why people are so accepting of it? Do we really care so little about women that we're willing to see them treated like this all in the name of 'fashion' or 'style'. Is it not sending women's rights back years?