The Rise of Raunch Culture...
I haven't read the book yet, but I've heard alot about it lately. It doesnt' tell us anything we don't already know. But sometimes , it takes someone to compile information in a way that makes us stop, think and then want to do something about it. For starters here are some of Levy's definitions used in her book
Raunch Culture - Spread of the values of the redlight district into mainstream culture
Female chauvinsit pig- women who make sex objects of other women and themselves.
She talks about how now-a-days Sexy= Raunch or Explicit Exposure. She started to notice a change in culture when she noticed younge women started wearing Play Boy Bunny t-shirts as an everyday wear. Back in her day, (she's 32yrs) she remembers Vanessa Williams getting her crown taken away and banished for posing in an Explicit magazine. While now Paris Hilton didn't even become a star until after her scandalous sex tape was released.
Why the big change? Levy said it seems that The Feminism of old, have just been taken way out of context. During the feminist movement Females fought for sense of self, and respect to be heard, thought of as smart, and not as just sex symbols by men. But now girls are rushing to show a mid drift, get implants (Breast implants up 700% in the last ten years.. 700%!), flash breasts, and act in such a sexually explicit manner. Just as part of there every day dealings. When asked why, they say its liberating, its feminism at its greatest. How as the harmless idea of "Empowerment of Women" been turned around so much as to promote the exact opposite of earlier feminists?
I've noticed alot in my current job. I work for a alternative high school (aka a high school for at risk teens). I"ve been a big advocate of the Gentlemen in the class to act like gentelmen and to treat the girls like Ladys. That means no talking about sexual activity inthe class, no mentioning of inappropraite relations with a girl, no calling a girl names that are deagritory.. and so on. And the boys are coming around. But the thing that surprised me the most was the the girls them selfs referring to there friends and themselve in the same demeaning ways. Seriously women if you use the same negatives descriptions of each other and yourself, your only giving men the right to do the same thing. why be offended of a name someone calls you if you reffer to yourself as that same name?
So to state the obvious its a problem. What do we do to help it out?
Seriously what can someone do to help change the thinking of millions of younge teens.
Yea I realize this thinking isn't EVERYWHERE but it really is a majority.
Honestly, its not something in my face all the time maybe, thats why I was so shocked by it. But in my busy life i rarely have time for TV, I usually dont listen to the radio for music, and Im not a big magazine girl. Still i do see the effects in the children i work with.
Either way its a problem, that i'm not excited to raise my future children up in.. Any suggestions ?
I have some of my own.. ..But i'd like to know what other people think on the subject.
and I really need to get my hand on that book!
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