Let’s look at the issue of female nudity. I imagine that most readers would have observed the naked female form, both in real real life and by way of advertising material and pornography. Indeed, the nude or partially nude images of many thousands of women and girls can be encountered in various forms of media. Most of these images were provided with consent, and often on the basis of financial compensation.
Readers would also likely be familiar with activist groups such as FEMEN, PETA and Pussy Riot, who routinely employ nude or partially nude females ostensibly to advance their political agendas. We might then add various events/memes such as #FreeTheNipple and #Slutwalk.
The Wikipedia entry for ‘Feminist views of Pornography‘ states that “pornography has been one of the most divisive issues in feminism”, and provides a general introduction to the issue.
As to whether the sale and/or public display of female nudity is empowering or oppressive, the answer seems to be “it depends”. Obviously it depends on who you ask. It also depends on the gender of the person asking the question, being viewed or doing the viewing. It depends on what is going through the viewers mind. And so on. The universal exception is material at the far end of the spectrum, particularly images of minors or those obtained surreptitiously and/or without consent.
Some feminists are on record as stating that women who make a living from selling nude photos of themselves and/or performing in pornographic films and/or working as prostitutes, are empowered. Many in this group identify themselves as ‘sex-positive feminists‘.
Many other feminists, however, argue that such behaviour is harmful to women, and that it promotes and/or facilitates violence against women. As a consequence many demand stricter censorship of pornography, whilst other feminists are both anti-pornography and anti-censorship.
(And yet even anti-pornography feminists manage to accommodate their proclivities via strategies such as creating a distinction between ‘pornography’ and female-friendly ‘erotica’.)
Many of these feminists have suggested that women involved in the sex industry do so as a result of earlier emotional damage inflicted by way, for example, of child abuse combined with economic and educational disadvantage.
The only area where the disparate tribes of feminism come close to speaking with one voice is when it comes to condemning men who view pornography or purchase sexual services from women. Such men are portrayed as misogynists partaking in a form of patriarchal oppression, or even violence against women.
As a consequence feminists in various jurisdictions have lobbied for changes to laws that would see the selling of sexual services by women decriminalised, whilst making the purchasing of sexual services by men a crime. But again, even with this issue there are some differences in feminist opinion.
Feminists tend to remain silent on this issue of women purchasing sexual services. Quelle surprise.
See also:
Dress Codes: How high is too high? The evolution of the women’s running brief (3 August 2024)
Woman holds up supermarket checkout line for ‘infuriating’ reason (11 June 2024) Australia
Wild reason content creator flashed portal revealed (19 May 2024)
Stars’ wildest Met Gala afterparty looks (8 May 2024) Just after the boys at Yarra Valley Grammar School were vilified for a webpage that objectified girls, here are some young women doing it for themselves.
‘Inappropriate’: Playboy Model shamed over Disney park outfit (2 April 2024) “I wear what makes me feel good and confident. I’m not here to please everyone. If they don’t like it, that’s their problem”
Sydney woman divides after revealing shock at male attention (5 October 2023)
Unwritten rules of wearing swimwear in public revealed (20 September 2023)
Sad reason women are wearing a baggy T-shirt on public transport (24 May 2023)
‘I was kicked out of a supermarket over my shorts’ (27 April 2023) Narcissistic fool
Woman claims she was asked to ‘cover up’ at Queensland hotel (7 February 2023) An “Only-Fans star“? Oh, ok
Horse racing ditches ‘offensive’ dress code in dramatic change (3 February 2023)
Woman reveals unique Aussie reaction to her ‘giant boobs’ (17 January 2023)
US fitness influencer sparks outrage with ‘revealing’ gym outfit (30 November 2022)
Woman claims she was kicked out of restaurant over low-cut top (4 November 2022)
“Polska, who regularly posts videos of herself wearing low-cut dresses for her army of fans, explained: “My friend Tootatis and I were prevented from entering this restaurant because of our cleavage.”” -> Air-head
Twitter discussion regarding self-objectification by women/girls (23 September 2022)
Meet the Gen Zers who insist on wearing sexy outfits to the office (20 September 2022) #RespectWomen. In their dreams. Absurd self-indulgence
US teacher’s ‘inappropriate’ outfits and ‘booty pics’ slammed (28 August 2022)
Woman claims venue forced her to cover up because of body size (1 August 2022) Ewww, and another one of these embarrassingly vulgar, shallow & stupid articles
Man busted looking at photo of woman’s bum in a pub (22 July 2022) Absurd
Woman kicked off jury duty over outfit doesn’t see what’s wrong (8 July 2022) UK
Disney World guest asked to leave park or buy shirt to match dress code (28 May 2022)
Topless vegan activist slams ‘sexist’ cop request during Perth protest (24 May 2022) They just have to get naked, now don’t they?
TikToker reveals why she chooses to go braless (18 May 2022) See entry below – well it’s same thing here – see this narcissist on Instagram
Woman with naturally big boobs details H-cup horrors (16 May 2022) Go ahead, gender swap this story and see how it reads. And yes, she’s on OnlyFans. More pathetic hypocrisy and questionable leadership from pro-feminist news.com.au
Woman reveals ‘annoying’ issue with having ‘naturally big boobs’ (13 May 2022)
Nadia Bokody: Lie men tell about ‘kinky’ sex (24 April 2022) Blame it on men – again. And yet surveys show that it’s mainly women searching online for violent sex.
Influencer slams ‘jealous women’ for posting ‘hate comments’ (11 March 2022)
Woman claims theme park told to cover up ‘big breasts’ in crop top (2 February 2022)
Playboy model Elizabeth Marie Chevalier ‘too beautiful’ for love (19 January 2022)
Aussie fitness influencer speaks out over backlash to supermarket outfit (11 January 2022)
Bunnings shopper’s wild bikini stunt goes viral on TikTok (5 January 2022)
Outfits that got people thrown off flights | escape.com.au (13 July 2021)
TikTok user shares ‘underboob’ free $97 T-shirt hack at Disneyland (news.com.au) (15 June 2021)
Mum with autism claims she was ‘body shamed’ by Six Flags officer (news.com.au) (11 May 2021) with more details regarding her offensive behaviour here
Why Do Men Watch Porn? – Woke Father (25 April 2021)
Backpacker asked to leave Bondi restaurant over ‘not acceptable’ outfit (25 December 2020) Australia
Clothes banned on flights: Raunchiest eyebrow-raising outfits from 2020 (7 November 2020)
Sydney apartment’s ‘humiliating’ bikini rule bans ‘G-strings’ from pool (7 October 2020) NewsComAu’s plaintive/outraged ‘why can’t I show my bits’ story for today. Or this morning? Or this hour?
Woman forced to leave gym for wearing sports bra that flashed waist (22 September 2020) That poor woman – her boobies can’t breath!
No ‘Hot Pants’: Sexist rules for women on Artic expedition (8 September 2020)
Outrage as news reporter slammed for showing ‘too much cleavage’ (11 September 2020)
Paris Musee d’Orsay sorry for barring visitor in low-cut dress (10 September 2020)
Melbourne woman has spent $135k on plastic surgery – including five boob jobs (2 September 2020)
Naked protester flashes Portland police during BLM protests (22 July 2020)
Mum, daughter forced out of supermarket for ‘inappropriate’ crop tops (16 June 2020) UK. I am sick to death of oft-repeated media items like this one. Wear what you like on the beach, but if you can’t bring yourself to cover your pallid flesh in other public places then use the home delivery services provided by most supermarkets.
Why Renee Gracie turned to porn career after history making V8 Supercars run (5 June 2020) Today’s contribution from pro-feminist news.com.au, shaping & guiding the dreams of adolescent girls everywhere.
Former golfer Paige Spiranac slams the sport’s ‘hypocrisy’ (9 March 2020) And like, we really need to see her bits #FacePalm
Three Instagram models banned after ‘exposing’ themselves during game (29 October 2019) USA
Of course leggings are sexually arousing. Duh (2 April 2019)
Woman known as ‘The Bikini Hiker’ for scaling mountains in her swimwear freezes to death in Taiwan national park after falling down a ravine during a climb (22 January 2019)
‘Why I’ll show off my breasts if I want’ (19 November 2018)
Louvre refused entry to Aussie insta star Newsha Syeah because of revealing dress (10 November 2018)
Stick-on swimwear is summer’s hottest new trend as models storm Miami catwalk in Duct-tape bikinis (16 July 2018)
Saleswoman is paraded around her office NAKED while her colleagues cheer in sickening ‘morale-boosting stunt’ organised by her boss (2 November 2017)
“The situation she is in is undoubtedly traumatising. This is just like with rape”. Except there is nothing to indicate she was coerced into the performance, and of course there is no way she actually got off on it is there? Because … feminism + prudishness
Bettina Arndt on the Politics of Cleavage (19 September 2017) Video
Australian Academics Attack Campaign for More Female Exercise Because of “The Male Gaze” (13 August 2017) A Mark Latham video. Australian feminist academics take issue with women’s fitness awareness campaign. Don’t exercise because men might look at you.
Women’s own level of physical attractiveness regulates the fashion recommendations they would give to other women (29 July 2017)
No, the internet is not actually stealing kids’ innocence (25 July 2017) Religiously avoids mention of any factors dear to the feminist hive-mind. Mentions causality/correlation issue – lol – never mentioned by feminist researchers looking at, for eg. gender quotas in business, wage gap, etc.
“In terms of identifying causes, we should ask why the finger of blame is always pointed at the media rather than other likely causes (including violence against women, or problems linked to growing inequality or precarity)”
Gina Liano in awkward interview with The Project hosts after slamming study on cleavage (11 July 2017)
Google Researcher: Porn Featuring Violence Against Women Is More Popular Among Women Than Men (5 July 2017)
“The world doesn’t revolve around men’s feelings” (12 June 2017) Reddit discussion thread
Porn ISN’T to blame for a man’s inability to perform in the bedroom – it’s a lack of sexual satisfaction (9 June 2017)
Explainer: The rise of naked tourism (29 May 2017)
Bizarre new ‘fashion’ trend where women are wearing nothing but duct tape (16 May 2017)
This woman wants you to look at her breasts (17 April 2017)
“New Yorker Molly Borman said her stick-on pasties accentuate the appearance of nipples while also empowering women”
Hotelier says skimpy ban would hit hard (22 March 2017) Australia
Feminists are confusing nudity with liberation (11 March 2017)
Emma Watson on Vanity Fair cover: ‘Feminism is about giving women choice’ (6 March 2017)
Harvesting the male gaze, by Peter Wright (17 February 2017) Recommended reading
Opinion: Posting your nipples online doesn’t make you more of a feminist (23 January 2017) Australia
Lady Part Costumes Ruled the Women’s March (23 January 2017) USA
Hold pornography to account – not education programs – for children’s harmful sexual behaviour (7 December 2016) Unconvincing effort to equate porn viewing with aggressive sexual behaviour by children/youth.
3 Studies Refute Idea that Exposure to Sexy Centerfolds Harms Men’s Relationships (30 November 2016)
“Why women need to stop stripping off to make a point” (27 November 2016)
Stop calling this ’empowerment’. It’s not (2 November 2016) Australia
‘Likes and follows’ the currency of the female-dominated selfie world, study finds (7 October 2016)
Gonzo: we need to talk about young men and porn (23 September 2016) Maddening gender bias in this article in pro-feminist discussion forum The Conversation. They admit the relationship between viewing pornography and violence against women is hotly disputed and call for a nuanced approach, which suggests some degree of objectivity on the issue. But all the while the author happily ignores the issue of girls viewing pornography, and the possible effects of that on both males and females.
Emily Ratajkowski flashes her breasts … again (14 September 2016)
Topless protesters bare breasts in push for women’s rights (29 August 2016)
Buzzfeed Reporter Goes To Nude Beach, Gets Offended That Men Look At Her (1 August 2016)
Times Square Tourists Left Bloodied Over $1 Tip to Topless Performer (20 July 2016) USA
All the Times Emily Ratajkowski Fought the Patriarchy (12 July 2016) with related Reddit discussion thread here.
Why I organized a ‘no bra day’ at my high school (17 June 2016) USA, with related Reddit discussion thread here
When it comes to what to wear on a plane, anything goes, but undies masquerading as pants? Nup. (1 June 2016)
Female Danish Athletes Diminish Their Own Championship Victory By Taking Nude Photos (26 May 2016)
Feminists Against Heterosexuality (@CarolineHeldman Edition) (14 May 2016)
10 revealing facts about the porn habits of women (13 May 2016)
Calvin Klein blasted online over ‘trashy and repulsive’ upskirt Instagram advert (11 May 2016) The TV panelist on ‘Sunrise’ described this pic as “schoolboy-ish”, although the people who devised and agreed upon the campaign were more likely 30-something women
Pornographic Progress, Sexbots and the Salvation of Man (7 April 2016)
Vietnam’s bikini airlines set to create country’s first female billionaire (2 April 2016)
What economic lessons about medical costs can we learn from the market for cosmetic procedures? (12 March 2016) USA
“There is a huge gender imbalance for cosmetic procedures – women accounted for 90.5% of the 11.5 million cosmetic procedures last year”
Turns out, watching porn is good for gender equality (4 March 2016)
Near-nude model gatecrashes BRITs telecast (25 February 2016) UK
Men Classify Women. Women Objectify Themselves (3 February 2016)
These two women hate (& dox) men who send them explicit photos, whilst they themselves flood social media with salacious selfies (31 January 2016)
Controversial crowd-funding site My Free Implants trials other types of surgery online (18 January 2016)
Brisbane ‘free the nipple’ picnic sparks wider debate about equality (16 January 2016) Australia
Going bareback! Imogen Anthony rides a horse completely naked with another nude female model in an effort to spread the message of equality (7 January 2016)
Ayesha Curry Has Hoes All Over the World Crying Their Eyes Out (6 December 2015) USA
SocJus College claims male gratification is wickedness & sin (18 September 2015)
Feminists ‘are more likely to watch porn’ (15 September 2015)
Who is objectifying Laci Green? (4 February 2014) Video about the concept of objectification
Lads’ mags, sexual violence and the need for feminist intervention (4 June 2015) Australia
This is why women are taking selfies of bottles of Coke held between their breasts (2 June 2015)
Netflix documentary ‘Hot Girls Wanted’ exposes behind the scenes look at amateur porn industry (2 June 2015)
Lesbian go-go dancing: subverting the gaze one sexy step at a time (22 April 2015) Dancing before men=objectifying but dancing before (gay) women=empowering
#FreeTheNipple: liberation or titillation? (7 April 2015)
Why are feminists ignoring the violent gang rape of porn star Cytherea (23 February 2015)
Former student charged for pornographic video filmed in library at Oregon State University (30 January 2015)
It’s time to stop blaming women for having breasts (16 January 2015)
Opinion: Why Caitlin Stasey’s new website misses the mark (14 January 2015)
FEMEN activist disrupts Vatican Christmas celebration (25 December 2014)
Shock study: Marriage rate declines with porn use, threatening economy, society (16 December 2014)
Porn and domestic violence: NSW Police says respect for women from young men crucial (7 December 2014)
How did 50 years of feminism end in THIS? Asks Sarah Vine (4 December 2014)
Skimpies tell of working behind bars in outback Australia in new documentary (17 November 2014)
Topless feminists target ‘political’ Pope (14 November 2014)
Porn: Why women want what men have (6 November 2014)
Women prefer gay porn to ‘female friendly’ straight porn says survey (1 October 2014)
Letter to ‘Object’ regarding rape allegations (1 October 2014)
Mythbusters TV show looked at belief that people give waitresses with bigger breasts bigger tips (4 September 2014). Well they do, but the differential is greatest for women customers (Video)
The great naked celebrity naked photo leak (1 September 2014) And of course men are 100% to blame
Sofia the sexist and Beyonce the feminist? (26 August 2014) and Feminism breaks the bounds with Beyonce (30 August 2014)
‘Dating Naked’ contestant sues series for showing her dating whilst naked (22 August 2014)
Free the nipple (December 2013) Video
Gender hypocrisy in porn debate (25 September 2013) This article has interesting things to say about the real source of concern regarding men’s access to pornography, which differs from their publicly stated concerns. The same article was reproduced in the AVfM web site with readers comments (some quite funny)
Women just as easily hooked on online porn (6 August 2014)
Is male nudity in the mainstream media becoming more acceptable than female nudity due to feminist backlash? (Example of womens rowing team making/selling nude calendar)
http://www.independent.ie/style/beauty/body/spotlight-on-free-the-nipple-30434543.html
UK Government to get serious about online ‘revenge porn’ (but no mention of protection for men)
Teen girl Lindsey Stocker takes on Beaconsfield High School over ‘short shorts’ (1 June 2014)
‘Why female nudity isn’t obscene, but is threatening to a sexist status quo‘ (22 April 2014)
From the mouths of (hot) babes by B.R Merrick (20 April 2014)
http://www.avoiceformen.com/feminism/government-tyranny/european-union-to-ban-pornography-then-men/
http://www.avoiceformen.com/sexual-politics/dworkin-got-it-wrong-naomi-wolf-got-it-wronger/
Honey Badger Radio show on porn (Youtube)
http://human-stupidity.com/stupid-dogma/teenage-sexuality/porn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E74-8A4f0k&index=4&list=PLA70081D259987DCD (Advance to the 8:30m mark)
Naked protest: Memories of bodies and resistance at the World Social Forum, Journal of International Women’s Studies, The Female as Weapon, and let’s not forget the Nude Protest for International Womens Day. And what about poor old Mr Putin?
Angry Father Tells Off Lady On A Train To Sit Down! (24 February 2012) Canada. YouTube video
I use my sex appeal to get ahead at work… and so does ANY woman with any sense (25 August 2011)
Why Are So Many Women Searching for Ultra-Violent Porn? (vice.com) (undated)
Children and youths – Selfies and sexting
‘Art of Safe Sexting’ video slammed by Victorian Education Minister (30 June 2018)
Generation sext: Queensland Girls forced to share nude selfies (10 October 2016) So boys choose to make poor decisions, but girls are “forced” to do so. Oh please! This is gender equality?
Children as young as 10 years old are sending sexually-explicit images to friends (26 September 2016)
Case of N.S. teens accused of sharing intimate images important: prosecutor (17 August 2016)
Children accessing porn: Schools battle to deal with consequences (22 July 2016) Australia. Typical of media coverage of this issue, this article alternates between use the terms “children” and “boys” to suit the narrative. It ignores the involvement of girls except as victims of boys, and the affect that their exposure/involvement has on their attitudes/relationships with others.
Eight high schools boys suspended for receiving pictures of female classmates nude, girls “verbally reprimanded but not suspended” (27 April 2015) Reddit mensrights discussion thread an linked article
Defence in hockey sex video case says 15-year-old girl should be prosecuted (12 February 2015)
More girls than boys are involved in both creating/distributing and receiving ‘sexts’
http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelzarrell/police-have-a-warrant-to-see-teenagers-erection-in-sexting-c
Topless swimming and sunbathing & naturism
One relatively recent phenomenon that I find curious is the declining popularity of going topless at the beach. This article about young women in France suggests that the trend is the result of a return to conservative and family values. The situation in Canada (BC) is discussed here. This article and this article suggest that women are now shunning topless bathing as a result of the availability of digital cameras, but this article says its because women are uncomfortable with men ogling them. I disagree with these explanations.
Alternatively, this article and this article blame the lessening popularity of topless bathing on womens insecurity regarding their bodies. Some cynics have even suggested that women are avoiding going topless as by doing so they ‘devalue the currency‘ (reduce their ability to use sexual leverage against men).
Feminists, in theory at least, should support toplessness with regards to their stated aim of gender equality. With the exception of Sweden they have, however, been generally subdued on the issue.
See also:
http://youngnaturistsamerica.com/almost-naked-women-nudism-and-antisocial-nudists/
Conclusion
Sorry, but after reading the often contradictory messages in the above papers … well to the average guy like me the issue seems like a moveable feast of hypocrisy and nonsense. And when it comes to pro-feminist groups using nudity to get publicity advance their philosophical position, I’d go so far as to say it’s even a little infantile. As and when my BS meter stops buzzing so loudly I’ll revisit this post and endeavour to add more thoughtful comment and analysis.
Postscript: Hey, check out this paradigm-shifting new women’s beauty product. Wow!
