Many people believe that the rise in modern women actively partaking in sex work, exotic dancing and dressing “provocatively” is an enemy to feminism, however this is not necessarily the case. Although these actions might seem counter-feminist through their pandering to men’s desires, they represent women’s sexual freedom and ability to express themselves in the way that they want to.
It is only in some parts of the modern world that women have been able to reclaim their sexuality and the liberty to express it. Unfortunately, it is true that in some cases women are forced to turn to sex work and dancing as a last resort or a way to make quick money, selling themselves to men as products, even if they might not want to, and this is not always consensual. With these circumstances taken into consideration it is easy to see why there is so much negativity and stigma surrounding the sex industry, as in these cases it is not a reclamation of freedom but rather a submission to men’s overruling power controlling women’s sexualities and lives.
However, in many cases, women make the conscious decision to express themselves in this way. When women make this decision, they are actively taking control of their own sexuality, something which has been controlled by men for far too long in the past, and are expressing their freedom and confidence. Seeing as there is such a high demand for sexual intimacy from women, taking advantage of this and making men pay to have the thing they have previously been so used to owning represents huge progression in feminism and their rights to their own bodies and behaviour. Through this work women can boost their own body confidence and find financial stability, as well as proving their independence, not being reliant on a partner. However, it can also be argued that women allowing men to pay for these acts gives them ownership over women and adding to their feelings of entitlement, however it is important to realise that the man does not own the woman at all - he is only paying her to work, as happens with any other job.
Another way that women have been reclaiming their sexuality is by dressing in a way in which they feel comfortable. Although this might seem insignificant, it shows how much we have advanced since women were forced to wear corsets or cover up entirely. I have witnessed boys claiming that wearing “dangerously short skirts” is accountable for rape because, you guessed it, “what were they expecting?”. This kind of attitude towards the way women dress is just wrong in so many ways. In the past and throughout the world today, women cover up completely, but rape still exists so it cannot be blamed on clothing so (I know it seems obvious but clearly some people do not understand). Women should be able to dress in whatever way they want to and feel safe and comfortable with their choice. By dressing to express themselves, women are reclaiming their sexuality by showing that they are not just sexual products to be owned by men but they can make the decision to own themselves.
Consent is obviously a huge part of this topic as it is arguably the main determining factor as to whether a woman is reclaiming her sexuality or submitting to men unwillingly, and it is important to draw a line and understand what is consensual. It is also important to remember, that feminism aims to give women the choice, not constrict them to living a certain way, and this ability to express themselves so freely can only be a good thing.
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