Sonntag, 23. November 2014

Why #shirtstorm was right

On sexist T-Shirts


TRIGGER WARNING
If you are triggered by social injustice, don't read on.

When thinking about #shirtstorm, where a man was demanded to apologize for wearing an incredbily sexist shirt, you have to wonder why woman and girls all over the world are rightfully upset. So - why are they upset? And how can depictions of woman be upsetting to woman anyways?


#shirtgate. Notice the horrifed expression on the face of the poor woman, as oppression is taking place. Rumor says, she was tiggered by this interview.
I had a lot of conversation in my university with women in my gender-debating circle with it, and, as always, when we talk about highly emotional charged issues, tears were shed. Some woman were triggered, too, but I'll just have these Quotes doing the talk:

Diana F. 23 years old:

 " When I saw that picture, as well as the appalled expression on face the face of the female interviewer, I was like, wait. This remembers me of a thing, that once happened. You know, that one guy? At the bar? Who won't leave you alone after you, like, said, already "no thx"? The cometguy is the same kind of guy, and he's just as sexist. That's why I think STEM-education is sexist as well and that's the reason why I won't enter this field of education anytime soon."

Carola M. 19 years old:

 "I am a victim of the porno-industry. I started to work there because I wasn't interesting in college and higher education and wanted to have a quick buck. I am a victim of heavy drug abuse and general other feminist issues as well, but, I have to say, patriarchy made me do these things. Now, I'm a reborn feminist, and I find it incredibly hard to start my career in the STEM-field now, because his shirt is just unheard of, and this blatant sexism repels me."

Laura B, 27 years old:

"I studied engineering for 3 and a half years now and I don't feel welcome anymore because of this shirt. And I don't like it when men wear what they want whilst not thinking about what I would like to see. I have this problem kind of everywhere, what is a sure sign of patriarchy. This isn't worth it anymore, I'll better quit my STEM-field degree, it's just too much, this shirt broke the metaphorical camel's back.


Needless to say, all those girls were triggered as well and angry and sad. But how can we fight those injustices? How can we end woman's suffering altogether?



Well, it's a problem that is manyfold, but it can be broken down to actually 2 different problems. 


Highly sexist: Sexy woman
First of all, the woman in this exemplary picture is just an object to us. We don't learn anything about her except that she has a pretty body as well as she is sexualized. This picture is highly triggering as well

Lets get to the point. If the depiction of the woman is sexualized, it intimidates woman who aren't as pretty as the beauty standard, which is of course set by the patriarchy. The patriarchy demands pretty woman, and if those woman can't show a "pretty body", they are more prone to get shamend into submission because of that.

Walking down an ally and seeing beautiful woman on ads is a remembrance to the shame the patriarchy wants to get into every woman.

Thats Point 1. I call it ugliness-shaming. The patriachy tries to coerce us into being sexy, and wants our sexuality to be openly expressed! Thats sexist.





Purely sexist: Sexualy repressed woman
If the depiction of women isn't sexualized, and modest, as well as prude we have the opposite problem.

The natural sexuality of a woman is repressed in this depiction, and the depicted woman is oppressed through exactly that. Woman have endured sexual oppression for centuries and it should be clear that this is a blatant violation of a woman's right to express herself.

This problem is actually akin to slut shaming. How can we accept, as feminists, that woman have to go through this kind of horror every day?

Shaming our own sexuality, shaming our bodies because patriarchy doesn't want our sexuality openly expressed! That's just appaling. And sexist.




Now, how can we solve problem? We have to cater for every single need for every woman that may or may not get upset in every different way conceivable by every depiction of every woman in every space of our lives. And because this is a very big issue and we would have to work like everyday for it, we have to make teach men not to objectivy woman through the shirts they wear.


It's as simple as that.


Recommondation regarding this particular patriarchal oppression:


  • Tell a man who wears any depiction of a woman on his shirt, that he's a bigoted sexist who needs to be ashamed of himself for making any woman on the world possibly ashamed of herself.
  • If you are daring, wear a shirt with highly sexualized men. Let's see how they like it when feminist woman strike back!
  • Or wear the shirt on the left-hand side. That will show the patriarchy to treat woman with respect like adults.








We are actually developing a device that shields our feminine eyes from sexist shirts. Stay tuned for further updated on this matter!


(early prototype)

Safe from everyday sexism: Woman blinkers will be available shortly. Stay tuned!




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