The school of "do-me" feminism is interesting. For ex., I have gotten into a debate or two with members of the RCP who seem to insist almost any and all hetero relations between males and females in our current society are inherently sexist and coercive. But a lot of the gals who grew up post-riot grrrl, post-Bikini Kill, etc., have a very bemused, ironic detachment to a lot of the sexist culture that preceded them. To wit: the fact that my gf, a HUGE fan of Bikini Kill, riot grrrl, and pre-sellout Kathleen Hanna, considers movies like "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" to be "feminist" classics. She wants us to put up a poster of the movie in our apartment. This doesn't gel with the traditional RCP-ian analysis that Russ Meyer films represent rape on camera for the delight of power-obsessed males.
It's also partly why I once asked Liza Featherstone's advice on why she thinks, for example, crotch shaving amongst women is now the norm -- and women who don't shave are considered "gross" amongst youngsters -- whereas in the past it was no big deal. Of cours,e Chuck) made fun of me for asking that question, but I was pointed to a lot of cool articles on the phenomenon. One feminist tale is that men prefer women who shave their crotches because it reminds them of powerless, helpless, young gals as opposed to "women." Another, "do-me feminist" take is quite different.
-B.
>
> I don't see the clear delineation here between the
use of cosmetics and (say) Britney Spears sexing it
up. In each case, people are oriented toward the
impression they're making on others ("I want them to
think I'm attractive/sexy/desirable"). In each case,
the impression management is determined by social
standards (e.g., women should/shouldn't shave their
underarms; they should/shouldn't flash their breasts).
--A number of important political questions emerge
here: When does a behavior to provoke a favorable
reaction from another person become "disturbing"? Who
gets to decide what is disturbing? How is this
common-sense definition of disturbing behavior linked
to gender stereotypes (e.g., overt sexuality in women
has been "improper" since at least the Victorian era:
good girls don't act like that!)?
>
> That said, Madonna still creeps me out (sorry
Doug!).
>
> Miles