Saturday 15 September 2012

An issue of privacy and perceptions.

There are a number of things I want to write to you about. Since last time I've been to the Edinburgh Fringe (with a quick stop off at the Art Festival) been to the Big Bannock, Orkney Show, Shetland Screen Play Festival and hard at work for Maddrim and the Heavy Metal Buffet along with another little side project.


But all of that can wait until another blog post... (Most of it can wait indefinitely)

..Because today I need to write to you about this recent scandal in the papers. Or paper. Or trashy French mag. Whatever we're boiling it down to. Our future Queen, Kate Windsor (née Middleton) has been photographed semi-nude, whilst on a private holiday, and it's going in some 'celeb mag rag'.

Do everyone a favour and don't look up those images, whether in print or online. Why? Two reasons. Firstly, it's simply an invasion of privacy. How rude. If I was sitting in my garden, got my paps papped by the pap for dirty cash I'd definitely get in contact with the police about invasion of privacy/stalking - that's if I hadn't chased them down and eaten the camera first.

And that's not because I'm naked. No being naked is fine. I'd be angry because once people see that picture of me, immediately their perceptions of me would change, which leads me nicely on to point two:

Second point, if a man walks around with just swim shorts on there is no outrage. Why, in this age, do we care? Why do people immediately judge a woman who has decided to strip off in her own time? Why can a woman not be topless in public when men are allowed? It's pathetic. Feminism people.

Magazines still tell women how to eat, dress, put on makeup and exercise for the 'perfect body'. From what I've read from many publications from Glamour to Cosmopolitan and many others, when it tells you about confidence, this word is used most often in the sexual advice pages. Confidence in oneself increases your attractiveness. To pleasure the man.

Women are still fighting for feminism, in Britain today the fight is against perception, this may seem immeasurable, almost implausible. I'm not an extremist, I'm simply a feminist. And it annoys me how many women out there start a sentence with:
"I'm not a feminist but.." and then suggest equal pay, bring up an issue with politics. THESE ARE ALL A RESULT OF FEMINISM.

I reckon now that I've grown up I see more sexism every day. What I had previously considered to be past attitudes and comments are now given to me by many (not all) men. I just never experienced this until I was of age and physical maturity to receive such comments. Also it's not just men. The number of women in society who still believe and enforce old ideals is just as disheartening.


To summarise on the Kate photographs:

Get over it. Don't even go there, the poor woman was trying to enjoy her holiday in privacy. And as much as I would like her to stand up to the media involved and say "Yeah, those are my tits. So what?" I understand what with society's hell bent obsessions with mammaries she can't. Total shame.