So, this isn't exactly my question but a friend of mine.
So, I am currently engaging in a conversation about women who post sexy and/or sexual posts on social media( specifically instagram).
Now my friend wonders why feminists don't point out the way women promote gratuitous sexuality.
But they (feminists)do point out the gratuitous sexuality in both media and entertainment.
There's more to what they said, of course.
Given we have this conversation online, there's some of his responses.
*"My concern is young girls getting influenced by certain parts of social media to the point of feeling it's acceptable or even desirable to get a sense of worth from their appearance and even their sexuality. Well before they are mature enough to assess where appearance/sexuality can fit in their lives in a healthy manner.
The idea that a woman's beauty and even sexuality is something positive for them to display is often considered a product of the social construct developed from the patriarchy. And so young girls being influenced that way can actually PERPETUATE that patriarchal view. Given that, I wonder what the feminist view is?
Support for girls/women dressing however they choose is of course pro-feminist. But what if the REASON a young girl chooses a certain style IS for some superficial sense of self-worth based on a patriarchal ideal?
Obviously, "shaming" girls for dress choices is horrible. But isn't it possible in some cases that unqualified support COULD be negative as well? It sounds similar to "choice feminism". No matter what the reason a girl/woman chooses an action, it's to be supported because it's HER choice.
I've heard that described this way: "Choice feminism is just a thoughtless branding of feminism where individual choice is made the ultimate end without consideration of the constraints and impact of that choice."
In this case, young girls emulating certain older girls or women who vie for "likes" and subscribers in part (if not wholly) due to their physical appearance and even sexuality CAN have a negative impact. Feeling it's normal, natural, and desirable to strive for positive attention based on that.
And it can also give young boys the potentially dangerous impression that admiring a girl solely for her appearance and even sexuality is not only OK but something the girl actually wants."*
In a nutshell, I believe they may want to ask why feminists can recognise the way media and entertainment often times sezualise and objectify women, but feminists don't recognise how ordinary women do the same thing when they post sexual pictures.
My friend brought up Piper Rockelle, being worried that more girls,preteens and teens will want to be similar to her, base their self esteem on likes and followers, especially from boys.
Now to be honest I agree with them on many points (such as being afraid girls will base their self esteem on likes and subscribers)
But I am not sure if women posting more sexual pictures of themselves has the same affect as media does.
What are your thoughts?