Yup, I said it, I am a new age feminist. I love, support, pray for, and want to help as many women as I can. Don’t get me wrong I love men and I’m a strictly dickly kind of chick but right now at this time in my life I think women need some help.
I’m so tired of the image that I see and hear of the overly sexualized and the constant comparisons and competitions that fashion blogs and many other media outlets puts us all in everyday. And I’m especially tired of the media forcing us to make role models and idols out of reality television “stars” who are all women that are practically soul-less. The image they shove down our throats is that we should only care about money, trapping a man of a certain status, fame and wearing as many of the latest designer fashions that we can fit on our overly enhanced body parts. It’s sad, and this image doesn’t only effect women but it effects our men and the way they look, treat and feel about us. It’s no surprise to me that we’re in the middle of a rape epidemic, with the amount of reports you hear on the news and teenage girls being bullied into silence and committing suicide because of it. There is a loss of respect and value from both men and women. I always tell people how thankful I am that I’m not a teenager in 2013 because I don’t think I’d be able to handle the pressure. When I look on tumblr all I see is pictures of beautiful girls with luxurious hair, perfect bodies and distressed cut off jean shorts. I feel the pressure today to “look” a certain way and be sexy and the value on our bodies is constantly in your face and I honestly don’t think I would have done well if I was 17 right now.
With all that being said the images that we see of women today are too one sided. We need to see more women who are courageous enough to state a real opinion, to stand for a cause, to say NO to the image of outer beauty and YES to finding inner beauty. We need to show that there is more to us than just being able to “beat that face”, and that it’s not cool to be “ratchet”. Don’t tell me to bow down, pour it up and show me another way to body party and I don’t want to “praise” you because you dress well and have a big butt. I want to be inspired by what you do and why. I want to hear music that makes me feel good about being a woman and watch television that makes me feel proud and aspire to do more, be more and say more. I’m proud to be a woman and I want to see us all do better.
I was very happy to hear this song NOW my body can party!
completely agree! I’m over love and hip hop
LOVE this song! Dream duet #queenshit
As I was reading this I was thinking to myself “I hope she’s heard Janelle & Erykah’s new song!”
I’m so completely exhausted by “feminists” doing nothing more than fashioning yet another mould of what constitutes a worthy female. True feminism is about women having an absolute choice to be who they want to be. Some women like miniskirts and make up and cut off denim shorts. SURPRISE! Here’s a shocker – it is absolutely possible to care about being beautiful on the outside AND the inside. And the idea that the way a woman dresses/speaks/acts/etc. is the CAUSE of so-called “rape epidemic”????????? Oblivious. Irresponsible. Thoughtless. I would imagine that someone with the small platform that you’ve been blessed with would be more responsible when discussing such hateful atrocities against women, instead of insinuating that a victim would hold any responsibility in being violated by an aggressor. But it seems, by the tone of your last couple of posts, that you’re going for … shock value? Hot topics? Anything to boost your presence it seems. I take comfort in the fact that you probably don’t actually believe what you’re putting out here, but I’ve also grown to be wholly uninterested in anything you have to say.
Best.
If you’re uninterested in what I have to say, why would you leave you a comment? There’s nothing wrong with makeup or fashion and as a matter of fact I love fashion but what I’m tired of is the emphasis that our looks are all that matter. As I said I think the media only puts out one image or only cares about one image for women and I’d like to see some more of the other side. I hope that women care about being beautiful on both the outside and inside but when I go to these fashion blogs there isn’t much talk about what it takes to look good on the outside. And I’m by no means saying that fashion is the cause of our rape epidemic and in no way are the victims to blame for what happens to them and I never said that, but I’m talking about the people who are dealing with the victims of these crimes, why are we in a time when teenagers think it’s ok to bully and expose someone who has been raped? What has changed for them? It’s disgusting.
None of my posts have been about “hot topics” and shock, I talk about my experiences and things I’m interested in. I knew that talking about feminism was going have some supporters and some nay sayers but I stick by it because I’m proud of who I am and what I believe in. For you to make assumptions about my tone is unfair, I tried to have a little bit of fun but still get my point out about a serious topic. I hope that you’re a woman who is pursuing your dreams and living the life you want, they way you want.
– Andrea
Really loved this post and “your” courage to take a stand. I pray you know that your show “Black Actress”, who you are, your posts, your words, how you carry yourself, does inspire “me” to do more. (and I actually am 🙂
When there are women such as yourself still fighting through the negativity, showing love for others, for herself, and for her work, it’s people like “you” that give me so much hope and courage. I also feed of your bravery to then voice my opinions, stand-up for what I believe in, and make the best out of this short life. It is so rare….sooooooooo rare to have people that are brave enough to be different from the mainstream, be themselves, take a stand for what they believe in, and to have a voice when everyone wants to avoid or shy away from certain topics. That really is the most scariest thing on so many levels. Yet the people that are able to do so, are usually the game changers of the world.
Anywho, I rambled too much. Much love and success to you Miss Lewis. I think you are an awesome feminist and I think you would really like the author named bell hooks. Never stop, because we need more people like you in the world who do not let fear stop them and who are not afraid to take that leap. 🙂
Thank you for the love! Your comment means a lot! 🙂 xo