Something the Pussycat Dolls said on the Early Show made me ask this.?

Question

I know they are quite beautiful and very sexy. But they mentioned that their act is "empowering" to women. And the implication was to the sexiness of the act. Now I am all for women being comfortable with their bodies and learning grace and confidence. BUT come on... women fighting on the front lines is empowering... women on the cutting edge of science are empowering... all this long legged, tight clothed, dance acts are entertaining but hardly the defintion of empowering.

This obviously didn't occur to me just this morning but this statement by them I think is symptomatic of a larger social state of mind where women are buying into the objectification (is that a word) of their own bodies and consider it empowering. (Like a porn starlet is comfortable with her body, enough to show it of (and no I am not saying that the Pussycat Dolls are pornstars just that they also capitalize on their bodies)).

What do you folks think?

Answer 1

i absolutely agree...

I don't mind these women taking off their clothes and dancing around in their underwear. They can do what they bloody well want

but as a woman , i find it nauseating and extremely insulting to hear these same characters proclaim that they are 'strong, independent and brave' or are PAVING the way for womenkind BECAUSE they do so.

it infuriates me that such girls choose to throw around words like 'strength' , 'empowerment' , 'control' etc .... just because they are bold enough to dress skimpily or smart enough to capitalize on their 'sexiness' ... it sets such a horrible example for the girls of my generation...

Answer 2

I am kind of on the fence with this one. Personally, I don't believe that the Pussy (that word alone is demeaning even though it is Pussycat and not Pussy cat-I think it's subliminal advertisement )cat Dolls empower me to do anything. I can't really respect anyone that uses their bodies to get ahead rather than their merit or brain. On the other hand, they are playing the business game very well because sex sells and they are a sexy group of girls, so in a way, they are manipulating the business to their advantage which does take some thought.

Another thing, if this was a half naked boy band, would they be as successful? Would both women and men embrace their sexuality as the public embraces the Pussycat Dolls' sexuality? Probably not because there is a double standard (I think that this boy band would have a larger female audience that would include me- I'm no fool. I am not going to turn my face when my eyes see what they like, I am human after all).

My point is, is that if they were a boy band, I don't think they would be ridiculed but I also say that the Pussycat Dolls don't "push my buttons" to go out and write a Nobel peace prized winning novel either (neither would the mock boy band).

Answer 3

Just because some big, fat, beer bellied, sicko can drool on my breasts like they are a food source, that doesn't empower me. I think that perhaps the problem is that while they have been busy singing songs like "Loosen up my Buttons, the PCD have lost track of their dictionary and the actual definition of empowered which is:

em·pow·er ( P ) Pronunciation Key (m-pour)
tr.v. em·pow·ered, em·pow·er·ing, em·pow·ers
To invest with power, especially legal power or official authority. See Synonyms at authorize.
To equip or supply with an ability; enable: “Computers... empower students to become intellectual explorers”

The PCD do not equip or enable anyone with any sort of skill-set or tools what so ever. Frankly they are just another bunch of women, in a long line of singers/models/actresses who use their looks to get by. Instilling in minds the need to be attractive above all else. And although there is certainly nothing wrong with being attractive, though there is more to a person than that. Vacuous will only get you so far, before you need something more substantial to fall back on.

Answer 4

I think that women ARE buying into the "objectification" as you put it. Women put too much emphasis into their hair, makeup and dress more than they give attention and love to their own children. Don't get me wrong, I think its great to feel good about yourself, but looks and style doens't cure disease, doesn't instill good morals and values into our children.
this is why I adore a particular actress.. She is a beautiful sexy woman who makes money off her body, and her talent.. Yet takes that money to help others who are in dire need.. 75% of her income goes to help other people and other countries.. You don't see pussycat dolls or many other people doing such a thing. In fact there is a prime time "womans" show that airs daily.. They focus so much on beauty and style that every guest has their hair and make up done before the show just so they can have a "beautiful" audience. How ridiculous is that..
I think that its a very sad thing. I miss the old days when it was sexy to be voluptuous, to look natural, the days when women cared about taking care of their families more than they way they were perceived by other women. I'd rather see a sexy body than one without any maintenance at all, but some of these women just over do themselves. For what?? For someone to envy them?? For a guy to notice them?? To feel better about themselves?? I suggest they get some counseling instead of painting their faces and deal with the real issues in their lives.

Answer 5

You're totally right. Women who parade around like sex objects say that they are "empowered" because they're being sexy for themselves, not to be objectified. But you're correct that all they're doing is claiming that objectification for their own. They're still continuing the ideal that women have to be sexy and "feminine" or they're not real women... and that being sexy and feminine means wearing clothes that don't cover or protect your body, that you can't bend over in, shoes you can't run away from anything in, hair products that cost half your salary, and makeup that destroys your skin.

Sorry, what kind of empowerment is that, exactly?

It's not just women on the front lines and in the lab who are empowering, though. I'm all for embracing traditional women's roles, as well. I think the flaw with feminism was that men's roles were overvalued, and housewives and mothers continued to be devalued. Caring for children is certainly valuable. Hobbies like knitting or other needlecrafts (which I'm a fan of, you may guess) carry centuries of tradition and wisdom. And women don't have to wear boots and trousers all the time to be "empowered."

But should we wear something sensible? Should be value our sexuality enough to keep it sacred and personal, instead of flaunting it to succeed? Wouldn't that be empowering?

I think so.

Answer 6

I have to disagree with you. I think they are just capitalizing on their bodies. Have you heard their songs? I mean actually listen to the lyrics?
I am all for women being comfortable with their sexuality and bodies and whatnot, but these women were picked from a huge group of dancers. Their songs are written for them, everything is done for them, they just need shiny hair and a tight body. Remember when everyone was saying (and i sure still do) that rock music makes kids do this and that? Well isn't it the same with these girls who wear band aid sizes skirts and are up on a stage because they are pretty? Well induce child vomiting, over dieting, and having no self confidence. If there was some real talent and this kind of girls struggled to make it, that would be a different story. But no. That's just not how America works. Its a shame really.

Answer 7

First of all PCD's are not the only girls in the business who capitalize on their bodies. They are smart enough to get your attention, whether it's wearing tight clothes or dancing the the way they do. People are reading into it just a little to much. It's about the woman who is now the agressive one, not the man. Just being sexy and feeling good about the way look can give anyone confidence to do anything. If it was a male group no one would have anything to say. People are always trying to be politically correct. Just loosen up!

Answer 8

I don't think that what they are doing (the sexy outfits, dancing, lyrics) is in any way empowering. They are just trying to justify their act by saying that its empowering to women because many people think its too provocative and even bordering on pornography. To me, they are pressing onto the public the notion that only women with "perfect ten" bodies can be confident and achieve success. Its not their singing talent that sells (only one of them is doing the singing) but their bodies -- their boldness and "sexiness". How can they empower women when their image as women is nothing but a bunch of sexy, gyrating, money-making bodies?

Answer 9

I agree, I know I wouldn't want my little cousin to find that empowering. There's nothing empowering about prancing about in tight clothes and dancing vulgarly. That's what gives women bad names, and anti-feminists will always bring up that "Women are just sex toys now that they have rights." Which is not true. I don't like the Pussycat dolls, they're not empowering at all.

Answer 10

I think they're very comfortable with their bodies and their sexuality.I agree with you that they are buying into the idea of women as sexual objects.

I don't find it empowering in any way. Empowering would be to make a difference in the lives of women so that other generations can make advances. We are more than long sexy legs, breasts, and bodies. We have minds, and using the mind would be empowering.

Answer 11

I agree. The sexual liberation movement is over and done with, women don't need to be flaunting their bodies to be considered empowered. I think you're right- that they're buying into their own objectification. But they believe that because they're CHOOSING to do so, it makes them empowered.

Woman these days have so many more ways in which they can be empowered, why must they fall back and rely on passed-away ideals?