This is what I mean by my new Spring style direction: "Lolita Goes to Church". The pink shirt and striped miniskirt are both really cute and feminine, but also kinda wrinkly which suggests everything is not as it initially seems. The dark hidden reality underneath a candy shell exterior, CAN YOU HANDLE IT? Wow, I really need to translate that into a theme song.
Anyways, some of you may have seen this already but I wrote an article for
Shameless Magazine entitled
"Batman, Pass Me My Man Repellent Spray!" It's my take on the inherent internalized misogyny of constantly referring to your clothing in the context of male sexual attraction. I'm not trying to be a "hater", just providing a critical analysis of some inherent feminist problems with the blog. Also, its kind of funny so go read it now!
28 comments:
I really am in love with that skirt!! I'm such a sucker for black and white stripes!
I loved the piece on "the man repeller" something about that blog always left me uneasy, so thanks for putting it into words, lady! cute outfit too.
Wonderful article for shameless - you really hit the nail on the head.
As a fellow 21-year-old female student I feel very heartened by the (seemingly) new wave of proudly feminist writing in women of our generation. It feels like the word 'feminism' is becoming less of the taboo it has sometimes been, and that can only be a good thing.
I read the article- you raised an interesting point, but I disagree. I think Medine's purpose of choosing clothes in relation to sexual attraction is to poke fun at the old tradition/mindset that is still so prevalent: We dress to look good to someone. By turning it on its head and going for looks that repel rather than attract sexual partners, she's highlighting the absurdity of both. I don't interpret that as misogyny at all.
that's such a lovely, informative article! man-repelling style is my absolute favortie, not only because I'm feminist. when I say I'm a feminist people are like "why? they already covered those bases in the 1920's". it's because of those reasons you stated: women are constantly looked upon as objects. It's extremely irritating.
Lolita style is so fabulous! creepy church girls are my soulmates.
Hattitude Artistic Style Blog
heading over to read it now.
talk soon wild child
-Hattie
Hattitude Artistic Style Blog
I really enjoyed reading your article.
i love that shirt!!! jealous, i look stupid in shirts
you are FANTASTIC
I think we should stop taking all this feminist thing THIS seriously.It's getting crazy and narrow-minded.
And about your article,Anonymous 2:33PM expressed exactly my thoughts.
C'mon, anon. It's a good old-fashioned 'textual analysis'! I'm simply outlining all the issues I see with the concept of 'Man Repelling', which is hardly narrow minded. Anon 2:33pm certainly had a great point and I appreciate all of your feedback.
I enjoyed reading your article for Shameless and agree completely. When I first saw Medine's blog, I had a similar gut feeling.
Part of me thinks The Man Repeller is cute and funny. I think some of her outfits are put together wonderfully and I'd probably wear them myself. But then what does that make me — unattractive and repellant to all men? What exactly do I have to wear to be looked at? And if I have to wear a certain kind of outfit to be seen as desirable, do I even want to be desirable? Maybe not by people who care about how "sexy" an outfit is.
This all sort of reminds me of the "don't dress like a slut if you don't want to be raped" business. Good job, Isabel.
And to Anonymous commenter at 10:31 p.m... Are you serious? Also, "all this feminist thing" doesn't make much sense. Get out.
xx
if i took things as serious as you and didn't have a sense of humor, do you know how up in arms i'd be over your lolita look? do you know how many young girls get taken advantage of by grown men on a regular basis? but fortunately enough for you, i do have a sense of humor so i don't go there. you new young feminists need to cheer up a bit and let some of us have some fun already. it's getting pretty old, and things like this are what turn other women away (running) from feminism.
@anon.
When I see people saying that we shouldnt take feminism seriously it makes me cringe. What is 'this feminism thing' meant to mean? I think a movement for equal rights is not something to dismiss so easily. Of course we can have humour and so forth but I agree with Isabel, always thinking about yourself in terms how guys see you, whether that's to attract or repel them, is hardly empowering.
Hey Anon at 12:48,
You're absolutely correct. Thea application of critical thinking is a complete obstruction to humor and we are definitely being prevented from having the fun that is our God given right.
I agree that critical commentary cannot be undertaken with any humor. The United Kingdom is an excellent example of this: its comedy is entirely divorced from political events. Chris Morris' news shows such as The Day Today are not commentary! They serve to entertain. Comedy need to remain entirely impartial in order to amuse! It should be completely fair, unbiased and divorced from reality just like American news sources.
You are so right about Isabel's "Lolita" comment. Just as the Nabokov novel clearly condones rape, so does any reference to it. Isabel's use of it cannot therefore be subversive in any way. All interpretations must either be literal or disregarded in order to make the conversation accessible to even the lowest common denominator. "Analysis" of "ambiguities" interfere with this goal. I mean, you can prove anything with facts, can't you.
I'm really glad you commented, Anon 12:48. You've opened my eyes to a brave new world.
I'm Anon 10:31PM
My very first lines were not so much a reaction to what you have written but more a reaction to all of the things that I have been able to watch over the Internet this past week.It was not made with agressivity or resentement but more with tiredness.
I did not say that we shouldn't take the issues that feminism is adressing seriously(which are serious.God knows how many girls I know that have married mature,wealthy,corrupt men just because they have money).What I have said is that we should not take them THIS seriously.Which means :
a)to the point that we are seeing everything through the lenses of feminism.My point is that we are not one,we are more.We are not only feminists,we are more.We are complex and dynamic.
b)to the point that we are not ACTUALLY listening the other person's point of view/perspective.
"It's a good old-fashioned 'textual analysis'".Well,I take the right to remind you that WORDS are the ones that have caused John Galliano to be fired and that have stirred up the controversy around The Sartorialt's post.If you decide to make your point known,asume that with responsability.
On the same note,I also shall take resposability and say that no matter how right or wrong I am I also think that making someone narrow-minded is not the best decision that I have made.It's rude and I'm very,very sorry,since I also think you're intelligent.
Peace & Love to all of you.
having molly soda as a role model doesn't make me respect your feminist opinion... at all.
Molly Soda has rad style, I never said she was my 'role model'.
ahhh, I die. This outfit is beyond adorable. Love it!
I was just listening to Cities in Dust <3
The article is excellent, Isabel! I had come across The Man Repeller in the past & I found the whole idea of her blog to be a bit off-putting..
I also can't wait to see more of this "Lolita goes to Church" style of yours! You always think of the best themes.
I very much enjoy what you've written about Leandra's blog. I agree with your opinions and you've definitely worded it much better than I would have. Thank you.
Where did you get that skirt?!
the skirt is american apparel. btw, how can you be a feminist and work at american apparel??? sexist, exploitative, misogynist... thoughts??? isn't that kind of contradictory?
"Lolita goes to church." hahahahahahaha/ PERfect.
the article reads a bit too much like an exerpt from an undergrad paper for me. loosen up your writing style!!
May I just say that I geeked out when I saw how you cited Mulvey? <3
great blog! started mine recently as was inspired by you and a few other blogs i religiously follow, the title is bikini kill inspired, after my favourite song of theirs X
http://litaslaw.blogspot.com/
I seriously enjoyed the article and particularly appreciated the reference to Naomi Wolf's 'Beauty Myth' which opened my eyes to so much BS you wouldn't believe.
Great outfit as always :)
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