2 years, 10 months ago-
Female actresses should not use their femininity to promote their themselves/career. What is your opinion?
‘Female actresses should not use their femininity for promotion.’ The sentence already sounds like it was said by a spiteful, jealous male actor. 🙂
It is instilled in children from the moment they are born that anyone who is feminine or embraces femininity is inferior or weaker. Be it, men or women, if (God forbid) anyone expresses a feminine side, they are shamed, gossiped about and mocked at. This mindset of people forces even little girls to be conditioned into hating feminine things for fear of being excluded or kicked out of their peer groups. Therefore, most girls go through a phase of internalized misogyny, where they hate the colour pink, heels, dresses and skirts and instead stick to black or blue, sneakers, baggy pants and even prefer the company of boys over girl friends because that makes them ‘cooler’ and there’s ‘less drama with boys,’ because that’s what they are conditioned to believe.
But there comes a time when most women face their internalized misogyny and unlearn the conditioned behaviour because hating themselves and other women benefit no one. Once they reach the epiphany that their lives need not revolve around men and the male gaze, they start going back to things they thought they hated; the colour pink, the joy of having more girl friends and not conforming to the identity and actions that the society has thrust upon them.
Women finally start being more independent and being themselves rather than the fake mould the society put them in and even start making their own choices uninfluenced by others’ opinions, and that includes dressing the way they want. Being more conservative or wearing more revealing dresses.
This sudden grasp of their own choice being valued over others’ will make people say many vile and jealous things, like, “Female actresses should not use their femininity for promotion.” This hypocrisy of men, where they condemn women embracing their femininity by their own choice, whereas still enjoying it from the perspective of a male, all comes down to the matter of <i>consent.</i>
It is a matter of pride for men, that their choice should be regarded more highly than that of women’s. Additionally, an empowered woman is a phenomenal woman and gains more attention and appreciation for being confident with herself, whereas they do not. Their concept of ‘masculinity’ not gaining more popularity makes them feel inferior to women who do. So, it <i>is</i> a matter of pride.
Well, male actors, if female actresses using femininity for promotion seems unfair, why don’t you start embracing femininity too? Might work. 🙂
Femininity is not treated kindly by society. Anyone who is feminine is seen as inferior or weaker. Despite there being nothing wrong with being feminine, anyone who embraces their femininity is ridiculed and mocked. A reason for femininity to be seen in a negative light is that it is related to females, which automatically puts it there.
The sentence ‘female actresses should not use their femininity for promotion’ could be interpreted in two ways.
One way to look at it is from the standpoint of society attempting to shame women for being on the feminine side. Women are said to be more feminine because they are more in tune with their feminine side, which society considers bad. Skirts, high heels, the colour pink, makeup, and so on are all considered feminine. One is shamed if they embrace their femininity and everything that comes with it. It also emphasises society’s misogynistic ideals, such as society’s desire to control a woman’s thoughts, actions, and even clothing. A female actress who is proud of her femininity would not be treated kindly and she would be gossiped about.
Actresses preach about the objectification of women in the media and the ‘male gaze,’ where women are portrayed stereotypically and presented as mere eye candy. Ironically, objectification of women makes use of women’s femininity, which society regards as shameful. While some actresses actively oppose the objectification of women’s bodies in the media, they accept roles that blatantly objectify them. In a cutthroat industry like the entertainment industry, people will go to great lengths to ensure fame and success. Actresses will not hesitate to use their femininity to advance their careers if it benefits them.
Is it a bad thing to be feminine for the sake of their careers in the entertainment industry, where looks over talent are prioritised, and where femininity can be embraced, if only for the sake of being eye-candy?
One has to remember that being feminine is nothing to be ashamed of.
Women are not respected in general. We can see the amount of double standards regarding how people treat men and how people treat women. Women are mocked for just about everything and are made fun of when they voice their concerns. We can’t even have an interest without people judging us.
Women who have feminine traits in them are not respected. Ironically, when a woman doesn’t “act like a girl” they’re often direspected.
We need to understand that there’s nothing wrong with being feminine. Regardless of your gender, no one should police you on how you should and shouldn’t act.
Actresses are often mocked online for voicing their concerns and are labeled bossy when people should just take a moment and just listen to them. I do not know why people make such statements. Using feminity for promotion is the most absurd statement anyone could make, no one says this to men, do they?
We should also understand not to mock others interests and classify them as “girly” interests. If someone is happy doing something, why do have to feel the need to judge them? In this process, people think that being a girl is an insult, that is what people would get in their minds. Not just women, but also men get made fun of.
People should understand and set their hypocrisy aside and analyse just how they’re treating feminity. How can you be allies when you mock female dominated areas, interests and qualities people have?
Since ages, femininity has been equated with weakness no matter who portrays it. This has its roots in our patriarchal society which places more importance on men and hence values ‘masculine’ traits more. Because of this, all girls go through a phase where the hate the so- called feminine actions like hating pink, glamour and wearing boyish clothes, wanting to be ‘different’ than all other girls. This is due to the internalized misogyny which as the girls grow older unlearn and get used to being independent, making their own choices without considering if men will accept her.
Most movies today are directed by men, as the film industry like most others is male dominated. The portrayal of women we see in this popular media is called the ‘male gaze’. The men direct how the women characters should look, talk, walk, act, and dress only in ways that are pleasing to the men. Hence, what we see the actresses wearing and how we see them is purely based on the director’s male gaze. On the other hand, women are constantly demeaned for their choices, because a woman who makes her own choices and sticks with them is a danger to other men because it takes away their so- called authority.
Hence, the statement that ‘Female actresses should not use their femininity for promotion’ is inherently sexist and implies that femininity is something insulting or impure. If actors showing off their physique and participating in brutal fighting scenes is acceptable, there is absolutely no reason why the same standards should not apply to their female counterparts. We can only change our mindsets as a society by confronting our internalized misogynistic thoughts and teachings and move towards a more open- minded world.
If women had power or support, they can do wonders and make everything fair. But each time a female child is born many are upset with that fact and disrespect the parents of that girl child for giving birth to a girl.
Feminism is not only for girls, to girls but anyone who accepts and is fair with each member. It is seen female actresses supporting feminism for promotion if we try to understand than logically promotion should be done with a valid and in a correct manner and not to use feminine gender for anything. A male actor can also promote a product or campaign or whatever if he really understands what is feminism, and it has nothing to do with only females.
Female actresses promoting something makes a difference because many follow and imitate them but all are not the same and the powers of actors and common people are different, so if the promotion of anything needs to be done then not only female but anyone can do it a correct manner and without discrimination. It should not be assumed that if actresses will promote more femineity and will make a difference but we should learn that when each individual understands and takes up initiative then we could achieve.I agree with the statement that female actresses should not use their feminity for promotion. Not all actresses use the female card, but some do you use. Feminism is not about empowering women by giving them more advantages than me. Instead, it is about giving women equal rights as men. Before equality, the step of equity is essential.
A few actresses like Kangana Ranaut and Rakhi Sawant have always played the feminine card in the Bollywood industry. I, as a woman, respect other women and their work, but I don’t accept or respect is the female card played by them. Only because one is a woman does not give her the right to do anything or assault anyone or break the protocols of respect in society. If you have seen Big Boss Season 13, you would know what it is all about. Rakhi Sawant disgraced Rahul Mahajan on television in various manners, and no one said a word to her. However, if a man had played with a woman’s cloth on television, implications would have been different for him. The same goes for Kangana Ranaut’s actions during Krish 3.
Somewhere, the meaning of empowerment has changed completely. I repeat, not each actress might be like this, but there are a few who do not leave the opportunity to play the card.
Female actresses should not use their femininity for promotion.
Female actresses should not use their femininity to promote themselves or their career, although men can use as much manliness and masculinity as they want. Is that the equality that our society has? Is that the gaze of the society towards our gender-discrimination based mindsets; absolutely not. Why should women suffer in every possible way the society wants them to, while men have all the fun and enjoyment in their plate?
Our society has a thing against women. It is clearly misogynistic to think that it is wrong for women to use their femininity for promotion. In fact, if a woman is already feminine, how is she exactly ‘using’ her femininity for promotion? She is feminine and she is working hard in order to get herself promoted in whichever aspect of life. It cannot be called ‘using’ her femininity.
A man is promoted on the basis of his hard work and skills and abilities in his career and in his life. Well, he can also be promoted in competitive fields when there are women standing in competition on the basis of being a man, but he definitely cannot be promoted on the basis of being a man alone. He works hard in his life and gets promoted. That cannot be called ‘using’ his manliness for promotion. The same way, we cannot say that women are ‘using’ their femininity for promotion.
Actresses in our film industry are actresses and actors are actors for a reason. There is a clear distinction between male and female celebrities. It is not called ‘using’ manliness or womanliness, although a woman is a woman and she has the right to her own body, so she shall do whatever she wants with it, even if she has to ‘use’ her femininity for promotion for that matter. The society or the people have no right to pass judgment on that and even if they do, women shall not lend them ears. People are used to talking about women and judging them.
A woman myself,
Shubhangini Shaktawat
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