(no subject)

[pantryslut]

Post-Femme Con thought for the day:

"However, the success of early female punk performers' attempts to desexualize the clothes they wore in such a parodic fashion is debatable. Whereas punk women intended to present these garments in such a way as to discredit their effect as fetishistic, sexually titillating items, the overriding cultural view of women as sex objects may have worked at cross-purposes with their intent. Thus, Laing argues that "an attempt to parody 'sexiness' may simply miss its mark and be read by the omnivorous male gaze as the 'real thing'." Their attempt at resistance, when contained within the subculture's private code, could be, and was, often read by the mainstream press and by observers more in terms of its accomodation, rather than resistance, to feminine sexual stereotypes. While striving to counter stereotypes of women in rock, punk women were repeatedly described as sluts, perverts, whores, and junkies by those outside the subculture."

-- Lauraine Leblanc, Pretty in Punk

Comments

[pantryslut.livejournal.com]

I guess in the end my take is this: if they're going to perceive you as a slut no matter what you wear, say, or do, then you might as well wear, say, and do whatever the fuck you like. Emphasis on like.

[mr-heathen.livejournal.com]

my thinking has always been, if you question your motives long enough, pretty soon you motives are going to seem kinda questionable. i feel like if i thought about identity politics too long, i'd never leave my house again.

[wild-irises.livejournal.com]

But that raises the next question: if they will only perceive you as a slut if you wear, say, or do certain things (like anything except the most conventionally accepted norms), what is it worth giving up to avoid that perception? What is too important to give up? Answers are, of course, individual, but trends and choices can still be observed.

[pantryslut.livejournal.com]

This is a very good and to the point question. But honestly, it is also one I never felt was really relevant to me -- I never felt like conforming to conventionally accepted norms was an option.

[badgerbag.livejournal.com]

That's where I get in the end as well. And the line between "whatever I the fuck I like" being a sleazy miniskirt or a butch outfit or something deliberately unsexualizing or androgynous is pretty thin for me. i.e. sometimes I've got the energy to deal with the complexity and sometimes I try (though it's impossible) to opt out.