Kim Kardashian recently penned an open letter on International Women's day following the release of a nude picture of herself claiming she had nothing to wear (Okay, Kim, sure). The letter written to justify her nude photo was seen by many people as a letter for women empowerment.
In the letter, she writes:
"I am empowered by my body. I am empowered by my sexuality. I am empowered by feeling comfortable in my skin. I am empowered by showing the world my flaws and not being afraid of what anyone is going to say about me. And I hope that through this platform I have been given, I can encourage the same empowerment for girls and women all over the world."
While being confident with your body is great, your body should not be the only way to feel powerful and successful. This sends the wrong message to women around the world by stating the body is the only way a woman will be worth something.
There are other factors that should come into play when feeling empowered, such as intelligence. When Kim Kardashian posts a naked photo of herself it only reinforces the idea that many people in society still see beauty and body image as the only way a way woman can get attention and get ahead in life.
Some students from California State University, Northridge believe Kardashian wasn't sincere with her letter about empowerment.
“I think she only did it because a lot of people were talking bad about her picture,” said Marleny Lopez, cinema and television arts major.
It is true that Kardashian received plenty of backlash for posting her nude photo on her Instagram. Even celebrities such as Bette Midler and Chloe Grace Moretz shared their thoughts on their Twitter accounts about the photo:
Twitter: BetteMidler
Twitter: ChloeGMoretz
There were some other students, however, who did believe the photo and the letter was empowering.
“It is empowerment because people should be proud of their bodies,” Hannah Brunelli, journalism major, said. “Why should women have to cover up? I get it was nude photo, but it’s her body and she should be allowed to show it off if she wants.”
Here is Kardashian's full letter of "empowerment" from her website:
"Hey, guys. I wanted to write a post elaborating on my tweets last night. In all seriousness, I never understand why people get so bothered by what other people choose to do with their lives.
I don’t do drugs, I hardly drink, I’ve never committed a crime — and yet I’m a bad role model for being proud of my body?
It always seems to come back around to my sex tape. Yes, a sex tape that was made 13 years ago. 13 YEARS AGO. Literally that lonnng ago. And people still want to talk about it?!?!
I lived through the embarrassment and fear, and decided to say who cares, do better, move on. I shouldn’t have to constantly be on the defense, listing off my accomplishments just to prove that I am more than something that happened 13 years ago.
Let’s move on, already. I have.
I am empowered by my body. I am empowered by my sexuality. I am empowered by feeling comfortable in my skin. I am empowered by showing the world my flaws and not being afraid of what anyone is going to say about me. And I hope that through this platform I have been given, I can encourage the same empowerment for girls and women all over the world.
I am empowered by my husband, who is so accepting and supportive and who has given me a newfound confidence in myself. He allows me to be me and loves me unconditionally.
I feel so lucky to have grown up surrounded by strong, driven, independent women. The life lessons I’ve learned from my sisters, my mother and my grandmother, I will pass along to my daughter. I want her to be proud of who she is. I want her to be comfortable in her body. I don’t want her to grow up in a world where she is made to feel less-than for embracing everything it means to be a woman.
It’s 2016. The body-shaming and slut-shaming — it’s like, enough is enough. I will not live my life dictated by the issues you have with my sexuality. You be you and let me be me.
I am a mother. I am a wife, a sister, a daughter, an entrepreneur and I am allowed to be sexy."
#happyinternationalwomensday
