Pay Attention To Yourself Before Judging Another Feminist

I was recently on Facebook and came across Emma Watson's Vanity Fair cover. I thought that she looked stunning in this all white ensemble. My problem was not with the cover but with the reactions to the cover. There are articles, blog posts, and comment threads by people that call themselves feminists who are shaming Emma Watson for her cover.

What I understand about this "controversy" is that one cannot complain about the sexualization of women in the media industry and be alright with being a sexual being. So now Emma Watson is a hypocrite for being on a magazine cover with some of her tits showing.

I do not know who made up this bullshit rule. The problem with sexuality in media is not its existence but the fact that women are sexualized beyond their comfort level and often without choice. How is Emma a hypocrite if she decided that she was going to sexualize herself and work what she was given? Does that not make her more of a feminist? She is saying: Yes I have tits, get over it and let's talk about my work.

The problem does not lie with whether or not Emma Watson is a true feminist but whether or not those that judge her are. Part of the feminist movement is to fight for the progression and success of women, however, they may wish to achieve it, so why are you denouncing her for accepting that she has tits? Why not check yourself and the fact that you would be so quick to judge a feminist by whether or not they can be sexualized. Anything and anyone can be sexualized, but that does not take its core meaning or original intention away.

Women are not less feminist because they sexualize themselves. If anything, they are more feminist because they took the power of sexualization away from men and now get to decide what meaning their own bodies have. That is why women can wear shorts, crop tops, make-up, bikinis, and lingerie with the intention of making themselves feel good and not with the intention of getting male attention.

Rather than questioning another woman's dedication to feminism, just realize that she has every right to translate it to how she feels. You do not have to show your body to own it but that does not mean that she can't. Recognize that you in your jeans and sweater can be every bit as feminist as the women next to you that are in swimsuits, burkas, hijabs, habits, and dresses. Clothing and hobbies do not determine your level of feminism.

Please, spend more time getting to know each other and more time trying to build each other up. Do not think that the person next to you needs to be guided into your light because their's might be just as liberating as yours.