The Problem With Feminism

The problem with announcing that you're a feminist means that people immediately jump to this preconceived idea of a crazy woman who doesn't shave her legs, throwing herself under a bus for the right to not shave her legs or something.

But hey, guess what, that's a stereotype cooked up by ignorant people.

Suddenly, you're no longer a three dimensional person, you're a feminist, so you must be: a lesbian, a man hater, etc etc etc.

Um, just because I'm a feminist doesn't mean I'm not anything else. I'm also a student, a daughter, a music lover, a sister, a fashion enthusiast, a friend, an assistant dog groomer, etc etc etc - the list goes on.

I don't stop being all the other things I am. I have opinions on other things, and opinions that differ from the general ideas of feminism. That doesn't make me not a feminist, I am a feminist because I choose to be.

It's all about the right to choose. I want to have the choice of whether I become a stay at home mum or a career woman (these have ridiculous stereotypes too but I'm not even going to get into that) or a mix of both in the future, because of feminism, I get to make my own rules about my life.

I'm sick of people trying to justify being for or against anything with the line "I read this article one time which said.... yadda yadda yadda".

It takes years of research, understanding and get this - open-mindedness to build an opinion, and people who jump to conclusions because of a singular article, without knowing the opposing stuff, are just as ignorant as the ones who don't know anything about it. Worse in fact, if they're forcing their potentially misinterpreted ideas down your throat.

I'll believe and fight for what I want, and it's thanks to decades of feminism that I am allowed to do that.  And people who write me off for that can suck it.

If you still don't get what I'm on about, here's a seven minute explanation of exactly what I'm on about, and some other cool stuff. This woman's my new hero:

50 Other Dirty Novels

Sorry boys, it's not the first dirty book to be written, but it might be the first you've heard about it.

Yep, women are getting off, and we don't need you to do it. I don't want to be the one to shatter your illusions but people are acting like nobody's ever seen a naughty novel before.

Women have been talking about books like this for years. Trust me. We share them. To this day I remember vividly the passage in The Playground Mafia my friend gave me to read at the tender age of 14. Most of the naughty novels I own today were given away free by Cosmo. Think how many readers that has a month, think of all those women tearing through passages of Freya North's recent release and getting hot over a fictional teacher or bridge builder. Nobody reads them because of their compelling storyline or deep and interesting characters. They want a how-to guide of improving sex in a fictional construction that nurtures both romantic and physical fantasies.

Finally, the question over whether it's great literature is irrelevant, see: any porn aimed at men i.e. all of it. And maybe it's a crappy book, but as if your Zoo or Nuts magazine is a work of art. We watch crappy movies movies because we enjoy them, so we'll read crappy books for the same reason.

And don't go getting all insecure because you're not Christian Grey, women have had to deal with the fact they're not the high-profile, lusted after, sex symbols, i.e. Megan Fox, for years. So do not even think of going there.

M.A.C.

Upfront, there won't be a lot of beauty on this blog.

I really struggle with make up. Which is exactly what I told the M.A.C. customer assistant on saturday.

Who, by the way, was the only person I've ever met who could pull off a septum piercing and Dr Martens. I don't like either, ever, on anyone. But somehow, she rocked both.

I was given my own little makeover, and came away with the Pro Longwear SPF10 Foundation and an eyebrow pencil in Soft Taupe Brown.

Being an eyebrow pencil virgin, having her show me how to create the same look was fabulous.

And the foundation is incredible. Matches my skin perfectly, medium coverage, super lightweight, the perfect blend of sheer and matt, and the best part? It doesn't move. Doesn't budge. When it says 15 hour wear, it means it. Even in the sticky humid air and torrential rain of the British summer this weekend, it didn't move once.

I recon even I could do a workout in this and come out of the gym flawless.

Paris Couture Week

This year has been the first Paris Couture Week I have properly followed, and several collections really stood out, completely capturing or turning on its head the expectations of couture.

Dior's AW12 collection did exactly the former. With its sharp lines and bold colours, the collection effortlessly turned couture into work-wear, no easy feat when the expected look is the classic style Elie Saab went for.

In fact, he unbelievably nailed the true idea of couture with fabulously intricate lace and beaded designs I'm doubtless will be splashed over red carpets in the months to come.

But it was the Atelier Versace AW12 collection that was breathtaking. Gowns juxtaposing structure with wispily magical fabrics and tiny pieces of engineering that I found myself lusting after. Can I put an order in for both the mini and maxi green and gold tarot dresses?

Finally, Giambattista Valli's haute couture collection had some real pieces of art in it. Clothes almost too beautiful to be worn. But where's the fun in that? I'll take one of each please. 

Men are the new women? Women are the new men?

Becoming more and more common in catwalk shows for a couple of seasons now are genders replacing genders. And why not when the garments surfacing from designers are becoming more and more androgynous.

Is this the pivotal point of equality? No longer will there be a discrepancy between genders about whom is wearing the trousers and whom the skirt.

Men's skirts by the way? A nice touch by Thom Browne - he was not the first designer and won't be the last this catwalk season to reintroduce what was once excused as: the kilt. In fact, I am all for mixing icons of femininity and masculinity resulting in a fierce football player come sunday school teacher style.

No women featured in Mr Browne's show, unlike Givenchy's, who in January of this year, paraded their AW12 menswear collection down the runway during Paris fashion week, using both male and female models.

I am far from condemning it.

This is praise for androgynous fashions.

This wave of ideology has been coming long before Agyness Deyn hit the runway with her boyish strut and a haircut which claimed: "Anything you can do I can do (better?)"

Since the female form first donned a suit - the trousers, the shirt, the tie, the blazer, the full monty of empowerment - there has been a shift in ideas that if women can wear men's clothes, why can't men wear women's? (Without the potentially discriminatory social labels) Why is there even a barrier between them?

Perhaps the designers are simply all trying to cause a stir. But if the liberal and changing attitudes of this generation are open minded enough about once taboo subjects like sexuality, I would not put the divide between men and women's clothing past becoming obsolete.

Untitled

Sometimes my thoughts are too long for 140 characters.

Most of the time they're not: twitter.

Umming and ahhing about a new one since several failed past attempts.

Not listed for reasons pertaining to my sanity.

Finally persuaded by the pro of a portfolio of ideas and opinions-like platform,

against the con of 'selling out' and opinions of my peers - y'all can suck it.

Be prepared for the multiple changes, sporadic posting and ultimate abandonment due to a fickle nature.

Apologies in advance and of course, welcome.