pretty and feminism

I was going to write a post on how it isn't anti-feminist to take an interest in your appearance, that smart and pretty aren't mutually exclusive, etc.

Then I stumbled upon an article about that very topic on another blog, Already Pretty.

But if you're too lazy to click that, here's what she says.

I've heard people say that whenever a woman dresses up, elements of patriarchal oppression, conformism, and weakness are at play. That it goes against the feminist grain to cinch your waist, or maximize your bust, or lengthen your legs with flattering clothing because on some level, you're doing it to garner male attention ... or to make your fellow women feel inferior. That you're unconsciously playing into some societal idea of what a woman should look like, even as you're telling yourself you're doing it because it makes you feel good.

But I don't buy it. Not for a minute.

This kind of thinking paints women as mindless, consumption-driven zombies incapable of making their own decisions. It assumes that any time we dare feel good about our looks, any time we include grooming and style in our regimen of self-care, we are surrendering power. And, perhaps even worse, it feeds into the smart-versus-pretty dichotomy. I mean, any woman who wants to dress up and look fashionable every day can't be smart, can she? If she makes sexy shoes and perfect makeup a priority, she can't possibly have room in her life for anything deeper or more meaningful. And, obviously, someone who stays abreast of the trends and dresses to accentuate her assets couldn't be a real feminist.

Obviously.

And that's a bit extreme and most people who accuse women of pandering when they pull on miniskirts and brush on mascara aren't quite that prejudiced. But a few months back, I saw a blog comment about how Eve Ensler wasn't relevant as a feminist anymore because she'd gotten a flattering new haircut and put on some lipstick for an interview. And I had to walk around the block a few times to keep my head from exploding. Because Eve didn't lose brain cells as she lost length off her 'do, and she didn't get the smarts sucked out of her when she slapped on that lippy. She's still herself, still amazing, just a little different-looking. And saying she's a sell-out for changing her personal style is assuming that she took someone else's opinion into consideration when she made those changes. That's a BIG assumption, and not one I'm comfortable making. About anyone.

The choices we make when we dress are nothing if not complex. To deny that societal ideals have influenced modern fashion would be naive, and to claim that women never dress to appeal to men would be preposterous. These things play in, sometimes, for some women. But it really frosts my cake when people assume that ALL women who dig clothes and fashion, cosmetics and fitness, are brainless bimbos who'd love nothing more than to bulldoze all that feminists have worked so hard to build.

Are all women who dress up feminists? No. Are all women who dress down feminists? No. What someone wears tells you some information about their tastes, choices, and lifestyle, but that information is minimal at best. Important, but minimal. There is no way to determine from looking at a woman whether or not she is a feminist. There is no way to determine from looking at a woman whether or not she is smart. You have to dig deeper to find those things out.

So don't tell me I'm not a feminist because I'm a clotheshorse. Those two things are not mutually exclusive.


Much love,
The Albright Sheriff