So, this dude decided to go to Occupy Wall Street and make a video of some of the women there, which he released under the title “Hot Chicks of Occupy Wall Street.” There’s no hint that he got consent from any of the women he photographed.<\/p>\n
1) The main thing that bothers me about this is that it could change the experience of being at Occupy Wall Street for women. Women who have heard about this video (and its associated tumbler blog) and go to Occupy Wall Street are now more likely to wonder if the people taking pictures are going to post them as “hot chick” pics.<\/p>\n
Of course, some women don’t mind that. But some do.<\/em> To post this video with total indifference for the feelings of the women who do <\/em>mind, is simply an asshole thing to do.<\/p>\n 2) A lot of the problem is the title “hot chicks.” That sets a context that’s frankly icky, and wrong for the occasion. It trivializes the women’s activism.<\/p>\n 3) And of course, it’s not a coincidence that someone chose to do “hot chicks” rather than “hot studs.” This is treatment that women (by and large) are singled out for.<\/p>\n 4) I don’t think there’s anything wrong with lust, or with appreciating how gorgeous and sexy people are. But that it’s okay to appreciate sexiness isn’t a magic wand making everything okay. Admiring sexy people is fine; but posting your admiration online, apparently without consent, in a way that trivializes why these women are attending OWS, is sexist and stupid and potentially harmful.<\/p>\n 5) I’m actually reminded of the rewriting of Starfire in the revamped DC Comics universe. (Sue me, I’m nerdy.) Michele Lee<\/a> interviewed her seven-year-old daughter, a fan of Starfire, about the “new” Starfire.<\/p>\n “What about this Starfire? What do you think about her?” (Referring to an image from DC’s reboot Red Hood and the Outsiders)<\/p>\n “I can see almost all of her boobs.”<\/p>\n “And?”<\/p>\n “Well she is on the beach in her bikini. But\u2026”<\/p>\n “But?”<\/p>\n “But, she’s not relaxing or swimming. She’s just posing a lot.” *my daughter appears uncomfortable*<\/p>\n “Anything else?”<\/p>\n “Well, she’s not fighting anyone. And not talking to anyone really. She’s just almost naked and posing. […] I want her to be a hero, fighting things and be strong and helping people.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Lee’s daughter put her finger on exactly what was wrong with how DC “rebooted” Starfire. The character originally existed to fight evil and save the world (and yes, she often did this wearing incredibly revealing outfits). To reimagine the character as someone who primarily stands around and poses is Getting It Wrong. That’s not what the character is there for.<\/em><\/p>\n Of course, the women in “Hot Chicks” are real people, not drawings on paper. But the screw-up is the same; in both cases, women are treated primarily as eye candy for men’s consumption, and only incidentally as people who are there to fight evil and save the world.<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n More blogging about “Hot Chicks Of Occupy Wall Street”:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" So, this dude decided to go to Occupy Wall Street and make a video of some of the women there, which he released under the title “Hot Chicks of Occupy Wall Street.” There’s no hint that he got consent from … Continue reading \n