Another View: Men are Winning the War on Women
Photo Credit: People.com
Cyrus unwittingly transmitted a critical message – Men are winning the war on women. In the 60’s and 70’s, women made a concerted effort to escape the kitchen and achieve workplace and social equality with men. And by many measures, women have made great strides toward that end. But popular culture tells a different story, and it’s the giant teddy bear on stage that we ignore at own peril. Somewhere along the way, men have hijacked the feminist message and rephrased it to their own advantage. This new mantra goes something like this — feminism means sexual freedom, and sexual freedom means having lots of sex – whenever, whenever and with whomever.
The net result of this emergent sexual freedom is feminism turned on its head. Women today are more objectified than ever. With the commitment-free “hook up” culture, sex on a date or in a relationship is an expected part of the deal. If a woman demurs, she is labeled “afraid” or “repressed.” Culturally, a woman’s ability to “say no” is at an all-time low. They’ve been duped into believing that men’s sexual expectations – promiscuity for everyone without commitment or consequences – equal female empowerment. And, in case you somehow missed this development, Cyrus’s “performance” in her flesh-colored bra and panties should’ve gotten your attention.
Look at the performance last weekend. Three fully-clothed men – Robin Thicke along with hip hop artists, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar – either casually stand around or saunter across the stage with microphones in hand, while nearly two dozen half-naked women gyrate and twerk around them. The Cyrus/Thicke performance liberated no one—not the women on stage nor any woman in the estimated 10.1 million viewing audience.
And don’t kid yourself; Cyrus, Thicke, and the rest of popular media feed and strengthen this prevalent misogynistic mentality. Our culture not only tolerates it, it celebrates it.
Don’t blame Miley. Thank her. At least she got your attention.
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Amy Efaw is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, the mother of five children, and a self-described “soccer mom extraordinaire.” A former Army officer and freelance journalist, Ms. Efaw now lives in Denver, Colorado. She has written novels for teens, and she plans to write many more.
