BARE IT ALL

The last unit in my Argument class is called 1964. In this unit we learned about the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and how this law changed our nation. We learned how America was trying to change for the better and along with that we learned the arguments America had with racism. The last Action Project asked us to take a position on a controversial topic and write a thesis, than identify and try to understand someone’s position on the topic and write antithesis. From that, we were challenged to create a resolution, in other words, map out the synthesis. What I struggled with was coming up with a topic to argue. What I enjoyed about this project was writing my synthesis. I love the topic I picked because it relates to me in a personal way. Overall, the Argument class was one of my favorite classes that I’ve taken at GCE. I learned so much, and teacher my Jamie did an amazing job at teaching it! Hope you guys enjoy!

     

Body shaming is an important issue to me, and in this era it's really relevant to talk about. I say this era because the world is changing, yet some people are still conservative. The 21st century is such an important time in history, and I feel like people need to began to open up their minds more in order to make the world a better place. Models can show their skinny bodies and be praised and called beautiful. They aren’t called sluts, whores, or attention-seekers. When it comes to the topic of perceptions of women and our bodies, my position is that we should not be body shamed for showing off our bodies which we love.

The overall opposing argument against body shaming is that people think it’s a bad look for women, specifically, to show their bodies on social media or in real life. Opponents believe that when a girl is showing off her body she is sending a certain message, she is called an “attention seeker," even an “attention whore” (because we all know- the worst thing a woman can do in the world is seek attention). No one likes a woman who wants to be seen. Kim Kardashian-West recently posted a nude selfie on her social media accounts. Mrs. Kardashian-West gave birth just a few months ago; she was just trying to make herself feel better, because society tends to make women feel like crap if they don’t look a certain way, and this “rule” is only harsher if you are a celebrity. The picture was a throwback that Kardashian-West posted to be a motivating picture of herself, which, in my opinion that is pretty impressive. Along with the image, she included the caption: “I wanna get back to Me a year ago!” It didn’t take long at all for other celebrities and many people all over the world to start adding their two cents about her photo, including posting negative comments on her photo. Even veteran actress and entertainer, Bette Midler had a few words for Kardashian’s nude selfie. The older actress tweeted: “Kim Kardashian tweeted a nude selfie today. If Kim wants us to see a part of her we've never seen, she's gonna have to swallow the camera.” I wholeheartedly disagree! Bette, the point of the picture is Kardashian-West is showing us exactly what she wants us to see; she has the control over her own body and representations of it online. She blocked out certain parts, when she could’ve showed it all. And yes, Kim has taken nude pictures before, and has a sex tape but look at where that got her today, she is a successful fashion designer, model, entrepreneur.

So why did Midler feel the need to jab at this one? And why did Midler feel the need to add “she's gonna have to swallow the camera?” Midler’s offensive response is a prime example of body shaming. Celebrity actress, Chloe Grace Moretz, also added to the fire, stating “@KimKardashian I truly hope you realize how important setting goals are for young women, teaching them we have so much more to offer than-just our bodies.” But that’s the thing, Kim Kardashian is setting her own goals for young women. She wants to set an example that shows women they can be comfortable in their own bodies. After so much unwanted, negative feedback Kim Kardashian-West ended up writing a letter, slamming all her body shamers. She stated that: 

"As individual women, we may or may not choose to use our bodies or our sexuality as a mode of empowerment. As individual women, we may not even understand how another woman could ever even see it that way, and so it’s easier to look at a naked woman and write her off as ‘feeding into the male gaze.’ But if feminism is about every woman having the choice to move freely through the world and designing her own life free from gender-based bias, then we have to respect other women’s choices, even if we don’t agree with them, as long as those choices don’t interfere with another’s right to choose."

I do agree with Mrs. Kim Kardashian-West that as individual women, we all have the right to choose what we want to do with our bodies, and yes people have the right to their opinions, but verbal abuse is plain wrong. I’m not saying that Kim Kardashian-West is the only one who’s getting body shamed, millions of girls around the world do, including myself. I love my body; it’s a piece of art to me and it's so valuable. People get so upset when I post certain pictures or the way I dress, and they feel the need to call me names. Body shaming needs to stop!

Where can my opposition and I agree on? Is that people have the right to do whatever they want with their own bodies. Men and women have the right to show off their bodies as they please; they can do whatever they want because they own their own body. Both sides have to respect that.

Questions I Have for the Opposition: 

    1. Why are you upset that I don’t hate my body? 

    2. Why does my body upset you?

    3. What gives you the right to call me names?

    4. Why are you trying to bring my self esteem down?

Questions the Oppositions Might Have for Me:

     
     1.Why do girls have to show their bodies off?

     2.What kind of message are you sending young girls?

     3. Are you trying to get attention?

The synthesis that would allow both sides to come together means both have to respect each other’s opinions. We were all born naked, and human bodies are natural. Clothes are “man made,” we all know what a human body looks like, and what parts each gender has. If someone chooses to show their body without clothes, it shouldn’t matter. We have a body, too; it’s normal. If people have something to say, just keep it in. We all learned this technique as we were growing up. People should apply it to their real lives. When people start to judge others, they start hate, and later spread war. If the world wants to change, we all have to respect each other, not judge, and not call names.

Works Cited:

“Kim Kardashian’s Open Letter on International Women’s Day Shuts Down The Body Shamers.” www.romper.com. Jen McGuire. 9 March, 2016. Web 15 March, 2016. 

“Send Nudes: Kim Kardashian, Feminism, and The Right To Bare All.” Themarysue.com. Teresa Jusino. 9 March, 2016. Web. 15 March, 2016.

Pictures: 

"Bare it all.” JV. 2016.

"Body Shaming 101." Hercampus.com. 8 May, 2015. (2 pictures)