Kai Myers
8-27-14
Professor Soyoung Park
Women’s Studies
Full Frontal Feminism
Full Frontal Feminism by Jessica Valenti holds nothing back in its approach (in that regard, its title is very appropriate). Valenti debunks the myths behind feminism and applauds its open availability to the public with modern innovations such as the internet. The widespread use of social media has increasingly exposed the concept of feminism to young, impressionable women across the globe with a single click of a button. “And this is what’s amazing about online feminism— ten years ago, if a woman was reading a feminist publication it was because she already identified as a feminist. Now, young people find feminism accidentally or randomly— through online searches and social media— all the time” (Valenti, 6). Women no longer have to be feminists in order to be informed, and they are more likely to make informed decisions based on the information they come across.
As a result of this new source of knowledge, myths such as how “feminism is seen as super anti” (Valenti, 7) should be more easily disproven. The word feminism has such a strong negative connotation, however. Feminists are supposedly seen as ugly, hairy, and just overall unattractive women. Is this the case for all feminists? Of course not (and for the record, it is totally cool to look just the way you want to, if it makes you happy).
Still, Valenti writes that being called ugly is a type of fear-tactic that is very effective in keeping women away from feminism and feminists alike. Being ugly, in a lot of terms, means being unwanted, and no one wants to feel that way. As for feminism being dead? If women are still being treated like sexual objects, feeling unwanted, stressed to perform for men, underpaid and under-appreciated, then there is still a need for feminism, more specifically, radical feminism.
Please, take a look at the video above.
This is an extremely recent video. Is there still a need for feminism? You bet.
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