At the risk of mansplaining, I am writing this to try to unpack based on what I know. Not an attack on anyone.
âWomen are not objects.â
Yes, I agree. No one should objectify women.
It is worth pointing out, however, that some women âself-objectifyâ and/or explicitly allow others (likely someone they trust) to objectify them, maybe as a kink. In these cases, it is done with consent from all parties involved. Most importantly, there is aftercare. And even then, I would further note, they are a minority. Objectifying the self as a woman, whatever her reasons may be, is a privilege that not all women could do or want to do.
Women should have complete autonomy over their own bodies.
âPeople who sexualize women have no right to be called human beingsâŠâ
I could only imagine the emotions that would spur a woman to write such generalization. Women has to endure daily hardships brought by patriarchy we all live and take part in. I know from personal experience how machismo corrodes womenâs welfare.
Although a minority, it is worth noting that even women and other non-men can be misogynistic. Patriarchy is affects everyoneâs behavior, no matter the sex and gender. This open letter by Yannah Angela comes to mind as an example, in which the author writes about (trigger warning) sexual assault and child abuse as a direct consequence of patriarchy.
Also, are women who sexualizeâmaybe even objectifyâthemselves for whatever reason (e.g., for sex work) included in this reduction?
Now, Iâas a cis-hetero male, apparently non-human beingâwish to argue for whatever is left of my personhood by saying: it is normal to be physically attracted to, to sexualize even, the opposite sex (women) and other femme-presenting folks (if you get what I mean). It is the following actions and inactions that matter more, in my humble opinion. Any actions that lead to, or any inactions that neither prevent nor stop, violence against women (online or in meatspace), including sexual harassment, assault, and abuse, should be condemned and be made accountable in any reality.
Masturbating to the thought of some person one has sexualized in their heads is okay, but masturbating to revenge porn is detestable.
Getting turned on by the idea of having sex with some stranger on the internet is okay, but sliding in their DMs unprompted to let them know of the fact is creepy.
Consensual freaky and nasty sex is great, but if the safeword is uttered, stop immediately and proceed to aftercare.
But what about writing smut on the internet for fun?
The proof is left as an exercise to the reader.
prguitarman
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