Naked Barbie

I was driving on my way home from school, and I see a truck next to me with a picture of a blonde white woman partly naked, smack dab on the side. I look to see what it says on the bottom, and there it was: The Gentlemen’s Club. It’s true about what Valenti says. Our pop culture, school, society expect a lot from women. There is this rule to be available to men but be “mysterious.” It’s amazing how women are all conformed to have this sexy, hot image in order to please men. It goes way back in history when women were to wear corsets and tighten their stomach. But besides beauty, we are talking about sexuality! But sexuality and beauty both have something in common; women are striving to be “perfect” in the sexual norms as well! In American culture, sexual ideal is porn ideal, which is a pretty sad thing. Women are caught up in being the barbie doll and now they must live up to being a “naked” barbie doll? Sexuality is basically our identity but it’s so hard for women to accept it or enjoy it, take care of it because of what the media has done to the image of it. Whether it’s the sexual norms, or just trying to be that porn star, I see how woman can be forced or feel limited in playing a certain role in sexuality. Some women are not to express their sexuality, like one of my high school friends, who struggled for a long time to come out and express herself, especially to her mother. I believed that she became “bi” to rebel against the pleasing to men, due to the fact that her father left her when she was very young, but who am I to say that? Her confusion was expressed through her clothes, fashion and her short and dyed hair. It was interesting to see her transformation from a very pink, bubbly, long haired junior high student to a short haired, black and baggy style clothing high school student. I understand now, that that was her way of expressing. Now in college, she is growing, as in, she has this sense of empowerment. She is finding her sense of self, she is accepting her sexual identity. The last time I saw her, she was wearing a yellow shirt with jeans that fit her body size. Not saying that she is more girly or she is more boyish, but she is now comfortable with herself and not letting the sexual norms get to her; she is rediscovering her way of enjoying and expressing her body. Shouldn't this be what we may all strive for? I don't know, either straight, bi, or gay, I must say, I have come to realize, we must all look on ahead to accepting, respecting and taking care of ourselves, because that is what this is about, and not pleasing what this world expects us to be.