Being Sexy is All Right

Feminism.

There’s a great power behind the word. It’s a flame lit by women across the globe, getting hotter and growing in size. The arsenal of a woman’s being, the weapon we carry always. Our protection, our security. It’s the woman who’s fighting for an education in the Middle East, the woman who’s testifying against her rapist in court. The Oxford Dictionary defines it simply: “The advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.”

And then there’s the opposing attitude, the one that I almost don’t believe exists, because is there really somebody out there who doesn’t think we’re capable? Who turns a blind eye to the talents and accomplishments and successes of so many women, every day, every hour, throughout all of history? Anti-feminism is mind-boggling, a notion so misaligned that rational people like you and I can’t even begin to process it.

But I think there’s a category of women who are so immersed in the feminist crusade that they muddle the meaning of anti-feminism.

The other day, I watched a YouTube video on the numerous degradations of women that occurred throughout 2013. While I agreed with many of the points (yes, Seth McFarlane’s stunt at the Oscars was more than a little derogatory, but I think he mostly just embarrassed himself), I found myself wholly disagreeing with some of the video’s other examples.

For instance, the video displayed a clip from a sexy Carl’s Jr. commercial featuring Katherine Webb. You’ve probably already seen it, and if you haven’t, feast your eyes: 

There was a crossfire on the Internet, and infuriated “Sexism” protests are still cluttering Google. While most women perceive this to be a disgrace, I believe it to be the opposite. I applaud women who are confident enough to fully own their sexuality. Webb is sexy, not totally because of the way she looks, but the way she exudes it. She’s poised, totally sure of herself, and embracing the fact that she appears in men’s fantasies.

There’s nothing wrong with being sexy. If that were the case, wouldn’t that make the Victoria’s Secret Angels an incessant degradation to the female gender? How about the innumerous cleavage-bearing photos of the well-known role model Marilyn Monroe? What about Elizabeth Taylor—another huge female figure—playing the role of a super seductive Cleopatra? Or even Beyoncé being, well, naughty in the “Naughty Girl” music video?

Women are beautiful. I’m tremendously thankful to be one. We can wear makeup, pretty dresses, red high heels, we can be sexy—and there’s this askew conception that a stimulating woman is symbolic of a retrograde movement.

Of course, there’s a line—and speaking of lines, “Blurred Lines” is a perfect example of a flat-out prejudiced production. In the explicit version, the models in the music video leave zilch to the imagination. That’s just it: leaving some to the imagination, like in Webb’s commercial, is so much sexier. I actually winced when one of the women in “Blurred Lines” danced nude in front of a sign reading “Robin Thicke has a big dick.” Not to mention, Thicke blowing smoke in one of the model’s faces? Yeah, gross.

But tastefully embracing our sexuality isn’t degrading, ladies. Katherine Webb didn’t open her legs and flaunt her special place. She was sexy, yet classy, and believe it or not, those two can complement each other. We’re so blessed to be women, to own gorgeous, curvy bodies. And that’s the thing, we own our bodies. If we want to show the world how sexy we really are (um, extremely!), we shouldn’t be condemned by our own gender.