Hunt – Auf der Suche nach der neuen Weiblichkeit – Juni 2016 Postfeminismus/Third- Wave-Feminism Laurie Penny Antje Schrupp Anne Wizorek Aufstieg des neoliberalen Geschlechterregimes Angela McRobby Megan Murphy Lindsay Kite Popfeminismus Christa Brüstle Beate Flath Katja Kauer Peaches Rosa Reitsamer Mahoro Seward Sarah Horvath 11556 INTERVIEW: 01 | 02 Lindsay Kite because when we view objectified images and participate in this humiliate women; that are used strictly for the pleasure of men? They promote » body positivity « and they call themselves feminist objectifying culture, whether we know it or not, we end up turning Those same images, even under the hashtag #bodypositivity, are activists in search of promoting » positive body image. « They’re that gaze inward on ourselves and evaluating ourselves in terms strictly there to arouse men. They’re not there to help girls and really seeking to fight body shame. And as their followings have of what other people see, rather than based on how we feel, what women feel good about themselves. And it becomes problematic, really exploded, far more so than mine ever has and probably we do, and what we say and contribute to the world. because while I’ve seen those pages – those body positivity pages, ever will, they have taken their clothes off more and more and so especially on Instagram – explode when they start to share more they’ve been rewarded for that a lot. And the backlash came from MM: I’m so glad you brought that up because I talk about underwear pictures or nude selfies. That’s when they get 200K them, I think because they felt a lot of cognitive dissonance about self-objectification quite often in my work and, as you pointed followers. And it’s a little problematic because, again, we are just it. And that’s not to dismiss how they felt, because I recognize that on out, I think people are really confused about what that means, or reinforcing the idea that women are bodies. That our bodies are this is a really complicated subject and I’m not going to pretend to they think that (self-objectification) can’t exist because of the way our value. And (it’s like), » Look at this! Look at more bodies! « have all of the answers. But I know that my perspective is a little they’ve interpreted the theory of the male gaze. So they say, » Well, One of the main points that I had been really wrestling with, bit different than maybe what they’ve been dealing in. if a man isn’t looking at me and objectifying me then I’m not being even for many years, is the different approaches that people take And so a lot of the pushback sounded like this: They would say, objectified, « for example, if the audience is female for whatever to positive body image and how much they can really conflict » Well, that’s just not practical, to take displaying our bodies out reason. Or they’ll say, » How can I objectify myself? « Or, » If I’m with what I’ve learned through my PhD research and what I’ve of the equation, to take that off the table. What does that really choosing to objectify myself, it can’t be oppressive. « seen even just through my own experience in helping other wo- look like? If you say women are more than bodies and we need Because representations of women’s bodies are so fraught and men to become resilient in the face of objectification and negative to get past the underwear photos as a means for empowerment, empowerment, because women, throughout their lives, learn to hate their bodies, body image. There seem to be two groups. And they’re not com- then what are we supposed to do here on Instagram? « And my to self-objectify, and to obsess over their bodies in a pretty super- pletely mutually exclusive, but they’re really different and I don’t response to that is: The practical implication is that you just don’t ficial way (I don’t mean that as an insult to women, I mean literal- think a lot of people recognize that there are two very different have to show your body to prove that you value your body, and to ly in a superficial way), there’s a lot of energy put into teaching approaches going on. prove that other people’s bodies are acceptable, and that women women and girls to feel good about their bodies… Sometimes this The first one is: Women fighting for women to be valued as more are valued for more than that. Like I said before, we don’t ask men is called » body positivity « … I wonder if you can talk a little bit than bodies to view. And the second group is: Fighting for more to prove their confidence by sharing their naked bodies online and about what these efforts look like. women’s bodies to be viewed as valuable. So that second group we don’t expect men to get so much validation from what they post is the women who are sharing and taking the underwear photos. on the Internet, particularly in terms of what they look like. body positivity, LK: Yeah, definitely. My work has always revolved around posi- They are saying, » Yeah you’ve told us that we’re not beautiful and But a lot of women, especially these ones who have huge follo- tive body image. My sister, Lexie, and I, we started this non-profit, that our bodies don’t look good and we should be ashamed, but wings online, they do depend on that for their validation and even Beauty Redefined, fully as an attempt to promote positive body look, we’re not ashamed. And we’re going to post (our bodies) on for their income, because most of them – all of them – get paid to image among girls and women. So it’s something that’s very clo- the Internet to prove it. « Those are the images that have a thous- promote plus-sized swimwear and different lipsticks and things se to my heart. But that means I’ve been really keenly aware and and comments from a lot of girls and women saying, » You look like that. And so the practical implications are really difficult for tuned in to the different ways that others are trying to promote beautiful, « or » You look like me, I’m so glad that you have that them, to think about not sharing those types of photos. But they feel positive body image. And it definitely looks different depending confidence. I hope I have that confidence someday, too. « Also, a lot some cognitive dissonance because I think they read this thing on the strategies that people are using. So for me and my organi- of the comments are from men and other people using, you know, that conflicts with what they already believed before, but they re- objectification zation, we are seeking to expand what constitutes beauty: what it every sexual emoji they can come up with in any combination and cognize maybe a little bit of truth in it – that maybe it is true that, looks like, what it can look like. But also, and more importantly, saying, » Oh I love thick girls, you’re so juicy. « if we’re more than bodies and if we really want to understand po- the meaning and the value of beauty in our lives – how much value How do you differentiate between what is objectifying and what sitive body image and promote it in a responsible and lasting way, we allow it to have for ourselves in the ways we judge ourselves, is empowering if you’re playing by the rules that give women cre- we do have to get beyond showing bodies. We have to get beyond and the way we judge and see other people. dit for showing their bodies; that give women value and valida- just seeing and valuing and sharing bodies. There are lots of other people who take a more narrow perspec- tion and likes and comments and compliments for doing the very That’s really kind of the gist of our whole message. (It) is that, if tive on positive body image. You’ll see this in viral videos that are things that men who hate women want them to do? It’s a really we’re more than bodies to be viewed, we need to prove that in the absolutely everywhere. You’ll see this from really well-meaning or- complicated subject and when I talked about it on the Internet, peo- ways that we value ourselves, in the way that we live our lives, and and ganizations and speakers. ple were very offended. recognize that self-objectification – and really, the obsession with Lots of people have become really aware of the hot topic that is what our bodies look like inside our own minds – is the thing that’s » positive body image « because people recognize it’s a huge issue. MM: Yeah, I’m so glad you brought that up, because the idea that really hurting us. It’s the thing that’s causing the body shame. A Girls and women really do hate their bodies and there’s no arguing you can get confidence by being desired is so much a part of the lot of these people try to fight against beauty ideals and that’s why that. But they’re trying to fix this problem in generally one way: conversation now – in particular when it comes to marginalized they share images of marginalized women’s bodies in an attempt They typically will say, in so many words, »Girls, women, you are bodies, as you say – women who have not felt attractive because to say, » This doesn’t fit the ideal but I still think it looks good and so beautiful just the way you are.