Blog Entry 2- Final Draft

In researching women in the media: from exploitation to empowerment, I stumbled across the repetend of "politicking the personal" specifically in Stevi Jackson and Sue Scott's, Women and Sexuality. Speaking on feminists debate issues regarding women sexuality, 'Politicking the Personal'  gained momentum in the way in which women openly and honestly expressed their anxieties and grievances on the repression of their sexuality---establishing common ground amongst all women. Sharing similar anxieties which were noted to be more than personal, 'Politicking the Personal' acknowledged the repression of a woman's sexuality to be derived from the social situation in which they find themselves. The characteristics of the patriarchal societies in which women sexuality was first repressed were noticeable forms of the oppression of women and their rights'.

The purpose of "politicking the personal" was first designed to pool experiences and establish common ground amongst all women and use this as basis of political analysis and action. "Politicking the personal" allows women to come together and find empowerment through discussing and expressing their sexuality; this is recognizable through ads such as Victoria's Secret. "Politicking the personal" is a clever way of women using the embrace of their sexuality to challenge societal views and stereotypes of women. Metaphorically, "politicking the personal" opens up discussion for what is known to be 'private' and 'taboo' in society; a woman's sexuality. I'd like to think of Victoria's Secret as a campaign ad, and cleverly their slogan being, 'Politicking the Personal'. 

'Politicking the Personal' suggests that women become empowered through embracing their sexuality by means of determining the boundaries and nature of their own 'desires'. By acknowledging their sexuality, women redefine and re-construct women's confidence through empowering ads such as Victoria's Secret. Psychoanalysis, Jacques Lacan, emphasizes the cultural and linguistic structures women are 'positioned' in assist in them becoming "sexed subjects"; moreover, embracing the representation of femininity in their sexual identity can be seen as a 'precarious' accomplishment---possible but 'risky' (Women and Sexuality pg. 30) . In turn, what is essentially being said is that if women can use the cultural context of which they belong to advocate the empowering nature of sexual embrace, they are then able to shift societal views from exploitation. In today's media, women are depicted in ads and "objectified" by profitable use of their attractiveness---however, by manipulating the media's attention of a woman's sexuality in an empowering way, such as Victoria's Secret, women are able to "regain" a place in society and determine their sexuality on their own terms. 'Politicking the personal' gives a woman right to express her sexuality.

Victoria's Secret ads contend and challenge media exploitation by changing it into empowerment for women. Victoria Secret ads use women's sexuality to empower the "intimacies" of being a woman. Modeling and advertising lingerie, bras and panties (women essentials) gives women the confidence of embracing their sexuality, as oppose to objectification. We, women, are the primary focus of these ads---we aren't just selling lingerie, but confidence. Some feminists may argue the brand of Victoria Secret  being vulgar and exploiting to women; this is partly due to them being unaware of what the brand and it's labels stand for. Victoria Secret angel, Candice Swanepol comments in saying, "To be a bombshell means to be unapologetically sexy; and just as a woman to know how to use what we have." Contrary to what some feminists may argue, the last thing Victoria’s Secret is, is exploiting to women. The foundation of Victoria’s Secret has essentially taken the taboo sexiness and confidence of a woman and turned it into something women everywhere can be proud to represent and possess. The inner-confidence and glow that is represented in women is due to their ability to feel beautiful and comfortable with their bodies and sexuality---unapologetically. In great depths, feminists could probably agree with Adriana Lima when she says that wearing intimates make women feel “powerful and feminine”.

As a woman, I agree with embracing media attention on our sexuality to empower ourselves. Regardless of if we as women, take ownership and pride in embracing our sexuality or not, we cannot control the media's emphasis on it---so we might as well manipulate the media's attention to our advantage by allowing it to make us feel empowered not embarrassed. One of the most important thing in being a woman is ownership of sexuality; feeling empowered enough to do, say and wear what you want. It is our personal responsibility to embrace our sexuality whether it's through "politicking the personal" or challenging societal views upon women---or both. Feeling confident in expressing my sexuality as a woman allows me to feel empowered and challenge the subjective view on women in society. Embracing our sexuality as women, contends the stereotypic nature society places on women. Advocating a woman's sexuality is all about the celebration of being a woman. For as long as women will shy away from embracing and empowering ourselves, the media will exploit and take away our "right" to define our sexuality. It's our job as women to define our sexy.