When Did Feminism Turn Into A Parade Of Vagina Products?
This has suddenly become the new way of showing your feminism, and I’m not here for it.
weheartit When I saw the launch of Thinx’s new tampons today, my first reaction was “ugh, really?”
Not because I’m grossed out by periods, but because the box of tampons has a big ol’ vag cartoon on it.
I’m not grossed out by vaginas either. After all, I have one, but that doesn’t mean I want a picture of them on everything I own.
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This isn’t the first time I’ve seen a vagina depiction in unnecessary places, and it won’t be the last. If you look through photos of the women’s march, you’re sure to see some papier-mâché and magic marker vagine. And even artists like Tove Lo have gone as far as getting a vagina tattoo in the name of feminism.
The thing is, throwing vaginas on everything has suddenly been the new way of showing your feminism, and I’m not here for it.
I mean, I kind of get it. Women are consistently shamed about their vaginas and expected to keep quiet about things like their period while being pushed ridiculous products for vagina maintenance that do more harm than good. It is important to love our vaginas and be proud of them for all the amazing shit they do, even if turning into a bloody mess once a month isn’t one of them.
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But just like loving your body doesn’t mean you have to post naked pics on Instagram (unless you want to, then go you), loving your vagina (or just like, being chill with it) doesn’t mean you have to prance around in a vagina costume all day.
First of all, it just gives the psycho “meninists” of the world a reason to tear us down and deem the feminist movement a joke that’s more about pink pussy hats than real issues.
Second, there doesn’t seem to be any direct positive results from all these pussy products. Yes, some companies, like Conceived In Brooklyn, donate a portion of proceeds to groups that work for women’s empowerment, but you could also just donate money directly without walking around in a human vag costume, just a thought.
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When you see “empowering” photos of women dressed like vaginas with signs that say “I love pussy,” it makes you wonder. Can you imagine dudes walking around in dick costumes with a sign that said “I love penis”? Yes, guys wear dick costumes for Halloween and potentially in situations such as when they’re getting hazed by their fraternity, but the difference is these instances are not meant to be taken seriously.
Just like vaginas are popping up on everything, dicks have been on everything for quite some time. I mean, don’t you remember the days of middle school when every guy you knew drew dicks obsessively? Good times. But no guy is drawing dicks on things like Jonah Hill in “Superbad” and expecting to be taken seriously, sorry. And in times like these, we want to be taken seriously.
If dressing up as a vulva makes you feel more powerful while participating in marches and calling your senator, fair, and I won’t hate on you for it. But at the same time, I think it’d also be okay if we chilled on the yonic symbolism.
I don’t think my unwillingness to don a vagina necklace as my new fave accessory makes me any less of a feminist, and you shouldn’t either.