The Pussycat Dolls dilemma

The main reason why I haven't been posting anything here is because of work. I was just too damn tired after work that I couldn't write for my life. Another thing is because I don't have anything interesting to write about. Well, actualy that's not really true, it's just that I'm too lazy to write. But here's one.

It's started from an article about the pussycat dolls and it continued with Erick and I talking about porn and female empowerment. Erick was saying that porn is one of the way to display female empowerement as they are trying to change the society's mindset that only sees women in porn as a sexual object (well, that's somewhat the short form of it. Tell me if it's wrong, rick). I have no objection against that, really (although if I'm being a bit more cynical, I might have some things to say about that). My objection is when some people imply that porn is THE way, or the only way, to display female empowerment. There are women who excel in the field of economy or politics or sports and many others, but no, these people instead put porn on the pedestal. Maybe it's because of the shock value, the extremity of the act. Maybe it's just good publicity. Again, I'm not saying that it's wrong but what bugs me is that some people equate porn with female empowerment, which for me is just plain ridiculous.

Fast forward to two days ago, I had a similar conversation with Fie. Now she's a somewhat feminist but (or maybe 'and') she hates porn (I'm not sure there's actually a connection between the two). We were being cynical and sceptical about the whole porn as a form of female empowerment thing (it's late at night and we were having our rant-at-the-world session). We think it's somewhat idealistic of people to push porn to the front line of female empowerment. Whatever these people are going to say, most people, if not all, watch porn not to be taught a lesson in female empowerment, but simply to get sexually excited. The women in the porn would be most likely still seen as a sexual object, what other purpose they are for anyway? (And to be clear, the men in a porn movie are also sex objects). Sure, there are so called 'artsy' porn, but I seriously doubt people will think about female empowerment when they see it. So, isn't the problem is with the mindset of the society, of the people, who watch porn that treats women as a sexual object? Yes, perhaps. But seriously, do you think making more porn and calling it female empowerment is going to change that perception? Women in the porn business might say that it's their choice to be in the business and that in itself is a form of female empowerment. Hoorah! for that. Seriously. I applaud those who take charge of their own lives and take responsibility for it. And I agree that it is a form of female empowerment and if you think that what really matters is what you think and screw the society, good for you. But still, I don't think society, in general, has taken to the idea of porn as a form of female empowerment. They've grown more accepting of it, but to make the relation between those two, I (we) seriously doubt it.

I could never make the argument add up in my head. How is resurrecting every stereotype of female sexuality that feminism endeavored to banish good for women? Why is laboring to look like Pamela Anderson empowering? And how is imitating a stripper or porn star---a woman whose job is to imitate arousal in the first place-going to render sexually liberated?
-Ariel Levy, author of the book 'Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture'