There’s this huge misconception that behavior with sexual connotation is only acceptable if the woman partaking in the action is of high social class. Otherwise, women are judged, susceptible to criticism and slut shamed. The truth is, class plays an important role in how we perceive behavior.
Classism is what distinguishes art from “sluttish behavior.” Exotic dancers and porn stars are victim to this perception. When someone thinks about a woman who dances naked for money, one tends to think she has low self-worth because she uses her sexuality to put food on her table. Yet we have movies like “The Player’s Club” and “Coyote Ugly” that both involve provocative dancing and various sex scenes, yet Lisa Raye and Piper Perabo receive glorification for their roles.
Also, actresses like Halle Berry and Julianne Moore are known for roles in which they act provocatively and were nude, and people still highly respect them. An actress can have sex on highly popular shows like “House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black” and receive nominations for Academy Awards, but, when it comes to porn, people write it off as demeaning and disgusting. What is the difference between getting naked and dancing on a 50-foot screen for money and actually doing it in person? The amount on the paycheck.
Some people are so subconsciously consumed with social standing that they are often hypocritical without knowing it. They glorify famous women for the same behavior they bash and judge their neighbors for. Rihanna is known for stylish clothes, much of which is see-through or revealing. In the video for her new hit song “Work,” Rihanna wore a see through sparkle shirt and no bra, and viewers can see more boob action in those three minutes than they probably have ever seen in their entire lifetime. The next day, after the video’s release, websites such as Hollywood Life, GQ, and E! News all glorified her video and her attire. Let a woman who is not rich and well-known in the media wear a see-through shirt with no bra to anywhere but bed, and people will say that her outfit is inappropriate. In an average setting, women, and people in general, look down on what they glorify other women of higher class for.
Moreover, “Black Swan,” starring Natalie Portman, is filled with controversial behavior, including sex scenes and even some girl-on-girl action, yet Portman won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a Critic’s Choice Award for Best Actress for her role. Yet no one nominates porn stars for doing essentially the same thing.
Yes, that may be an extreme comparison, but the point still stands. Class should not be something people stop to factor in before deciding to speak positively of a woman, whether she is famous or not.
That’s the problem with people today is that they can never be initially supportive of each other, especially when it comes to the behavior of women. When we hear of something someone did we don’t react to the initial action, the first thing we want to know is who the person is. Then depending on their social class our reaction tends to be different. We often try to rationalize for those of higher class. For example, imagine if random people were asked how they felt about a woman posing nude on a magazine cover. They would need to know who the woman was before giving an answer. Despite the fact that the question is centered on a person’s general position on nudity, many people would still unconsciously insert class into the equation. The reaction toward Beyoncé’s nudes compared to the nudes of some upcoming singer would probably be drastically different. The BeyHive would scream, “Yes, Queen B.” but also bash the upcoming singer for trying to buy her way into the industry.
This is not meant to support careers in stripping and porn; it’s just a plea for more acceptance and less hypocrisy. People need to learn that class is meaningless, and if it isn’t, it is because we make it. There’s nothing wrong with being against nudity or promiscuous behavior, but we can’t be hypocrites. If a person won’t support a porn star, then he or she should not applaud an actress playing one. The only difference is class.
