Dec 6, 2013

Rashida Jones Slams “Pornification” of Female Stars, Calls Out Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj in Glamour

Rashida Jones says she was accused of “slut-shaming” when she said celebrities should “stop acting like whores” — but the actress stands by her comments in a new essay for Glamour.
Saying she was “shocked by the responses, ” the “Parks and Recreation” star writes, “The fact that I was accused of ‘slut-shaming,’ being anti-woman, and judging women’s sex lives crushed me.”
“But I will look at women with influence — millionaire women who use their ‘sexiness’ to make money — and ask some questions. There is a difference, a key one, between ‘shaming’ and ‘holding someone accountable,’” says the self-described “feminist.”
Referencing recent media appearances by certain stars, Jones says, “The poles, the pasties, the gyrating: This isn’t showing female sexuality; this is showing what it looks like when women sell sex… And so much of it feels staged for men, not for our own pleasure.”
“What else ties these pop stars together besides, perhaps, their entangled G-strings? Their millions of teen-girl fans. Even if adult Miley [Cyrus] and Nicki [Minaj] have ownership of their bodies, do the girls imitating them have the same agency?” asks Jones, adding, ”Where do we draw the line between teaching them freedom of sexual expression and pride in who they are on the inside? Are we even allowed to draw a line?”
The actress goes on to request that, “as we say goodbye to 2013 and wish for a slightly more clothed, more original 2014,” record execs apply “moral parameters,” women start having a “conversation” about “female sexuality,” and men “speak up… about how all this makes you feel.”
And to pop stars, Jones writes, “Please stop saying you don’t want to be role models. Because, guess what: You are.”
“Go ahead and make videos in which your ass cheeks slap water around in slow motion; go ahead and tweet pictures of your undercarriage,” she continues. ”But perhaps every eleventh song or video, do something with some more clothes on?”
“Maybe even a song that empowers women to feel good about some other great quality we have? Like, I don’t know…our empathy, or childbearing skills, or ability to forgive one another for mean tweets?” suggests Jones.

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