by F.M

Created on: May 26, 2009

The very principles of the feminist movements have changed. What is it? I don't know! It used to be a movement for gender equality. Contentious issues like the right to vote, equal pay and the right to their bodies were at the forefront of the feminist movement's battle. They chanted that men and women were created equally and should be treated as such. But things somehow changed. Some feminists began to argue that women are the better sex. Others have claimed that men and women are equal in different ways. So, if we can't define it, does it still exist?

We denigrate the way women of our grandmother's generation comported themselves. They denied sexual promiscuity, refused sexual advances from our grandfathers, dressed appropriately, didn't drink, cuss or swear. Feminism came along to liberate the common woman. Where did it go wrong? It went wrong when the feminist movement could no longer justify acts that were blatantly pushing their efforts backwards.

The feminist movement has taken two separate streams. They differ in the way they define female empowerment. There are those who believe that women are heavily objectified; and there are those who believe that sexual promiscuity is empowering.

Some feminists have argued that women are heavily objectified. There is nothing wrong with a woman who refuses to sell or exhibit her body for a cheap buck. But when do we draw the line between objectification and art? Women have been painted or photographed naked for centuries. It wasn't mainly for sexual gratification but predominantly because of the admiration of a woman's body. The voluptuous curves, the long dazzling hair, and the big perky breasts are all things that men and some women cannot have. But the issue has gotten more attention with the increase of advertising and music videos.

Can we truly say that women are objectified when they are used to sell products (such as clothing) to women? Aren't men used to sell products (such as clothing) simply for men? When products do not cater to a sex, women are typically used to sell products. But can we really say that women are objectified when the very people who agree to sell a product are women? Can we really say that pornography objectifies women when the very people putting themselves on display are women?

Other feminists argue that sexual promiscuity is empowering: a woman should be allowed to have as many sexual partners as a man. True! But when do we draw the line? Women and men both

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