My wife and I have a fundamental disagreement. She thinks nude modeling is degrading to women, and while there are circumstances in which this is true, when it is done freely, with mature adult deliberation, and due respect for the person modeling, I believe it can be liberating, beautiful, and healing for both the model and the observer. As my friend, @STORMYENT said in her vlog, "Nudity is love!"; and the way she and so many others in our community present it, I feel loved and honored by their self-giving. There are some things that imho, really do degrade women, and I will rant about them now!
1 THONG UNDERPANTS
Does anybody think a man would give himself a permanent wedgey just for that moment he slides off his levis for his paramour? It seems to me, we are asking women to do just that! We want them to walk around all day with a strip of cloth up their ass. I can't imagine thongs are comfortable, and I don't intend to find out! Personally, I think regular panties are cute, and add to a woman's allure. If I had to choose, I think it would be both more comfortable for her and hotter for me if a woman went commando (thanks Britney!) rather than wearing a thong.
2 HIGH-HEELED SHOES
Yet another torture of women for the pleasure of men! Pumps elongate a woman's legs, and accentuate the curve of their ankles. But any compassionate human being would be glad to fore go that small thrill to save a loved one the discomfort involved. In my view, high-heels are little better than foot binding. And this time, I know whereof I speak. Back in the '70s, when I had a robin's egg blue leisure suit and some COOL polyester shirts to go with it, platform heeled shoes for men were popular; and, like the young lemming I was, I went out and got a pair. I tried them on, and found that I could not walk in them! And these were platform heels, not the stilletos we expect women to wear!
3 MALE COACHES OF FEMALE ATHELETES
There may have been a time when there were not enough women experts to coach all the budding girl atheletes. But, if that was ever true, it obviously isn't true now! The Bela Karolyis of the world are creepy, at best. At worst, they teach girls that they need to be driven and dominated by men.
I love sports. And while I couldn't play, I spent much of my youth working and traveling with sports teams. Boys don't just learn sports skills from their coaches. They learn how to be men. Don't girls deserve to have the same experience with women coaches?
4 THE MYTH OF "YOU COMPLETE ME" & YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL, OR DIE TRYING
I recently got a wedding announcement from a friend, and it made me profoundly sad. The reason? I know she has never spent a moment of her adult life unattached to a man or a woman. She has never had the opportunity to explore the question "Who am I by myself, rather than in relationship to some one else?" Both men and women live under the pressure to pair up. But society still places a greater burden on women: "You're nothing without a man, or another woman!" This is a lie! In fact many people become much less, and even suffer abuse precisely because they have a man or woman in their lives. Strong relationships are composed of strong individuals!
When I got married, there was no expectation on me, as a man, to give equal effort to each different facet of my life. I was expected to build and advance in a career, and be loving and supportive to my wife. And I was. Like most men, I poured most of my energy into my work, and my wife was fine with that. We never had kids, so nobody else was short changed. Most men, kids or not, live this way. We do it all for those we love, but we don't feel the need to do it all. One of the great lies politicians in trouble tell is "I'm resigning to spend more time with my family."
Technically, women have the same freedom as men to pour their lives into a career, to marry or not, or to have children and devote themselves to their family. Yet, there is a nagging expectation for a woman to do everything- the career, the cupcakes for Bubba's classroom, the ideal marriage- and if you don't, your a bitch, or a spinster, or a brood mare!
5 THE VAGINA TAX
For women to do the same work as men, and not make the same pay is criminal and obscene...PERIOD!!!!!