“Baffled” Shirley Manson Slams Beyoncé’s Photo Embargo

[ismnotwasm]

(While I find the headline completely offensive, the article is badass)

There is something about the way the media and Beyonce are publicly duking things out currently that bothers me so much I can’t stop thinking about it.
I speak to the recent spate of media outlets who have gone to great pains to print “unflattering” photographs of Beyonce performing on stage.

As though it was a mortal sin that a woman should be caught “in public’ looking anything less than perfect. I can’t even begin to describe how utterly reductive, offensive and dangerous this kind of thinking is.

But what has bothered me even more than the media’s relish in printing unflattering photographs of one of our era’s most accomplished entertainers and one of the great beauties of our age was Beyonce’s reaction to the attempt to diminish her.

What did she do? She banned photographers from the pit. The ultimate checkmate in her mind no doubt.

This is what Cheryl Strayed had to say that rang my bell so loudly

“It’s true that in all the most important things I am—feminism is at the center. It’s a description so clear and permanent it seems to me it’s inked on my ass whether it’s literally there or not. I’ve been a feminist since before I knew what a feminist was. It’s an indelible part of my identity and it informs everything I do.

It takes guts to be a feminist. It takes nerve to remind people that our world is colored by gender and gender bias, by inequality and ugliness and violence. It is a difficult business, emphasizing that these things matter, that they are not special interests or fleeting causes, that we are informed and affected by them whether we realize it or not, that we carry them with us not because we choose to but because we have to.

http://www.newnownext.com/baffled-shirley-manson-slams-beyonces-photo-embargo/05/2013/

[msongs]

1. beyonce and pics of her? whatta laugh. the truth would hurt, here nt

[ismnotwasm]

2. This is the part of Mansons post I found so Badass

At seeing the aforementioned “unflattering” press… why she didn’t flick her famous mane and say “Blow Me” is anybody’s guess.

Who knows what her motivations were but I am somewhat baffled to even begin to understand why this unstoppable force, this incredible performer, this fully empowered businesswoman and successful star has allowed herself to be flapped by what the media has deemed “unflattering” images.

It is almost as though she is allowing herself to be tempered and controlled by petty bullying. Because make no bones about it—that is what this whole carry on is about. A cheap attempt to “shame” her.

When I have complained about stuff like this on Facebook before I have met with a variety of accusations that I am somehow “victimizing” women by even bringing up the notion that women are subjected to different expectations and more exacting standards than their male counterparts.

But until women are accepted as they are and not as others believe they should be, I will continue to rail and rail against what I see as deliberate attempts to subjugate our sex.

[redqueen]

3. God I'm so sick of this.

When I have complained about stuff like this on Facebook before I have met with a variety of accusations that I am somehow “victimizing” women by even bringing up the notion that women are subjected to different expectations and more exacting standards than their male counterparts

People who whine and complain about this are simply letting the people who treat women badly off the hook. Sick of the word salading that does nothing to solve poblems and seems only aimed at making women feel guilty for (or sit down and shut up instead of) discussing issues and problems. Fuck that.

[ismnotwasm]

5. Exactly.

It's not a difficult truth to see. If even someone as wildly talented and successful as Beyoncé is suffering from this bullshit it should be more, not less, clear.

[redqueen]

6. Yep. It is blindingly obvious,

but the solution for some seems to be 'just ignore it'. I disagree. I think it needs to be called out and challenged.

[madrchsod]

4. shirley and the band are kick ass...

totally agree with shirley but if beyonce did that she`d create a shit storm that would probably kill her career as she knows it now. or maybe she`d kick back a while then come back like shirley who kicked ass during her latest concert tour.