From my understanding.... (Reply #19) - Democratic Underground

In the discussion thread: Why Kim Kardashian Is the Perfect Icon for Our Sick Society [View all]

Sat Sep 6, 2014, 06:36 AM

19. From my understanding....

If she has done porn, been on magazine covers dressed certain ways, etc, she has exploited all women by feeding into patriarchal roles and stoking misogyny through images she puts forth of how women should look in society (nice dresses, makeup, high heels, how she interacts with others on her show.) So her victims are countless.

From Jezebel:

Kim has used her windfall in the genetics lottery to establish herself as one of the sexiest, most desired women in the world. That's fine. But by positioning herself that way there's an implication that other women who don't look like her are inferior. Perhaps it's unfair to blame Kim for that. Except it's not.

The fact of the matter is that nearly all of her endorsement deals and licensing projects have been based on commodifying women's insecurities—the same insecurities to which she actively contributes. QuickTrim, those sneakers that are supposed to help you have a nice ass that turned out to be completely bogus, makeup, fragrances, skincare, etc. They're all products that promise aesthetic perfection (literally). It's almost unethical, like someone breaking your legs and then trying to sell you crutches.

Those narrow and often times impossible beauty standards play so hard into the patriarchy that it's ludicrous to use them as an example of a feminist business model.

This was complimented by a similar discussion elsewhere:

The feminist selfie has been getting a whole lot of play on Twitter and Instagram. Erin Glorida Ryan wrote in her piece “Selfies Aren’t Empowering. They’re a Cry for Help” for Jezebel: “Selfies aren’t empowering; they’re a high tech reflection of the f*#ked up way society teaches women that their most important quality is their physical attractiveness.” (note the mention of Kim's Book/selfies in the OP).

Are we supposed to be shocked that she owns her own body and uses her own image as she sees fit? Yet are we supposed to be as shocked by a swimsuit model who who would otherwise appear on a magazine cover for a sports magazine or in someone else's movie production? If not, why not?

As far as I am concerned, their body, their choice, not my business and more power to them.

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Replies to this discussion thread

83 replies	Author	Time	Post
Why Kim Kardashian Is the Perfect Icon for Our Sick Society [View all]	xchrom	Sep 2014	OP
We're the keepers	RandiFan1290	Sep 2014	#1
My questions are, other than herself, who else has she exploited?	MrScorpio	Sep 2014	#2
Celebrities have a big influence	marions ghost	Sep 2014	#5
And to that I have to ask, if she were a man and did the exact same thing...	MrScorpio	Sep 2014	#6
I think so	marions ghost	Sep 2014	#8
I'm still trying to figure out what harm she's posing here	MrScorpio	Sep 2014	#12
I don't see K as a philanthropist sorry	marions ghost	Sep 2014	#15
So charity gets only 10% of what she collects from Kim Kardashian. That's not enough.	Louisiana1976	Sep 2014	#77
Bieber? He posts a lot of selfies.	cwydro	Sep 2014	#47
Narcissist no-talent males have an easier time becoming Senator. Or President.	villager	Sep 2014	#52
...and do infinitely more damage....	marions ghost	Sep 2014	#73
magic Johnson's son. e online rich kids of beverly hills	roguevalley	Sep 2014	#69
I hate to step into this	JustAnotherGen	Sep 2014	#11
I'm sorry...	MrScorpio	Sep 2014	#13
PMK	JustAnotherGen	Sep 2014	#14
Well, It's not as if I know what goes behind closed doors with any of them	MrScorpio	Sep 2014	#17
I know too much	JustAnotherGen	Sep 2014	#18
Certainly those who exploit should be condemned	Shankapotomus	Sep 2014	#9
That's a good question.	Louisiana1976	Sep 2014	#79
From my understanding....	The Straight Story	Sep 2014	#19
Well, I don't agree with that essay either.	MrScorpio	Sep 2014	#23
Just wanted to remark that a lot of feminists are positive to selfies.	KitSileya	Sep 2014	#24
The OP article clearly says	marions ghost	Sep 2014	#25
"their body, their choice, not my business and more power to them."	alp227	Sep 2014	#59
what it means is	The Straight Story	Sep 2014	#67
Isn't this the same argument right wingers make about criticizing Obama?	alp227	Sep 2014	#70
+1	XemaSab	Sep 2014	#28
Wasn't she born into it?	treestar	Sep 2014	#63
I could not agree more.	Suich	Sep 2014	#3
She got her start on the Paris Hilton show as this.	Ichingcarpenter	Sep 2014	#4
Because her aspect ratio is all fucked up?	Warren DeMontague	Sep 2014	#7
Kim is addicted to consumption	marions ghost	Sep 2014	#10
And she gets paid very well for it	JustAnotherGen	Sep 2014	#16
It's always been true	marions ghost	Sep 2014	#21
I know, it's terrible. Something is horribly wrong with humanity, as opposed to the past	Warren DeMontague	Sep 2014	#39
I have no idea what you're talking about	marions ghost	Sep 2014	#43
"No time in my past were things ever good."	Warren DeMontague	Sep 2014	#49
"Should that be glamorized and emulated by teenagers and young women, the target audience?"	Warren DeMontague	Sep 2014	#37
Of course it's "should"	marions ghost	Sep 2014	#42
Exactly.	Warren DeMontague	Sep 2014	#48
Not completely equivalent as they have taken on some responsibility	treestar	Sep 2014	#64
A thin sham to cover up the fact that the institution is horribly antiquated; well past sell-by date	Warren DeMontague	Sep 2014	#68
"Wonder Woman" impersonation--so lame	marions ghost	Sep 2014	#20
Here pant ankles are going to get real dirty	Warren DeMontague	Sep 2014	#38
Now that's funny	marions ghost	Sep 2014	#44
It's not me, is it?	Warren DeMontague	Sep 2014	#50
not you	marions ghost	Sep 2014	#72
It is rather surprising that no one has started a palanquin service in LA.	Warren DeMontague	Sep 2014	#74
They need to look very fancy....	marions ghost	Sep 2014	#75
Hmm. I'm thinking Sun Tzu style, now. If it could somehow be promoted as a high-end exercise regime	Warren DeMontague	Sep 2014	#76
More like this one...?	marions ghost	Sep 2014	#78
People would pay through the NOSE to carry their favorite celebrities around.	Warren DeMontague	Sep 2014	#83
She actually doesn't bother me	JonLP24	Sep 2014	#22
I wouldn't know her if I bumped into her on the street. She means squat to me.	cherokeeprogressive	Sep 2014	#26
Be thankful	marions ghost	Sep 2014	#27
I wouldn't either	treestar	Sep 2014	#65
True--what about Khloe and Kourtney?	Louisiana1976	Sep 2014	#80
The Glorification Of Nothing - The Air Head Culture Personified - When Being Vacuous Is Celebrated	cantbeserious	Sep 2014	#29
Is she the symptom or the disease?	alarimer	Sep 2014	#30
Excellent points. There's a line that goes pure drivel drives out ordinary drivel or something like	Louisiana1976	Sep 2014	#81
There's a market for her	mindwalker_i	Sep 2014	#31
Amen, n/t	tooeyeten	Sep 2014	#33
+1000	Tom Ripley	Sep 2014	#36
+1	treestar	Sep 2014	#66
Hardly,	tooeyeten	Sep 2014	#32
there's a game out!	MisterP	Sep 2014	#34
I save my scorn for the consumers and chattering/scribbling classes...	Tom Ripley	Sep 2014	#35
Wow! Nearly 40 responses on someone who doesn't deserve it.	Nedsdag	Sep 2014	#40
i think our derision of her is partly misogyny. she is hardly the problem.	La Lioness Priyanka	Sep 2014	#41
Charlie Sheen and Tom Cruise have been subject of ridicule.	Nedsdag	Sep 2014	#45
charlie sheen was a mean asshole to many people and tom cruise was fucking crazy on the ellen show	La Lioness Priyanka	Sep 2014	#46
Is jumping on a couch so beyond the pale....	ProudToBeBlueInRhody	Sep 2014	#54
again, were any of them accused of being a symbol of what is wrong with america?	La Lioness Priyanka	Sep 2014	#57
I think they were pretty well vilified	ProudToBeBlueInRhody	Sep 2014	#60
If I may go out on a wildly speculative limb, here	Warren DeMontague	Sep 2014	#51
Do you feel the same about Sarah Palin? n/m	ProudToBeBlueInRhody	Sep 2014	#53
Nailed it. Misogyny. Has to be. Bachmann, Coulter, Ingraham, Kelly - If men weren't so f'd up...	cherokeeprogressive	Sep 2014	#55
no. sarah palin used to have some real power	La Lioness Priyanka	Sep 2014	#56
Nope.	PoutrageFatigue	Sep 2014	#58
Right on!	Louisiana1976	Sep 2014	#82
Who?	tavernier	Sep 2014	#61
Thank God there are so few male narcissists!	WinkyDink	Sep 2014	#62
I'm sick of her , Kanye West and	MFM008	Sep 2014	#71

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