Is lingerie empowering to women?

I always want to ask the question "what is this thing (which is being sold at me) empowering me to do? Is it empowering me to live my life the way I want to?"

Frankly I can't see how a bit of strappy lace is going to aid me in my black belt exam, study my target language or get me through a day at work with small children, so no, not empowering.

'Empowerment' is 99% bullshit. What actual power could underwear that appeals to the male gaze give a woman? The 'power' of being sexually appealing to men, great. It is classic old-fashioned misogyny to interpret the fact that heterosexual men are attracted to women as a power that women have over men. It doesn't come as a surprise to me that Munroe Bergdorf believes that female power and value are connected to being the object of male desire.

It's such a fucking scam to tell women that conforming to patriarchal ideals of womanhood and basically doing exactly what men would want them to do is somehow going to stick it to sexism. Think of a stereotypical sexist man and if you think he would be all in favour of what you're doing, that should be a clue. Now that's not at all to say that you can't or shouldn't do it, but don't be fooled into thinking you're challenging sexism.

Tut tut Neurotrash, get with the programme. All Women Are The Fantasy, No Exceptions. Breasts are just wank fodder, not a complex biological system for keeping offspring alive.

'it' not 'it's'. Clearly I have not fulfilled the fantasy of mastering the English language.

Of course that ad campaign is not empowering, everything about it screams coercive misogyny. Just look at the tag line '“All women are the fantasy, no exceptions!”

All women - You're a woman, this applies to you. No point in arguing that it's doesn't. You have been told.
Are - not 'can be'. Not 'empowering choices'. Are. You have been defined.
the - note the definite article: there is one way to 'woman' and we are telling you what it is.
fantasy - think it's your reality that matters to who you are. It isn't. What matters is living up to someone else's fantasy and it's pretty clear from the pictures that that fantasy is a man's sexual fantasy.
no exceptions Just in case you haven't got the point. This is what a woman is. You are not permitted to dissent.

What happens if a woman wants to be anything other than 'the fantasy' I don't know. I guess that makes her not a woman given that that's what women 'are'.

It's a horribly sinister sounding campaign slogan and I can't believe that it's so tone deaf. I assume it was written by men for men buying valentines presents. I'm just glad it's an advertising slogan for pants and not a political slogan but I guess there's still time...

Underwear = very empowering
"Lingerie" (scratchy/silky/"sexy") = less so

I was so so happy to find a decent nursing bra that helped me stay comfortable, held my breastpads in place and looked smooth under clothes. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it helped me feed my baby longer which is one thing I'm proud of. Similarly I couldn't (wouldn't) have stuck at the exercise and learnt to run 5k without my ShockAbsorber bra.

That Smalls for All campaign suggests that decent undies can help reduce the rate at which women in refugee camps (for example) are sexually assaulted.

I say again: underwear=very empowering. "Lingerie" designed for the male gaze? Much, much less so.

I'm very grateful for the vast range of bras as there's now one (yes, only one) that fits me. It's really stretchy but firm, is underwired in the right place and is comfortable enough for actually moving in.

There is no lace or anything but is one of those 'smoothing' double layered bras so no nipplage. My norks are enormous so without it I couldn't bloody walk or even sit comfortably.

So yes, my bra 'enables' (not empowers - weird word) to live I suppose.

Where does the real power lie in our society?

Not with the people dressed in frilly knickers.

Bergdorf. So not aware of the day to day life of us plain ordinary women

I used to wear lingerie (of my choice) sometimes as part of my sex life, and it did help to make me feel sexy and beautiful so I did probably did feel empowered, in the sense of being more self confident.
I certainly have no interest in Munroe 's opinions on female empowerment though and don't feel they have any relevance to me. It will be interesting to see how succesful this line is though.

No. Liking something is not the same as it empowering you.

This is not rocket science.

I don't want to be 'empowered'. It suggests I have a deficit that requires some external agency to enable me to find and use the power which is in my possession.

I don't have any deficit that is solved by a bit of silk, nylon or lace enabling me to exercise power and authority. Wearing silk, nylon or lace is not some magic catalyst to utilising internal power and authority.

My power and authority can be exercised whatever I wear or don't.

If getting your bits out in scratchy underwear was empowering, why aren't all the men in power doing it?

Or women in power for that matter? When was the last time Andrea Merkel or Theresa May got their bits out to boost their power?

Bergdorf's entire value system is in their appearance. And they've had to change it as much as possible

It’s a really important point. It’s remarkable we are told to accept them for who they are, when it’s so patently obvious they do not accept themselves.

Why doesn’t putting on a pair of pants and a bra become empower ing

I don’t even know what empowering really means and have seen it used for stripping

Empowering over used word and always seems like it’s used for women

Everything you need to know is in this one comment.

Bergdorf told the Metro that she developed her lingerie line because she feels comfortable with her own appearance.

Bergdorf has spent thousands and thousands of pounds to change their appearance just about as much as a human being can.

Bergdorf's entire value system is in their appearance. And they've had to change it as much as possible.

It's the opposite of sending a message that is empowering.

Particularly to women who are left in no doubt that a patriarchal society places their value firmly in the way they look to men.

I also predict that it's a gimmick. It doesn't empower women and I can't see which cohort of men it would appeal to either.

The word "empowerment" wasn't used at all in the Jasmin Paris article. I wonder if it would have been if she'd raced in her pants. Empowerment has come to mean practically the opposite of its true meaning.