to think that burlesque is not 'empowering'

[bauhausfan]

...but just women having been brainwashed into thinking that being sexy (ie fitting into that male stereotype of frilly undies, sexual availability, coyness etc) is their choice when actually it is just brain washing by the patriarchy. Just like breast implants -'I'm doing it for myself' - well, no, you're not. You're doing it so you can feel happier because you now fit society's pre-conceived idea of sexy/attractive.

I feel really depressed by the number of intelligent women I know who are buying into this bullshit. If I'm going to celebrate feminine power, I'd rather it was through women who have worked their way into the top echelons of society - not someone called Kitty or Dita waving their baps around. I feel despair - what happened to the 70s feminist dream?

so I need to do burlesque to free my daughter from society's shackles then?
nah you're OK thanks she will be fine without that, really.

Myempireofdirt, if you think men allowed to be comfortable in their skin you are about twenty years out of date. There is huge body pressure on young men too. Not as bad as for women, but still bad.

Men do do it Empire.

That's fantastic empire! I run too, but can only just do a 5k.
Dancing is definitely my thing though. It took me until I was 35 to find what I love.
Different strokes for different folks.

so I need to do burlesque to free my daughter from society's shackles then?
nah you're OK thanks she will be fine without that, really.

Because there aren't any shackles or because you are a good role model?

hahaha because I already showed her how to break a man's dick at 40 paces

Sorry, that sounded patronising, but I've known fell runners and it looks insanely hard work, I'm genuinely impressed.

just joking btw....
because I am a good role model of course.

yes but why should women have to strip off and wear ridic stuff to 'get comfortable in their own skin' ffs

Quite simply they don't have to.

It's just one of many, many different choices they have.

It would be nice if they could make those choices without other women finding it patronisingly 'depressing' or 'despairing' of them.

Each to their own here. If they find it fun/empowering/whatever then it's great they have the choice to do it.

It's also empowering to learn to ignore the judgy bosom hoikers who aren't happy with the choices other women make.

No-one needs to burlesque. No-ones saying that.
Enforced shimmying is not on the cards.

just because I disagree with someone doesn't make me a 'judgy bosom hoiker' btw worra. Poeple can do what they like of course, and I can think what I like
lol

In a recent show I went to there were about 20% male performers. So, yes still mostly woman, but the men are definitely coming through.
You also get boy-lesque (I know, terrible name) troupes now too.

I have been to a few burlesque shows, including ones with male performers. Without exception, the men's acts have been about skill and the women's have been sexualised. It's just stripping dressed up to be more acceptable to women.

I wasn't talking about you Sunny. I'm unsure why you think I was.

The judgy bosom hoikers are the ones who criticise other women for the choices they make, quite simply because they wouldn't make those choices for themselves.

mmm must have been the order of comments........
never mind.

I completely agree with every word OP.

It's great that women have the choice to do different things, but I'm not convinced that we really have the same range of choices that men have, so imo that's where the problem is, eg 50% of MPs aren't female, same in many other powerful occupations, but women are vastly over-represented in caring jobs that are very low-paid. Individual women have choices but seen in the wider context of how our society is, it looks like less of a free choice to me.

That's a shame amethyst. Poor show.
The last I saw was very balanced.
Actually, thinking about it, it was kind of the other way around.

I'm happy for women to make the choice. Just don't claim it's empowering, because it isn't.

But it might be for them personally.

It might be the most money they could ever possibly earn...which could empower them to provide a much better future.

It might be that they've always wanted to do it, but were too worried about what other men and women would think of them...and finally learning to not care about that is empowering.

It's all about the individual here I think.

Ofcourse it can feel empowering to the performer

It may not further the femenism cause, but that's got nothing to do with how that individual feels about themselves.

I totally agree with you about the unnecessary sexualisation of female actors etc (the Sarah Millican dress debacle, for eg).
What I do involves taking my clothes off (not always, but sometimes) but that doesn't mean woman in other roles should be expected to.
Context is everything.

So, according to OP, women involved in or who are fans of burlesque are so stupid they are incapable of thinking for themselves and have been 'brainwashed' by the patriarchy?

BOFster goes on to insult them further, they are 'fat goths' apparently?

Well done sisters! Perhaps these women just have a different opinion to you on burlesque (how dare they)?