To have quite enjoyed the Legs-it headline

[smashedinductionhob]

I may regret posting this.....

I am a proud feminist who reads The Observer and am currently rereading a biography of Mary Wollstonecraft.

I am very depressed about Brexit and usually really hate The Daily Mail.

I saw the photo of May and Sturgeon yesterday and thought for a moment "ooh who knew they both had nice legs?" And vaguely thought it was nice to see two somewhat older women expressing both power and sexuality.

Then when I saw the headline today I smiled.

I thought it wasn't like the 70s at all. Not one little bit.

Just want to put an alternative feminist perspective.

Like I said, I may regret this but I do think Private Eye would have got away with this.

The thing it highlighted for me was that these are two talented successful powerful women who had both clearly spent time and money on their appearance in a way that men don't/aren't required to.

Both were wearing shortish, slim fitting skirts, heels and sheer tights. None of which are really practical for any kind of life. So why didn't they choose something else? Why don't I choose something else for work?

That sounds dangerously like victim blaming there, Emphasise.

Why on earth shouldn't they wear skirts? Or sheer tights?

Emphasise,

I think there are two legitimate approaches.

Some women choose to not wear clothes that are designed to distort the body to emphasise sexual characteristics as stilettos do.

Others choose to keep wearing those clothes but give them new ever more positive meanings (heels as a symbol of professionalism)

I think both are good

Both ways can take

Well look what happened when TM chose to wear practical wipe clean trousers.

I have very little respect for Nicky Morgan since she chose to make TM's clothes the focus of her remarks about her.

I'm not saying they shouldn't BIWI, but what are sheer tights/heels for if not to show off legs? They don't serve any other purpose that I'm aware of and are a hindrance to going about our business several times a day IME.

My interest is in why "we" keep making ourselves uncomfortable and spending money to conform in this way.

Show off legs? Really?! Do ordinary tights not also do that?!

They are women who are wearing what they like and what - I presume - they think suits them. And why shouldn't they?

Emphasise,

I agree but would add that high heels do more than show off legs. They change your calf shape, force you to arch your back and stick out your chest. They are designed to exaggerate womanly shape.

No, not in the same way BIWI. I challenge you to find any pair of sheer tights that aren't entirely marketed on how lovely they make your legs look. They're not warm, they're not easy to wash or durable. They're just attractive. Nothing wrong with that, but that's what they are for.

Yes smashed and that's fine of course if that's what women want. I just wonder why they/we want it?

You could imagine a horrible photo if one or the other was caught uncrossing/recrossing legs but this isn't it.

The narrative pretty much did this. NS described as altogether more flirty, tantalisingly crossed … a direct attempt at seduction is about as seedy as it gets.

Imagine if this had been Cameron and Salmond, and them saying Dave sat with his legs apart, tantilisingly flaunting his firm thighs, a direct attempt at seduction. Only you can't imagine it because it would NEVER happen.

The DM is forever having famous women, 'displaying', 'flaunting' and 'showcasing' their 'enviable' body parts. My favourite was Nell McAndrew 'flaunting' her 'enviable' legs by wearing shorts by being bold enough to run a half marathon. the fact she bashed it out in sub 1 hr 30 mins wasn't even mentioned. When have they ever waxed lyrical about Mo Farrah's legs?

Hmm, I am at a disadvantage Kieran because I didn't read the article.

I don't think I have ever read a daily mail article.....

" I just wonder why they/we want it?"

Ideally it would just be a celebration of being a sexual being as well as a person making her way in the economic world.

In reality we don't always control the narrative....