In case you don’t know to what Ms. Judd is referring, let me fill you in. Recently, there has been a big brouhaha over – wait for it – her face. Yes, her face, and what some folks have decided was puffy. They came up with all kinds of reasons as to WHY this was the case. I’ll save you the suspense – they think it was from plastic surgery. (Photo Credit: entertainment.blogs.foxnews.com)
According to Ms. Judd’s piece in The Daily Beast, she does not usually pay attention to this kind of thing at all, but was encouraged to do so by those who are close to her. So, Ms. Judd has weighed in on this “crucial” issue, and oh, my, did she ever spell it out:
The Conversation about women’s bodies exists largely outside of us, while it is also directed at (and marketed to) us, and used to define and control us. The Conversation about women happens everywhere, publicly and privately. We are described and detailed, our faces and bodies analyzed and picked apart, our worth ascertained and ascribed based on the reduction of personhood to simple physical objectification. Our voices, our personhood, our potential, and our accomplishments are regularly minimized and muted.
[...]However, the recent speculation and accusations in March feel different, and my colleagues and friends encouraged me to know what was being said. Consequently, I choose to address it because the conversation was pointedly nasty, gendered, and misogynistic and embodies what all girls and women in our culture, to a greater or lesser degree, endure every day, in ways both outrageous and subtle. The assault on our body image, the hypersexualization of girls and women and subsequent degradation of our sexuality as we walk through the decades, and the general incessant objectification is what this conversation allegedly about my face is really about.
Indeed. This “hypersexualization” is evident almost every day when we see little girls wearing shorts with slogans across the back of them, or being made up to look older than they are. It was just such actions that led the humorist, Celia Rivenbark, to pen her essay (and book title), “Stop Dressing Your Six Year Old Like A Skank.” It is pervasive, and insidious, this assault on our image. And even though we know it, are aware of it, have written about it, have made documentaries about it (like, “Killing Us Softly” in 1979, and its sequels), it continues.
Unfortunately, part of the reason this mosogny continues is because women help to perpetuate it. As it turns out, according to Ms. Judd, it was women who started these rumors in the first place (and she lists the Five Top Rumors in her piece). We not only allow it, we often are the ones targeting other women based solely on our bodies. Ms. Judd’s response deals with this very issue:
That women are joining in the ongoing disassembling of my appearance is salient. Patriarchy is not men. Patriarchy is a system in which both women and men participate. It privileges, inter alia, the interests of boys and men over the bodily integrity, autonomy, and dignity of girls and women. It is subtle, insidious, and never more dangerous than when women passionately deny that they themselves are engaging in it. This abnormal obsession with women’s faces and bodies has become so normal that we (I include myself at times—I absolutely fall for it still) have internalized patriarchy almost seamlessly. We are unable at times to identify ourselves as our own denigrating abusers, or as abusing other girls and women.
Yes, sadly, many of us have internalized the Patriarchy. It is the culture in which we live. Even though we have made great strides in many ways, we still have quite a ways to go. And as many of us have said, especially as misogyny and sexism raged publicly in the 2008 Campaigns to the present, women can be our own worst enemies.
There is a conversation to be had about how women are perceived and treated, and Ms. Judd offers these questions to facilitate this conversation:
I hope the sharing of my thoughts can generate a new conversation: Why was a puffy face cause for such a conversation in the first place? How, and why, did people participate? If not in the conversation about me, in parallel ones about women in your sphere? What is the gloating about? What is the condemnation about? What is the self-righteous alleged “all knowing” stance of the media about? How does this symbolize constraints on girls and women, and encroach on our right to be simply as we are, at any given moment? How can we as individuals in our private lives make adjustments that support us in shedding unconscious actions, internalized beliefs, and fears about our worthiness, that perpetuate such meanness? What can we do as families, as groups of friends? Is what girls and women can do different from what boys and men can do? What does this have to do with how women are treated in the workplace?
[...]
If this conversation about me is going to be had, I will do my part to insist that it is a feminist one, because it has been misogynistic from the start. Who makes the fantastic leap from being sick, or gaining some weight over the winter, to a conclusion of plastic surgery? Our culture, that’s who. The insanity has to stop, because as focused on me as it appears to have been, it is about all girls and women. In fact, it’s about boys and men, too, who are equally objectified and ridiculed, according to heteronormative definitions of masculinity that deny the full and dynamic range of their personhood. It affects each and every one of us, in multiple and nefarious ways: our self-image, how we show up in our relationships and at work, our sense of our worth, value, and potential as human beings. Join in—and help change—the Conversation.
Amen, sister, amen. The insanity DOES have to stop. We have to stop tearing each other down, be mindful of when we are acting as our own abusers, when we are acting in such a manner to tear down another woman in order to gain approval (we think) from the patriarchy. Until we are willing to really have this dialogue, and really work together., we will return to this place time and time again. And we will continue to deny our full personhood, and that of other women and girls.
The time to have this Conversation, an honest, real conversation, is now. We cannot put it off any longer…
She will always be beautiful to me…
Her points are all ‘on point’ and I am glad she took this on. What has happened to America??
“Say What You Will…It Feels So Good”
http://www.saywhatyouwill.proboards.com
Me, too. I am so glad she is on the show, “Missing.” I enjoy seeing her weekly. She has always been a fave of mine, and I am grateful that she is taking on this issue.
I might add, I love her entire family. What a group of strong, powerful, determined, and TALENTED women…
agree Amy they are great.love them all.
Big amen to that….really loved her in Simon Birch!!
“Say What You Will…It Feels So Good”
sorry to be off topic but I thought you would want to see this
Holders dept of crime to investigtate the treyvon martin case. He made the announcement in a speech to a group founded by al sharpton. Investigators spoke to the martin family. No mention if they spoke to “HIS” people the black panthers.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5go2qZqOPOYsKsph6CFKS87UWyyTw?docId=38bc97117e814187a2e6ea60d541a723
Oh, good grief. I am so, so, SO sick of Holder and his biased DOJ. WHY are they getting involved in this when the person who willd etermine if it should go to trial hasn’t even made her decision yet?!?! Holder is the worst thing that has ever happened to the formerly non-political DOJ…
US Attorney General Eric Holder says ‘high bar’ to bring federal civil rights charges in Trayvon Martin case – @Reuters
But he is low brow….they have no business sticking their noses into this. I am sorry, but I only see it as a ploy to get votes….cynical much….why yes I am.
“Say What You Will…It Feels So Good”
Well said, psstt – “low brow,” indeed…
I’m right there with you abt the cynical part…
Great minds…..RRRA
Why doesn’t Holder just deputize Al and Jesse and a few NBP malcontents and let them take care of it. This is just *another* lynching by racists.
Wouldn’t they love that….they are all a bunch of sick puppies!!
“Say What You Will…It Feels So Good”
Thank you, Cuz, for this excellent post!
This madness, and assault on a woman’s appearance ( appearance = worth to society)
is so tiring. It will never end, especially when the worst offenders are educated liberal women.
Ironically. they are the biggest obstacles to change. If you don’t believe me, just spend 30 minutes with one of ‘em and you’ll leave the room screaming “God help us!”
You are so right, Cuz’n (and thanks for the compliment). We really are our own worst enemy. I suppose it is deeply ingrained patriarchy that makes women want to prove to men they really stand with them and not other women. We saw SO much of that in 2008 (and Anita Finlay’s book is an excellent compilation of all of the ways women screwed over women). Astonishing…
And yes, it is ALL abt appearance…
breaking
WAPO Fla proscuter says zimmerman to be charged. waiting for updates, possible news conference later today
More: A law enforcement official tells @NBCNews that announcement of criminal charges against George Zimmerman expected around 6 p.m. EDT
Interesting, indeed. This whole thing has become such a mess, thanks to Sharpton, Jackson, Holder, and Obama. Apparently, “innocent until proven guilty” is so 20th century. Not defending Zimmerman or anything, I just know that with the way all of this has played out, including the NBC editor creatively editing the 911 call, that this has been used as a political tool from the get-go. That is just despicable…
Kind of coincidentally, I’ve been watching quite a few Ashley Judd movies lately. I think she’s a terrific actress, and always beautiful, lithe, and athletic. She often plays roles similar to Angelina Jolie–a lovely femme fatale who is ready to defend herself to the death. “Double Jeopardy” is a favorite. Watch out, men!!! Love her!
Kiss The Girls is a great movie….she plays a strong, independent, sharp-thinking woman who helps the police go after a serial killer….love it!!
“Say What You Will…It Feels So Good”
oowawa, so nice to *see* you – I’ve missed you!
Oh, I love Judd’s movies. I think I have seen all of them. The dance scene she had with Selma Hayek in “Frieda” was beautiful…Anyway, she is a great actress, and apparently a woman of character.
Thanks, Amy. Do you remember a biographical TV movie about the Judds called “Love Can Build a Bridge”? I remember it was very touching. These are genuine people, and Ashley did not have an easy road. She had to have a lot of character to succeed the way she has, given her circumstances….
Oh, yes indeed, I do remembre that reunion. And I had this song played during the Offertory at my ordination!
Love it.
Remarkable women, the three of them…
#BreakingNews: An Egyptian court says the mother of Salafi presidential candidate Abu Ismail did not hold the US citizenship #Egypt
I guess he can run after all, the MB will be so upset
Ruh roh – that should make things interesting, no? Thanks for the update, Helen!
Kiss The Girls…..a great movie. Ashley plays a strong, independent, sharp-thinking woman who helps the police go after the serial killer, from whom she escaped.
“Say What You Will…It Feels So Good”
In “Eye of the Beholder” she herself is the serial killer, and in “Twisted” she appears to be a serial killer. This is Ashley as the femme fatale, beautiful but dangerous….
My only comment to this Ashley Judd tribute is “Wow”….
My only question for Ms. Judd is: “Why the hell did you make the movie, Bug?” lol
Go Ashley, keep giving the misogynists hell!!
“Say What You Will…It Feels So Good”
Ha Ha–what do you mean? “Bug” is a fascinating movie! (A fable in fact)….But who has ever seen it? You, and me, and that’s about it…..Oh, I’ll bet Onofre has seen it also!