How ‘International Women’s Day’ Became International Slut-Shaming Day

On The Kim Kardashian Nude ‘Controversy’

Instagram @kimkardashian

International Women’s Day is meant to “celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women” past and present.

On March 8, just about every publication from Teen Vogue to Huffington Post featured stories honoring their favorite female icons who have broken down barriers, challenged perceptions, and made history in some form or another.

The trending hashtag #InternationalWomensDay dominated social media, featuring quotes and images of women from Michelle Obama to Gloria Steinem to Malala Yousafzai. The consistent theme throughout these posts was obvious:

Women should inspire, empower, and support one another.

Seems simple enough.

But occurring simultaneously within the social media sphere was the painfully hypocritical, slut-shaming of Kim Kardashian for posting *gasp* a nude picture on her Instagram account the day before. As expected, the internet exploded with a barrage of attacks largely consisting of the typical ‘slut’ and ‘whore’ insults one can find whenever the Kardashian name is mentioned on the web. But the more troubling reactions came from fellow feminists in the form of a thinly-veiled, internalized misogyny that places female sexual expression at odds with dignity and self-respect.

At face value — I get it. We live in a society that places an excessive amount of self-worth on a woman’s image, often made worse by the hyper-sexualization and objectification of women that saturates our visual culture (re: any ad ever created by Carl’s Jr.). And yes, I agree that women should be encouraged to set goals beyond the scope of their physical appearance in the same way men are encouraged to. But does that then imply that any expression of a woman’s sexuality should now stand as the antithesis to her intellectual progress and personal respect? Why are we — fellow feminists — buying into this archaic binary that forces us into unrealistic, and ultimately unattainable, boxes?

After firing off a number of fierce tweets in response to the backlash, Kim Kardashian released an essay cleverly titled “Happy International Women’s Day” which asked some legitimate questions about the ridiculous degree to which people attack her for her sexual expression.

It’s 2016. The body-shaming and slut-shaming — it’s like, enough is enough. I will not live my life dictated by the issues you have with my sexuality. You be you and let me be me. I am a mother. I am a wife, a sister, a daughter, an entrepreneur and I am allowed to be sexy.

While Kim Kardashian certainly isn’t my favorite person in the world — she is absolutely right. Why should being a mother negate her sexuality? Why does her freedom to express her sexuality — often publicly — bother so many people? She isn’t causing active harm to women and girls by taking away their access to birth control or demeaning their professional accomplishments —something I certainly can’t say about the current GOP presidential candidates — and still, she is somehow the enemy because she occasionally shares images of her nude body with the world.

Pink also shared an image reaffirming this antiquated construct (ironically) in honor of International Women’s Day.

While Pink’s Twitter post was not directly aimed at Kim Kardashian, it shares the same, slut-shaming sentiment: ‘using’ your body as a source of ‘attention’ inherently implies you lack self-respect. But again, who is she or anyone else to assert the motivations behind a woman sharing a sexy photo? Why do we automatically assume outward expression of female sexuality implies insecurity or the need for validation? (Because we’re conditioned to do so.)

Listen, feminism is about equal opportunity and personal autonomy. If a woman feels empowered wearing a hijab — that is her right. If a woman feels empowered sharing a nude selfie — that is her right. Neither of those scenarios diminish, or even relate to, a woman’s intellect, her personal goals, or her self-worth.

You can like taking nude photos, and also love reading classic philosophy. You can hold a Ph.D. in neurochemistry, and also love to wear makeup. Your self-worth is not defined by your sexuality, but you don’t have to exist in spite of your sexuality.

Inspire. Empower. Support.