Keeping it classy
August 3rd 2009 05:53
It's nothing new to say that the world is becoming a smuttier place. People have been saying it for generations: when women began dyeing their hair blonde, it was considered to be in bad taste, and later when they began wearing miniskirts and bikinis it practically caused a societal uproar. But it seems that in 2009, the amount of over-exposure women are subjecting themselves to has reached a peak. And the saddest thing about it is that young girls seem to consider such exposure to be empowering. Whatever happened to keeping it classy?
Having class has nothing to do with being snooty or prudish. It simply means that you have enough self-respect to present yourself as being intelligent, elegant and worthy of others' respect. Being classy is a way of life, and one that I believe should always be in style.
Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be the case in Hollywood. Every day there's a new starlet having a deliberate wardrobe malfunction, getting completely wasted in public, or wearing clothes that make her look like a prostitute. And in a way, it's what they are. It's all about money for some stars: the worse their behaviour, the better their media exposure, and consequently the greater their fame. Sadly, these celebrities are often role models for ordinary young girls, who grow up believing that low-class behaviour and skanky outfits are not only acceptable, but desirable in their own society.
It's not just the Paris Hiltons, Katie Prices and Amy Winehouses of the world who are exhibiting a lack of class, either. Jessica Simpson has been on a drinking rampage since she broke up with Tony Romo, and even Miranda Kerr - who I always thought was the epitome of class - has taken to sunbathing topless and doing semi-nude photo shoots. It seems to be an inevitable part of celebrity life, even for the ones who were elegant and modest before they became household names.
The worst thing about it all is that un-classy acts are often made under the guise of 'empowerment'. Um, I don't think nipple slips are what our feminist forebears had in mind when it came to getting equal rights for women! Sure, it'd be great to say that we're all equal now, and we're sexual beings, why can't we wear whatever we like without fear of retribution? It sounds ideal, but that's just not how Western society works. If you show excessive cleavage, you will be sexualised by men. If you sunbathe topless on a public beach, you will be sexualised by men. And if you allow your g-string to show above your jeans, that's right - you will be sexualised by men.
And ultimately, your sexuality will supersede your other qualities, like your intelligence, kindness or sense of social justice. If your breasts are falling out of your top, then these greater qualities might as well not even exist. It's sad, but it's true: our society has not come far enough to recognise that a sexy woman can also be extremely bright; it's either one or the other. A sexualised woman is not a respected woman, at least not in 2009.
Of course, it's easy enough to keep that respect, and be valued for your more important assets: all you have to do is keep it classy. Most women should know how to exhibit a high-class sense of style, but for those who don't, I'll be writing about what behaviours to avoid and what qualities to enhance in Keeping it classy: Part Two.
Grace Kelly: genuine class
Having class has nothing to do with being snooty or prudish. It simply means that you have enough self-respect to present yourself as being intelligent, elegant and worthy of others' respect. Being classy is a way of life, and one that I believe should always be in style.
Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be the case in Hollywood. Every day there's a new starlet having a deliberate wardrobe malfunction, getting completely wasted in public, or wearing clothes that make her look like a prostitute. And in a way, it's what they are. It's all about money for some stars: the worse their behaviour, the better their media exposure, and consequently the greater their fame. Sadly, these celebrities are often role models for ordinary young girls, who grow up believing that low-class behaviour and skanky outfits are not only acceptable, but desirable in their own society.
Katie Price, a.k.a. Jordan: a genuine lack of class
It's not just the Paris Hiltons, Katie Prices and Amy Winehouses of the world who are exhibiting a lack of class, either. Jessica Simpson has been on a drinking rampage since she broke up with Tony Romo, and even Miranda Kerr - who I always thought was the epitome of class - has taken to sunbathing topless and doing semi-nude photo shoots. It seems to be an inevitable part of celebrity life, even for the ones who were elegant and modest before they became household names.
Jessica Simpson wasted in public
The worst thing about it all is that un-classy acts are often made under the guise of 'empowerment'. Um, I don't think nipple slips are what our feminist forebears had in mind when it came to getting equal rights for women! Sure, it'd be great to say that we're all equal now, and we're sexual beings, why can't we wear whatever we like without fear of retribution? It sounds ideal, but that's just not how Western society works. If you show excessive cleavage, you will be sexualised by men. If you sunbathe topless on a public beach, you will be sexualised by men. And if you allow your g-string to show above your jeans, that's right - you will be sexualised by men.
And ultimately, your sexuality will supersede your other qualities, like your intelligence, kindness or sense of social justice. If your breasts are falling out of your top, then these greater qualities might as well not even exist. It's sad, but it's true: our society has not come far enough to recognise that a sexy woman can also be extremely bright; it's either one or the other. A sexualised woman is not a respected woman, at least not in 2009.
Miley's at it too
Of course, it's easy enough to keep that respect, and be valued for your more important assets: all you have to do is keep it classy. Most women should know how to exhibit a high-class sense of style, but for those who don't, I'll be writing about what behaviours to avoid and what qualities to enhance in Keeping it classy: Part Two.
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