Why the #MeToo Miss USA pageant worked so well: Claiming pageants and women's empowerment are incomp

[niyad]

Why the #MeToo Miss USA pageant worked so well: Claiming pageants and women's empowerment are incompatible is absurd
By S.E. Cupp


Why the #MeToo Miss USA pageant worked so well: Claiming pageants and women's empowerment are incompatible is absurd


Miss Nebraska Sarah Rose Summers, 2018 Miss USA (Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)


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Hours after Monday night's Miss USA pageant crowned Miss Nebraska Sarah Rose Summers the winner, USA Today posted scathing commentary from Carly Mallenbaum, who called the event "a cringeworthy contest that went, no joke, straight from a heels-and-bikini competition into a montage of contestants talking about when they've experienced assault." She continues, aghast: "Later, there was a video of contestants reciting Maya Angelou's inspirational 'Phenomenal Woman' poem, all while appearing to pose for a glossy photo shoot, barefoot in a pond." And her final death blow: "It's as if producers thought that the inclusion of questions about marches and sexual violence would translate into an empowering affair."

Actually, they thought correctly. Reciting the inspirational words of poets like Angelou, including questions about sexual violence — as well as a very powerful and moving video montage of contestants sharing their sexual harassment and assault stories — all did in fact translate into an empowering affair. It was the first time in the history of the pageant — which, let's remember, was owned by none other than Donald Trump from 1996 to 2015 — in which a question on sexual assault had its own segment.

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The problem appears to be that these women were addressing sexual harassment while in the midst of a "heels-and-bikini competition." For Mallenbaum, that is somehow incongruous. To me, that's a very dangerous assertion. The presumption that women in heels and a bikini can't also share their experiences with sexual harassment is based on one of two things: they aren't qualified to; or, they are ascribed some kind of complicity in their harassment for competing in beauty pageants, or dressing a certain way, or acting a certain way. Suggesting their message shouldn't be taken seriously in the context of a beauty contest is not only absurd, it's offensive.

This is, in fact, a perfect place to have this conversation. These are women who voluntarily participate in these competitions that they, by most accounts, find rewarding, and are then subjected to dismissive criticisms by both men and women for cheaply objectifying themselves. Tell that to last year's Miss America, Cara Mund, a graduate of Brown University. Or Diane Sawyer, a former "America's Junior Miss." Or Oprah Winfrey, 1972's Miss Black Tennessee. But more importantly, many of these women have themselves been victimized at this very pageant. A number of previous contestants have accused Trump and others of inappropriate behavior and harassment in prior years. Ignoring #metoo would have meant ignoring a big part of the pageant's own troubled past. Instead it had the contestants tackle it head on, sharing their intimate stories in powerful ways.

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http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/metoo-usa-pageant-worked-article-1.4003979

[spicysista]

1. This one is complicated...

It deserves a bit more nuance than is offered by Mrs. Cupp or Ms. Mallenbaum. While it should go without saying that all women should be respected and should be heard, I'm not sure that a contest designed to judge a woman based mostly on her looks (especially such a very specific look) is the "perfect" place to have the discussion, as asserted by Mrs. Cupp. Citing the fact that powerful women have used the tools at their disposal (ie. participating in beauty contests, marketing/playing up their beauty) to climb the rungs in their various ladders of success makes the conversation less clear than more so, IMO.
It is time for society at large to take responsibility for the rules that we have accepted for too long. We must approach this topic with the care that it deserves. By honouring those that have been victimized (believing and listening to them), reeducating those that have done harm (once they've actually acknowledged their transgressions and expressed a desire for redemption), demand better of ourselves (no one has a right to my body..) and teaching the next generation a better way (be respectful and earn the respect of others).
We must talk about the many different lanes of #metoo. I know that the terms, "intersectionality" and "misogynoir" may cause the eyes of some to glaze over. This is a mistake because understanding all the facets of this issue is key in bringing more people on board in the fight. Right now, #metoo has a very specific image in the media....and it's pretty Hollywood. Now, that doesn't bother me at all. However, many lower income working class white women in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi (who are very vulnerable) have very little support for the movement. Instead, they believe that men are under attack. This needs to change if we are going to make serious strides in changing the culture.
Anyways, that's my two cents this morning. I almost didn't read because the piece was by S.E. Cupp. But, I've been trying to broaden my horizons as of late and you did not stir me wrong! Another thoughtful morning post. I'm going to get used to this! LOL!

[niyad]

2. a most thoughtful, and needed, comment. would you consider making it its own OP,

for needed visibility?

[spicysista]

3. I'll leave that to better versed DUers....LOL!

On a serious note, this topic should trend more here. It gives survivors courage to see that others care. Thank you so much for this, Niyad. You are a true warrior. Peace and love to you and yours.

[niyad]

4. I think you expressed yourself just fine.