Why take off your clothes?
Updated | By Suné du Toit
Being a woman comes with its fair share of challenges. I should know.
It does not mean that men don't face challenges of their own, but I can't speak to their lived experiences with authority.
We try and raise our daughters to be confident, strong and independent.
In an ideal world, they will be seen as equals in every aspect - professionally and socially.
We support them in empowering themselves, futhering their education and making a success of their lives, however they see fit.
But we are not the only people with some degree of influence over them.
The world portrays us as women in a certain way and that is why we fight stereotypes and patriarchy every day. Or we should.
In all of this though, decisions must sometimes be made.
We live in an era where some believe that if you want to make a point boldly and loudly enough, you must add shock value.
Because who will read your story?
This week saw heated debate after American model and actress Amber Rose posted a naked photo of herself on Twitter to promote a SlutWalk she's hosting.
Rose said she was being sexually confident. That is all fine and well, but in my opinion, we need to take various things into account.
Among those things - the fact that rape and sexual assault happen. This is a reality - and the fact that women are at times objectified.
Nudity however is not a reason for rape or assault. If I want to walk naked down the street, this is not an invitation for anything.
But I also hear my mother's voice in my head, saying 'how do you expect people to respect you, if you don't respect yourself?'.
That is tricky. Nudity does not mean disrespect, but you have to be cautious about what you put out in cyberspace, for everyone to see.
Do you have to be naked? Any woman, wearing any kind of clothing can be confident. Not so?
Young girls are told to accept their bodies. To respect their bodies. To love their bodies.
Why get naked to prove a point?
Celebrities are role models to girls all over the world. Don't try and sexualise them at a young age. Leave them to be innocent for just a little bit longer.
I believe you can be sexually confident when and where you choose to be and with whom you want to be as a grown up. Even then, you don't have to share any part of your body with the world.
Actress Mayim Bialik posted a blog where she also questioned celebrities disrobing in the name of empowerment.
Every woman has the right to do as she pleases with her body, it's her choice. But how far do we have to go? Where do we draw the line? Or is there simply no line?
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