In a number of episodes of the television show, Arrested Development, references are made to a straight-to-DVD show, "Girls with Low Self-Esteem," basically a play off of the real "Girls Gone Wild." Zach Braff plays a Phillip Litt, the producer of a show who travels to spring break locations and asks girls to take off their clothes for the camera ( also receiving a nice GWLSE hat). In one such episode Lindsay (Portia de Rossi) complains about how the show objectifies women and decides to garner the support of other strong women and protest. To sum up a series of events: her plight fails, the other protesting women decide to take off their own clothes, and Litt is exposed as a nevernude (an individual who is psychologically unable to take off their clothes, even in the privacy of their own home). If you have trouble understanding the sequence of events, I'd recommend just watching the show.
Just like many other contemporary television shows, Arrested Development is often hyper-ironic, making jabs at everything, and causing the viewer to think (although the show often presents no solutions to the problems it exposes). To begin, the name of the fictional show, "Girls with Low Self Esteem (GWLSE)" alludes to feminist thinking by pointing out that "reality-porn" exploits girls who have low self-confidence. However, Arrested Development later alludes to post-feminist thinking when it shows that GWLSE's producer is so uncomfortable with his own body that he is has a psychological condition which renders him completely unable to feel comfortable while naked. This juxtaposition presents the girls from the video in a different light: as proud and powerful women who flaunt their sexuality to get what they want.
Now, I pretty sure we'd all agree that immorality and pornography are wrong (we have received numerous amounts of strong counsel from church leaders, and even clinical psychologists, against pornography), so that's not the issue here. Instead, my question is which movement's thinking do you most agree with. Do you believe that girls expose themselves for shows like "Girls Gone Wild" or "Spring Break" because they truly do have low-self esteem (fitting more in with the feminist theory) or do you think that they are using their body to show their confidence and maintain power and control (fitting more into the post-feminist theory). Or is there another reason why you think such girls do it?
36 comments:
I think people in general just want to fit in. Whether it's participating in Girls Gone Wild or sitting at home knitting with their closest friends, you're still fitting in. Self-esteem plays a roll in it, but acceptance is the main reason.
I think those kind of girls just want attention. They definitely get it by flaunting their bodies on shows like Girls Gone Wild or Spring Break.
I agree with the above comments. I feel like most people do things for acceptance, so if everyone else is flashing the camera, why not join in? If nobody else was doing it, I doubt someone would just randomly do it, unless of course they just wanted the attention.
Totally agree with these statements. I think girls with poor and high self esteem will flaunt their bodies if they're trying to fit in. Which, I guess in a sense leads to the conclusion that people do it out of low self-esteem since they're using their bodies to fit in. I'd guess that flaunting your body is probably a means to hidding an insecurity somewhere else. We all do in someways.
I think girls like that, strictly want the attention that goes with participation in shows like Girls Gone Wild. If they go on the show, people will notice them and they will fit in. Wanting to feel accepted is a large part of our society, no matter what the behavior to fit in entails. Thus, participation on these shows is more than just taking your clothes off. It is an act that allows you to fit in.
I think girls want to fit in and in some cases, girls are so worried about fitting in because they have low self-esteem. Why would someone be so worried about fitting in if they didn't have low self-esteem? I don't think the majority of girls want power and control and strip to do so. It seems like they would be the opposite of in-control and who's to say they get what they want by stripping?
In the words of Beyonce, "If you got it, flaunt it." I think it's kind of a mixture of both views. I'm sure some girls feel inadequate as if they do not measure up, as stated in the feminist theory. However, i think other girls expose their bodies to gain attention from others. In my opinion, it varies from girl to girl.
I think that it is because peole are seeking attention and popularity in any way they can get it. They may or may not have low self-esteem.
I honestly don't think one is more prevalent than the other. For some, they flaunt what they have because they know it can get them ahead, but for others I believe they do it because they have low self-esteem. I think it mostly depends on the person and the context of the situation.
I agree with the above statements - it's for attention. Doesn't matter if they high or low self-esteem. Some girls just like doing those things. I don't get it, but for some reason they do it.
I truly appreciate the reference to Arrested Development. If you haven't seen it.....watch the pilot - before you know it you'll be finishing up the third season. I agree that most girls do what they do because of a mix that everyone else is doing it, that's kinda what spring break is about, alcohol may have some influence, and they're "caught up in the moment"
I think they're on spring break, a night of drinks flowing = exhibitionism. They're probably mostly wasted girls who are having a "good" time on spring break, so when they see they Girls Gone Wild people they soak that up....whether they think it's 5 seconds of fame or just for kicks.
People will do almost anything for their "15 Minutes of Fame". (watch Fear Factor or American Idol if you don't believe me) I believe that GGW is in a similar light where people will do almost anything to get on tv or a movie.
There's no telling why some girls do this... in some cases exhibition may be some high they get off in life BUT what I think it comes down to is attention. I don't think someone with low self esteem (body complex) will be lifting their shirt to show off their body. Confidence has nothing to do about it...it's all about attention.
I'd have to agree, their just trying to fit in. I suppose that falls under the self-esteem category...
I think with alcohol involved people are going to do things that they wouldnt normally do. I think it has nothing to do with self-esteem.
Interesting topic; I've never thought about why girls would take off their clothes for the camera. I think some might do so because they have low self-esteem and don't know how to say no. Others probably do so because they like the attention and are used to using their bodies to get what they want.
Because they're drunk. But even without alcohol, I agree with others who said that they do it for attention. Girls in general love to flaunt their bodies. I've seen it at parties and dances where some girls go for the sole purpose of dancing with another girl, flaunting their moves, and purposely neglecting the guys that surround them. Attention. The female body gives girls power and they aren't afraid to use it.
I think mainly girls just do it to get attention. They probably do have low self-esteem too. It's sad that we live in a world where girls have to face these types of issues.
It depends on the girl and situation. I think some girls might be desperate for attention, while others do it to get what they want-that 15 minutes of infamy. Or it might just be the alcohol talking.
I think this is much due to a low self-esteem. Any girl can get attention if she flaunts everything she has, so it takes someone with a little more confidence to get attention while continuing to stay modest.
oh the nevernude..there are dozens of us--DOZENS! so classic.
Anyway...I think the statements basically answer each other--many girls have low self-esteem and they see the attention they get by flaunting their bodies as a solution to that. It starts as a way to cure low self esteem, but ends up making them feel worse than before. It becomes a downward spiralling cycle and really is tragic. Makes me furious actually.
It's neither. It's young(er) girls wanting to be rebellious and do exactly what their parents and others don't want them to do. It's all for the thrill & rush of breaking the rules and doing something they know they probably shouldn't be doing.
Yeah, I don't think it's low self-esteem. I bet in, many cases it's the easiest "career path" that they can get into because of lack of education or motivation. It's using their bodies for money.
I think they just want attention some probably have high self esteem and some probably have low self esteem but they all like the attention
I think those girls get caught up in the moment and they are normally drunk and aren't really thinking clearly.
I think that it would depend on the girl. I don't think it is ok to choose one theory and apply for all the girls in these shows. I think some would fall under one category and others would fall in the other category. And like Charlotte said, some only wants to fit in.. It would be wrong to put them all in one group...
it probably stems from one if not multiple items from this list:
their fathers
their mothers
their better looking best friend
alcohol
britney spears
drunk frat guys
low self-esteem
way to high self-esteem
plastic surgery
more alcohol
some people are just stupid
I think, at least in the films mentioned, girls get caught up in the emotion of the moment. As was mentioned, everyone else is doing it, so they join in. But I would say it's more a part of being on Spring Break and all that entails than a calculated decision.
Tobias Funke's presence on this blog post has earned it a special place in my heart.
Girl's self esteem should be based on talents, values and morals and a relationship to God. Nudity and exposing themselves can be empowering yes, but I believe it will be temporary.
I'm sure at these events most of the girls are drunk and so hyper that they don't care what they are doing in the moment. I'm sure when they look back on it the next day they regret what they did.
i think that the girls who would do something like that really arent thinking about much at all. they are probably drunk. as the lovely song goes, "girls just wanna have fun." umm but really i think girls like that just dont think about the reasons behind their actions and they have to have at least some self-esteem to expose themselves in that..way.
I think that both trains of reasoning explain different girls behavior. I'm sure that some girls expose themselves to get attention and others do it because they have low self-esteem and want to feel vindicated through their bodies. Who knows....maybe it's just peer pressure, maybe it's been their life long dream to be in the adult film industry. I'm really not sure why girls behave that way.
Interesting question. I think that the reason girls or guys expose themselves is to get attention.Some girls have low self-esteem and want to be accepted and some girls, on the other hand,have a lot of self-confidence and want to flaunt what they are so proud of. Either way, they want attention.
I think that this is a ver sensitive topic when it comes to making jabs at what is beautiful and what isnt. Hollywood takes this line to the extreme with the contents that are thought to make a good joke but in reality are causing most to question what about a person is most important and what can be undercut by hyper irony.
I disagree with the idea that it doesn't matter if a woman has high self esteem or not, they will flaunt their bodies to fit in. If a girl will do things like that to fit in then that is a good indicator that they do not have high self esteem. A person with high self esteem doesn't care if they fit in or not, they are content with what they are.
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