Disgrace to Feminism.

I was reading an article on ZeldaLily.com about how Newspapers should be adjusting to the economic climate and could take cues from the porn industry in changing with the times in different ways. To accompany the article was a photo of Sasha Gray, porn star and newly-minted mainstream actress who starred in The Girlfriend Experience by Steven Soderbergh. After perusing the article I scrolled down the page to read the comments as I always do and here's the gem I ran across:

Angie says:
August 24, 2009 at 8:07 am
Interesting article but was it really necessary to put that pig’s picture up? It offends me that she runs around calling herself a “feminist” when all she does is let men objectify her in degrading ways. She’s a disgrace to feminism.

*SIGH*
Naturally that offends me deeply. Not as a sex worker, not even as a fan of Ms. Gray but as a woman and a feminist. The point of being a feminist is to make real what we tell all little girls: "You can be anything you want to be and can do it equally as well as a man." Period. There are no special clauses like, "well unless you're naked." or "unless you're going against status quo."
Simply put: Men and women are equals. Women deserve rights, choices and respect; the same as any man. So what if Sasha wants to get rammed in her ass while getting choked out?
So, needless to say, I had to respond.

Darling says:
August 24, 2009 at 9:35 am
No, Angie. I think *you* actually may be the best example of a disgrace to feminism. Judging her for what she’s chosen to do for a profession and deeming it “un-feminist” simply because it’s sex? It’s dirty? It’s disgusting to you? Get over yourself. Women are allowed to enjoy sex, “deviant” or otherwise. If she wants to star in porn it’s her choice.You don’t get to decide that an independent woman is not a feminist simply because you don’t like what she does with her life or how she expresses herself. Because guess what? Supporting her right to choose her own path is supporting feminism.


I'm sure my response isn't going to change that idiot's mind or anyone else that believes that being sexual, being in porn, means you are less of a woman and are "a disgrace to feminism".
I'm sure anyone who is content to be ignorant and content to dismiss all of the women who are pioneers in the porn industry (or any other arena of sexual expression for that matter) as mindless pawns controlled by men, is content to sit back and ignore me as well.

Just the same, better than sitting idly by, my loves. Better than sitting idly by.

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