An Open Letter To The Women Of BuzzFeed

There's a special place in hell for women who don't help other women.

Dear Buzzfeed,

This has been bothering me for a few days, and I wanted to bring something to your attention.

Your recent article entitled "What Your Favorite Mall Store Says About You" is completely offensive. Not only that, but it is pejorative, stereotypical, and - let's be honest - totally demeaning to women.

I understand that your website at times attempts satire. However, there is nothing cute, clever, or edgy about women dragging other women down. For a group of six female staffers to come together and think of catty ways to poke fun at their peers is so regressive it's almost funny. Almost.

As a website that claims to be well-rounded, cutting-edge, and journalistic, your editorial staff should be encouraging writers to think about the world they're a part of - not just write shoddy lists implying that someone's self worth has anything to do with where in the mall they prefer to shop.

Let's look at the Victoria's Secret section. As a young woman who shops at VS (and who also has a very strong sense of self-worth) I find this section possibly the most egregious.

"You make terrible life decisions and then you're like, 'well, at least I'm OWNING IT.'"

First off, who hasn't made a bad life decision? Are the authors in their tower so pure that they can cast generic stones at the rest of us? I doubt that.

Second, there are so many generalizations being made about the actual merchandise of Victoria's Secret. It's every woman's choice whether she wants to buy a heavily padded bra or not - I choose not to, but what concern is it of mine if someone else chooses the opposite?

And furthermore, buying lingerie from Victoria's Secret does not mean that I have "gleaned my idea of what's sexy from my boyfriend's porn collection." My sexual empowerment has absolutely nothing to do with pornography - and if it did, what of it? Are these writers also going to tell me that women aren't entitled to watch porn if they so choose?

Women have enough trouble in the world without bringing each other down. I don't understand why this piece would have ever been released, but I would encourage your editorial staff to take a good, hard look at the messaging your website is sending. Young women of all ages read this website - let's focus more on sending them messages of equality, empowerment, and support, instead of perpetuating the stereotypes that we've been fighting against for decades.

Sound good?