Why Everyone Should Shut-Up About Miley Cyrus
Summer Anne Burton and Sinead O'Connor's arguments against Miley Cyrus are are one of the same coin. Sinead O'Conner calls Miley a prostitute and Burton's article calls her a Businesswoman. She's both. She's making money off of her sexuality by acting like a vulgar dipshit. Both sides of this argument are incorrect.
First and foremost, I don't see anything wrong with a woman expressing herself sexually; and I think Sinead has a point when she says the music industry is profiting off her willingness to sexualize herself. However, the point or controversy Miley's making has been "made" a million times before and will be done a million times again because it is the business.
I don't think Sinead is "slut-shaming" Miley, because that term is a stupid one. Referring to one's sexuality as being a slut is a corrupt concept. "Sex-shaming" woman would be a better one, because inferring someone is a slut, suggests they've done something wrong. In other words, when a woman has lots of consensual sex, just like a man might, she shouldn't be referred to as a slut to begin with because this is sex-shaming. On the other hand, if a woman is acting like a sexualized idiot and someone refers to her as a slut, she may as well suck it up, just like a man should.
There's a difference in being sexual and being gross; Miley, unfortunately was a little gross. Either wear the scantily clad ensemble, or do the dirty dancing; not both. Had she simply come out in nude underwear and danced like a normal human being it wouldn't have been as "controversial". Had she come out dressed as an Eskimo and twerked on Robin Thicke, she would have been applauded to the high heavens for being creative and artistic. On the flip side she's in the business of selling sex, not art, so why would she do something smart with her sexuality rather than attention seeking? Smart, unfortunately, doesn't sell in this industry.
The argument should be: why is this the case? Why are we willing to promote sexually just to bash the abusers of that privilege? Do I think Miley's a slut? No. Do I think what she did is controversial? No, I think it's derivative, boring and all around pathetically embarrassing. Would you want your son or daughter acting that way? Really? How are you ever supposed to be taken seriously? Unless you are Miley Cyrus and worth millions, acting that way in public isn't going to help your career. Would you act this way? Maybe drunk, and then regret it the next morning. People want to be taken seriously and it's difficult if you objectify yourself. It's different, when you are a popular singer, and have lots of money. You can make a fool of yourself because it's your job as an entertainer, and if you ruin your career? Oh well, you have millions.
Idolatry of these sexualized performers is what the problem is. There needs to be a healthy distinction between viewing Miley as an entertainer rather than idolizing Miley's behavior. This is where strong parental guidance is necessary in order for young people not to copy the behavior, because they unfortunately will not be as lucky. Flaunting one's sexuality is only appropriate for certain times and places in the real world. Inappropriate times are when you are at school, work, or meeting your future in-laws. Appropriate times, are when you are out with friends participating in entertaining environments, such as parties and bars.
Furthermore, isn't everyone simply sick of talking about Miley Cyrus? Seriously, what is the fascination? What she did worked, and frankly she's contributed nothing to society other than a discussion on women's politics. We, then, as a society are to blame for this annoyance. Instead of changing the behavior, we enforce it. The next time a cookie-cutter star turns into a wretched attention seeker, we should collectively decide to ignore him/her. Maybe, if we stopped talking about her lack of artistry and originality we'd have artists that comment on important controversies to enlighten the public rather than creating controversies about themselves.
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