Female Chauvinist Pigs - Ariel Levy

Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the rise of raunch culture.
Ariel Levy

There was a time not too long ago when women felt offended if viewed as mere sex objects. Having fought for equal rights, equal pay, we insisted equal respect for our intellect and opinion. It was the feminist movement and women all over the Western world felt empowered by it. Today however there is a rise of different women’s movement. Popularity of celebrities as Paris Hilton and Britney Spears has seen an increasing acceptance of women flaunting their bodies in an array of sexual poses. It is thought liberating, fun and sexy to show, press and flaunt as much female flesh as possible. This rise of raunchiness is not exclusive to our celebrities and pop stars. Striptease and pole-dance classes have gained incredible popularity over the past decade. Girls as young as 12 dress in micro shorts and revealing tops usually with the words ‘Princess’, ‘Diva’ or ‘porn Star’ across their chests.

In Female Chauvinist pigs, Levy investigates the rise of this new pop culture. Is it really women’s newfound liberation or a decline in the level of self-respect? Does attracting men or sleeping with countless partners make women more empowered or just cheap? Have we regressed to the dark ages before the feminist movement or is this a natural progression of our liberation and if so why have our men folk not gone through the same transformation?

Female Chauvinist Pigs is a fascinating study into today's culture; how it has given rise to this new phenomenon that frowned by our feminist mothers is embraced as the norm two generations later.