In a hard-hitting essay for feminist newsletter Lenny Letter, put out by Girls’ star Lena Dunham, the actress and model highlights the scrutiny women who demonstrate their sexuality are placed under and asks for such expressions to be honoured, not repressed.
Emily, 24, says she’s been routinely objectified for most of her life.
The “bane of her existence” is her topless appearance in Robin Thicke’s controversial Blurred Lines video, says the London-born actress. It sparked a barrage of unwelcome abuse, stereotyping and online attacks.
Her essay is titled Baby Woman, a reference to the family nickname she was given after developing size D breasts aged 12.
In it, Emily details how she was told to protect herself by covering-up as an adolescent and made to feel uncomfortable
“I hear the voices reminding me not to send the wrong message,” she writes.
“And what is that message exactly? The implication is that to be sexual is to be trashy because being sexy means playing into men’s desires.
“To me, ‘sexy’ is a kind of beauty, a kind of self-expression, one that is to be celebrated, one that is wonderfully female.
“Why does the implication have to be that sex is a thing men get to take from women and women give up?
“Most adolescent women are introduced to ‘sexy’ women through porn or Photoshopped images of celebrities. Is that the only example of a sexual woman we will provide to the young women of our culture?
“Where can girls look to see women who find empowerment in deciding when and how to be or feel sexual? Even if being sexualised by society’s gaze is demeaning, there must be a space where women can still be sexual when they choose to be.”
The adverse reaction to Emily’s recent endorsement of US President hopeful Bernie Sanders highlights just how common her experiences are, say reports.
A picture of herself wearing a ‘Bernie’ jumper and a caption about her forthcoming talk at his New Hampshire rally drew a slew of sexist comments questioning her relevance and understanding of politics because of her modelling background.
