This is a sightly different post as it’s an opinion about the half-time show at this year’s Super Bowl. (How ’bout those Kansas City Chiefs! – my hometown!)
With that said, I realize not everyone feels the way I do, however I feel as sexual assault survivors we have the opportunity to speak out when things are portrayed as okay when they truly aren’t. As I said in my post earlier today, “For such a time as this…”
I didn’t watch the entire half-time because I didn’t want those images in my mind, but I watched enough to see what was going on.
I challenge you this week to speak out in some way with your story and how society needs to change it’s view of women. I attempted to share this with an online community of mid-life women, however they went with essays that led toward accepting what went on and how wonderful it was to have two Latino women in the show. I assure you this is not about race, but about a larger issue of respect for women.
The half-time show during this year’s Super Bowl was another wake up call to me about the job I have as a woman. It stressed to me the importance and responsibility we have to educate the younger generation about how to view one another. This applies to all races and men and women alike.
The show showed what society is teaching people about how to view women. That “sexy”, thin, and popular is what makes you who you are, and how you get ahead in life to get what you want. The pole dancing made it appear that being a stripper is okay and that women should flaunt their bodies for all to see. This is concerning is so many ways. Not only as a woman, but as a sexual assault survivor.
Only in teaching people that women are not sex objects, but people with feelings and emotions will we educate the world. We are not defined by how we look or what we can provide to a man. Identity is found in who a person is inside. By acting like our bodies are something to show off and illicit sex it sends a message to men and women that it is what life is all about.
When in fact, sex is an intimate expression created by God to be shared between a man and woman in the confines of marriage. Anything other than this is cheapening it and taking it away from what it was intended for us to enjoy.
Look at the news lately and realize that women are speaking out about being sexually assaulted by well-known men. By showing their bodies the way they did during the show the women are saying it’s okay to treat us like sex objects. No, no matter what a woman does it is not okay to sexually assault her, but the message it sends is sex is all there is to a woman. When in fact we are human beings with feelings as well.
If I could talk to J.Lo and Shakira I would want to ask why they feel the need to show off their bodies in a way that tells others it’s what defines them. I would want to get to know them as women and how they feel, what they like and dislike, who they are inside. I would then share that it is this which draws people to one another and makes us who we are.
This is the message I feel is important we impart on all generations, especially young girls growing up. It’s okay to take care of your body, but who you are on the inside is what makes you and how you should be valued. Those who don’t value you for this should not be welcome in your life. I must also value myself for who I am inside instead of sharing how I look is what’s important. Encouraging this self-confidence will help grow wonderful and powerful women who can continue to share the message in years to come.
Ultimately, our identity is found in Jesus Christ. Only by His grace are we who we are. Hang on to that today when the world tries to define you another way.
(c) 2020 Susan M. Clabaugh. All Rights Reserved
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