sex and the feminist theory

I did my first in-class presentation today for my master's program today and we incorporated "My Humps" by the Black Eyed Peas.  My teacher had started off the class with Tracy Chapman singing, "Get Up Stand Up"  which provided a sharp contradiction to "My Humps."  Anyway, the teacher really liked it and it provided several good talking points.  Really, it does an excellent job of providing an example the different types of feminist theory on the overt sexualization of women in the media.

First off, there's the radical feminists who advocate for the censorship of porn and overt sexualization in the media because they believe that it has a direct tie in to the victimization of women.  On the other hand, there's the libertarian feminists who believe that women are sexual beings and the promotion of their sexual nature in the media when it's not for procreation is liberation and they hate the idea of censorship.  Finally, there's the socialist feminists who don't agree with censorship but see that the sensationalized sexualization of women in the media as a construct of this patriarchal capitalist society.  All of these things are portrayed in "My Humps."  Fergie is strutting her humps around, playing up her sex appeal for fun.  However, she also basically says that she can be bought (although not used) and the guys in the band ask what she's gonna go with her body like she is a commodity.  Bam, all points of view wrapped up into on bad pop song.

Along with the video, the rest of the presentation went well.  It was pretty easy for me.  I spent four years in high school in speech competitions as well as the last few years at work doing trainings.  I was well prepared and I think that it showed.