The sad post-mortem recognition as a feminist icon
The passing of Sinéad O’Connor, uncompromising woman and beautiful soul, left us speechless. Not to mention celebrities’ tributes posted on the web.
Modern society, which is basically (and sadly) a big market, is not the place for uncompromising women. A rebellious attitude does not play well with patriarchy and market requests. What sells, marketing, and who sells more – are the only things that count in a money-driven society. In this context, even the female aesthetic is strictly linked to what sells. In fact, there are specific norms, rules or standards to which every woman needs to conform in order to be accepted.
Inimitable talent and uncompromising style
Around the end of the 80s, we saw a face of rare beauty with a bald head and a voice of unique intensity, and we fell in love with her. When interviewed, Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor revealed that the music industry expected her to conform to a certain image, urging her to have long hair and wear revealing clothes. Instead, she showed up bald and in combat boots.
Her shaved head became a trademark, a symbol of protest against traditional views of femininity. Although she tried to hide her beauty, the result was exactly the opposite. Indeed, very few women can cut their hair that way and still look so very beautiful!
Conformism & contemporary feminism
If a woman wants to be considered beautiful or accepted as an artist, or whatever she wants to do in her life, the standards are long hair and tight-fitting clothes. So we have some problems understanding the contemporary idea of feminism. For instance, look at all the celebrities who call themselves feminists; celebrated by the mainstream culture, they look as the system wants them to be, calling it freedom of expression. Is that real feminism? We don’t think so. For sure, hitting the number one charts thanks to an immense voice and a clean face and piercing eyes, was different. So, follow what the system wants, conform if you feel ok, but don’t call it feminism.
We have always searched for news from her social media accounts because we appreciated her outspoken personality, anti-establishment position and political activism. Most celebrities, though having platforms, do not say a word on crucial matters. In fact, she was so brave to speak in support of child abuse, human rights, women’s rights, and against wars and racism. Most importantly, being a victim of abuse, she showed her vulnerability by disclosing her struggles with mental health and fibromyalgia. But she got hate and disregard in return.
On July 26, the uncompromising Sinéad O’Connor was found dead. And, all of a sudden, she becomes a feminist icon, understood only after her death. Insulted when alive, celebrated after death!
One comment really made sense:
“You praise her now ONLY because it is too late. You hadn’t the guts to support her when she was alive and she was looking for you.”
Through dissecting gender norms, I explore how societal expectations and discrimination continue to shape the female experience in a world striving for equality.
When I was a little girl, I remember being told quite often that I should be aware of how revealing my wardrobe is. How much makeup I am wearing, or how intense I am behaving. People would say that it is distracting to boys when they are in school.
Sadly, I never heard anyone try to teach a boy not only that they should respect women and look to them for intellectual guidance. Since it’s scientifically proven that the female brain matures faster than the male. But also that they shouldn’t be viewing us as distracting sexual objects.
As a result of this misguided message, women are viewed as a trophy or accessory for a man. Other terms that come to mind are: “bitchy”, “too much”, “bossy”, “confrontational”, or “stubborn”. Ironically, when men present the same behaviour that usually gives us these titles, they are said to be “determined”, “a leader”, “well-spoken”, or “hard-working”.
How gender discrimination is portrayed in society
A consistent example of women being negatively targeted in our society is prevalent in our female celebrities. In interviews, they often receive questions about the outfit they are wearing, the fitness regime they follow. What diet they are restricted to for maintaining their figure. Or my favourite, “are you dating anyone new”. They are rarely asked about their career goals and opinions on current social issues.
One of my favourite interviews was with Simone Biles. When the interviewer commented on her lack of smiling during routines, Biles responded: “smiling doesn’t win you gold medals.” In this interview, Biles was able to break the lens that is typically looked through when reviewing a woman. We are beautiful and elegant. But we are also powerful, determined, disciplined, and honourable.
Female celebrities are constantly bombarded on the red carpet, being asked about their romantic life or if they will be “leaving with lots of men tonight”. The key focus is always about who they will be the trophy for, not that they are their own trophy.
Gender norms: it’s a man’s world. . . so let’s make it ours too
By dissecting gender norms, we uncover how we live in a world defined and constructed by men, from the language to the ground we walk on. Yet they are utterly confused to find us questioning everything around us. In a global society dominated by men, women are often criticised when doing something that was assumed to only be possible by a man.
Every success or power move beyond a man’s comfort level is questioned, every opinion verbalised in an important room is critiqued. And every social step-forward is categorised as a “female revolution of empowerment”, since any progress from zero is applaudable.
We shouldn’t be settling for minor improvements in our system, and we shouldn’t have to answer to every man who interrogates our purpose in the field he generally occupies. We have normalized our whispers as a way of accommodating men, avoiding the offensive titles they have given us.
Since it’s brutally obvious that men don’t have any agenda to flip the conversation, rather than adapting to our gender-exclusive environment, it’s time we counteract their close-minded reality with the truth of what being a woman truly means.
We live in a world paved for men. Although women have made great leaps in upheaving this pavement, we still have a long way to go.
Don’t forget the beauty, and elegance within your mind that makes you a woman. Most importantly, don’t forget to speak your mind unapologetically. No more whispers.
✍️ A piece written by Gavriel Ewart. An American girl studying fashion and communication at Cattolica university in Milan and interning for suite123