Manifesto of the self-made slave It has always been the greatest irony of all, that in our eternal quest for empowerment, equality and freedom from oppression, we end up being voluntarily enslaved, these self-imposed shackles that we will never be rid of; the feminist movement will never be truly over.Not when we are willing to let this continue. In the course of the progression of the human race, it has become necessary for some to comply with the values and interests of the majority. The pursuit of happiness and acceptance comes with the absence of independent thought, and complete submission. There is a necessity for one to abide by a certain code, the establishment of a social hegemony that I hereby pledge to live by to the best of my ability: 1. It is the primary and ultimate goal for every single woman to look attractive and desirable at all times. Such standards for ‘beauty’ can be found predominantly in the context of the media, such as celebrity advertisements. Being young, slim and beautiful is the only thing all women should aim for, because it is the only thing that gives us our value. These standards include, but are not limited to, lustrous eyes, straight noses, alabaster skin, ample bosoms, slender waist, long legs and toned buttocks. If these standards are not met, women should be subject to slimming treatments and cosmetic surgery, or suffer from the ridicule and condescension of men. 2. Intelligence is not encouraged among women, and those unfortunately cursed by it are strongly advised to appear less bright as intelligent women with smart mouths are undesirable. Education is not necessary for women. Silly laughs and giggles are encouraged. 3. Gaining weight is an unspeakable evil. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia are justified to preserve the integrity of the beauty of the female body. Prominent collar bones, a flat stomach and a space between the thighs are prerequisites for becoming a woman of value. 4. It is the duty of every single woman to look into the mirror and focus on all of her imperfections. A good self-image is inherently detrimental as it allows the individual to be decadent in keeping up appearances, and to stop the virtuous obsession over every single little flaw. 5. The role of women to be submissive and family-oriented is inalienable. Career-oriented, single women are strongly condemned for going against the sacred code of the traditional patriarchal society. The sole existence of women is to be desired by men, then to marry and give birth. The place of women is at home and in the kitchen, not in the workplace. If such an atrocity is to occur, women shall be paid less than men and put in inferior positions to deter women from succumbing to such an evil. 6. Women are to cater to every one of man’s needs, and failure is not an option. All women should aim to marry a rich, young man and aspire to be trophy wives, because this essentially means that your future and well-being will be secured for the rest of your life. A blind eye should also be turned towards cheating husbands, as it is the inalienable right of men to appraise and admire different women as they see fit. 7. Independent thought is deemed harmful to the cause of the validation of women, as the only legitimate standards are those established by the media and the expectations of men. 8. It is necessary for one to lose her own individuality as the celebration of such would have detrimental consequences in the pursuit of homogeneity and the systematic self-subjugation of women. Only with strict compliance to the above principles will there be natural order, and the protection of fundamental inequalities within the social fabric. It is the obligation of each and every woman to remain silent and meek in the face of blasphemous challenges against such patriarchal codes; only then can we raise our shackles proudly towards the glass ceiling, our shelter against the outside world, and proclaim ourselves as a real woman.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 14:14:10 +0000