Too Sexual or Not Sexual Enough?

There seems to be a very thin line between women and their sexuality. Every day girls are attacked by contradicting images and words. Growing up, you're told you must save your virginity for marriage, dress modestly, and not to speak of "inappropriate" things. Then you turn on the TV, open a magazine, or even walk out of your own house, and you are blasted with images of women scantily dressed, having sex, or just talking about it. These images tell you that you have to be sexy to have self worth; if you're sexy people will like you. But wait, if you follow that image and you are sexy, you're a slut. Now no one will like you. How do you choose? When is it okay to be sexual and when isn't it?

I recently saw a commercial for lingerie football. Basically, it's a bunch of "hot" women running around playing tackle football in their underwear. At first I was appalled. Why is it that women don't get to play football normally in the league and often at most high schools but they get the chance only when they're doing it half naked? You don't see men playing football in their underwear, so why do you see women? Isn't that exploitation? Then, I realized that it's their choice. If they feel confident in their sexuality and want to play football in their lingerie, that's okay, they have the right. They are people, they are women, and they can do what they want with their bodies.

I saw something similar but had a totally different reaction. Recently Dianna Agron, Lea Michele, and Cory Monteith, all a part of the cast of Glee, did a

photoshoot for GQ. Lea and Dianna are both in little clothes posing very sexually, showing off their lingerie. When I saw the pictures, I loved them. I thought the photoshoot looked great and I was proud of them for not being afraid to show their sexual sides though they might get a bad response. And that's what happened. Already people are questioning whether or not the photoshoot was appropriate. Videos from the shoot showed them having lots of fun sexing it up for the pictures, so it's okay right? They're confident in their sexuality and they can do what they want with their bodies. Why did I get a totally different response to something so similar? Once again, where is the line of how sexual women can be?

When is it okay for a woman to be a sexual being without it being degrading towards the woman body? It's difficult to know. It seems that you may be able to name a time or place, but there's still going to be another situation that contradicts it. Where does a woman stand in this overly sexual society and when is it okay for her to do what she wants with her body without someone telling her she shouldn't? No matter what way you go, there's always going to be somone saying it's wrong. If you dress modestly and wait to have sex, you're a prude. If you show your more sexual side, you're a slut. Why can't a woman just have both?