Cake, Cake, Cake, Cake, Cake, Cake, Cake

I could't resist the "Birthday Cake" by Rihanna reference. I think that song is a good example of females displaying their sexuality which the organization CAKE promotes. CAKE confuses me. The organization makes no sense. It claims to be empowering women by showcasing them wearing barely there outfits and having pillow fights as men watch. Maybe it's just me, but I don't understand how that is empowering. CAKE is the typical female exploitation with a new name. There are plenty of ways women can be sexually free without becoming a public spectacle.

However, female sexuality is a complicated topic. Females should be able to show off their sexuality if they want to, but at what point does it become degrading? I mean wearing a short, tight dress is one thing, but stripping, having sex in front of guys, and the other CAKE activities are a completely different. I don't understand how doing something like stripping, which was included in the CAKE parties, can not be degrading. Stripping perpetuates the idea that women are worth their bodies, and everyone should and needs to know that women are worth so much more than the physical. CAKE promotes the idea that women's worth consists of beauty and hot bods. How is a CAKE party different from a Maxim party? Is Maxim feminist then too? To me CAKE does the completely opposite of what the organization set out to do. Instead of freeing women and making them feel more empowered, the organization's parties caused women to be even more disrespected by men and probably some other women too.

Although I disagree with CAKE's form of action, I do think that free female sexuality in the sense of "the double standard" should be allowed. What I mean by this is that women should not be looked down upon for being sexually promiscuous when men aren't. When being sexually promiscuous, both men and women commit the same actions, so why is promiscuity so much worse in regards to women? Although personally I believe that promiscuity in general is not good, I don't think women should be looked down upon for being promiscuous when men committing the same actions aren't and are even sometimes praised for their promiscuity. That being said, I do not want to feel like I have to be sexually promiscuous in order to be liberated. Promiscuity is a choice that each individual makes for his or herself and whether that person is a his or a her should not determine whether that person is criticized for promiscuity.

Side note: I am so glad that Levy did not depict Hugh Hefner as a feminist. At first, it seemed like she was trying to do exactly that. I couldn't believe it. Hugh Hefner capitalizes off the female body. As one party goer notes, it's like the women are almost inhuman. Everything about Play Boy is degrading and how Hefner could even utter the words "I am a feminist" is beyond me. Therefore, I'm glad that Levy points out Hefner's faults.

Side note 2: The Betty Friedan article caused me to ponder the question "Why is it that when women want something more from life other than housework there must be something wrong with them?". I want more in life than being a housewife, so I guess I better run to the doctor to make sure I'm alright.