viva la selfie.

If you haven't heard, Selfie was named word of the year by the Oxford Dictionary for 2013 [x]. Officially, it is defined as "A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically taken with a smart phone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website." [x]

But why do you care? Because selfies are pretty fucking powerful, thats why. In a billion dollar beauty industry focused on convincing us we don't look good enough and need their products, something focused on self celebration and showing off how good we look is a big deal. We are saying "Fuck you, we will look good however we feel we look good, and don't need you to tell us how to look." But the important thing to remember is this means different things to different people! To someone, showing off how good they look sans makeup may mean power. To someone else, taking a photo to document how perfect their eyeliner is that day may be what they need. Just because we're saying screw the beauty industry's standards, doesn't mean we can't still appreciate and use their products. 

This issue isn't new, its something second wave feminists dealt with a lot, and defines the split between the radical liberation feminists and the radical cultural feminists. Some people felt in order for women to be empowered, they had to deny anything feminism and try to be either more masculine or androgynous to reclaim their power. Others wanted to celebrate the feminine identity and be extra feminine! 

In today's world we respect both, and need to realize that the big issue at play is choice. Its not about which is better, but that we're free to do whatever we think its for us. If that means wearing no makeup and sweats, thats fine. If that means caking on the makeup with a mini skirt and stilettos, thats cool too. 

Unfortunately, its not always as easy as that. Saying that its fine to do whatever you want, wont stop the judgement and expectations from others based on what you wear or how you look. 

There are days I leave the house in a particularly feminine get up, and feel guilty as soon as I start talking about carpentry, or welding. I feel my identity as a woman who works in a male dominated industry is betrayed for wanting to wear a dress or high heals. 

There are days when the opposite happens, I go out in work boots and baggy paint stained clothes, and I feel unattractive or unimpressive. 

I will follow both of those by saying there are also days when I go out in a cute dress and feel kick ass for surprising people with my knowledge of carpentry, and days when I leave the house in my gross work clothes and love to see the reactions when I act particularly nice and sweet. 

It all comes down to who you want to be, and accepting that who you want to be may change from day to day. But if you like who you are today, go ahead, take a picture. Show off who you are, and why that is so great.

Viva la selfie.

For further reading, check out...

 "The Clothes I Wear Help Me to Know My Own Power" by  BETTY LUTHER HILLMAN

and

"Feminist Thought" by ROSEMARIE TONG