Sorry, Miley — Rashida Jones doesn’t have to show any skin to get our attention. In the piece she wrote for Glamour’s January issue, Rashida shares her thoughts on slut-shaming, feminism, and that time she used the word “whore.” And about 100 words in, she became the love of our lives. As Leslie Knope would say, Rashida, “you beautiful tropical fish,” tell us more about female sexuality and the pornification of pop culture.
On her controversial tweets: “I’m not gonna lie. The fact that I was accused of ‘slut-shaming,’ being anti-woman, and judging women’s sex lives crushed me. I consider myself a feminist. I would never point a finger at a woman for her actual sexual behavior, and I think all women have the right to express their desires. But I will look at women with influence — millionaire women who use their ‘sexiness’ to make money — and ask some questions. There is a difference, a key one, between ‘shaming’ and ‘holding someone accountable.'”
This week’s celeb news takeaway: she who comes closest to showing the actual inside of her vagina is most popular. #stopactinglikewhores
4:29 PM – 19 Oct 2013
On using the word “whore”: “So back to the word whore. My hashtag was ‘stopactinglikewhores.’ Key word, acting. Like I said, I’m not criticizing anyone’s real sex life; as George Michael tells us, ‘Sex is natural, sex is fun.’ But the poles, the pasties, the gyrating: this isn’t showing female sexuality; this is showing what it looks like when women sell sex.”
Keep reading for Rashida’s message to pop stars.
On the oversaturation of sexuality: “I understand that owning and expressing our sexuality is a huge step forward for women. But, in my opinion, we are at a point of oversaturation. It’s like when TV network censors evaluate a show’s content. Instead of doing a detailed report of dirty jokes or offensive words, they will simply say, ‘It’s a tonnage issue.’ One or two swear words might be fine; 10 is too many. Three sexual innuendos is OK; eight is overkill. When it comes to porn imagery and pop culture, we have a tonnage issue.”
On starting the conversation: “Let’s at least try to discuss the larger implications of female sexuality on pop culture without shaming each other. There’s more than one way to be a good feminist. Personally, I loved the Lily Allen ‘Hard Out Here’ video — a controversial send-up of tits-and-ass culture. She helped start a conversation. Let’s continue it.”
Her message to pop stars: “Please stop saying you don’t want to be role models. Because, guess what: you are. You want to sell millions of albums? You want to sell out a tour? You depend on the millions of people who adore you. So maybe just consider some sort of moral exchange program, in the same way that carbon credits make people feel better about driving an SUV.”
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Sex-bashing is always a way to get media attention. Just not a very good one.