The Semantics of Censorship

In 2012 I wrote an article about censorship in the media. I was angry that children and other susceptible people were being exposed to harmful, influential and offensive images and words through music. Within the article I particularly focussed on the music videos of Nicki Minaj. Although, even at the time, I was a fan of Nicki and her celebration of the female form - her own form - I professed that it was unsuitable material to expose children to. I didn’t believe that Nicki’s videos - or any videos which displayed nudity - shouldn’t be made, just that they shouldn’t be easily accessed - even unwillingly accessed - by minors. Since I wrote the article, my views and opinions have evolved and I believe I should not have singled Nicki out as one of the main culprits.

Since writing the initial article I have been exposed to two categories of media: feminist opinions and sexist images. While I previously professed that it was inappropriate to expose minors to the scantily clad female form, I have since realised that the gender inequality of the music industry (or, rather, the world) is much more inappropriate and harmful to minors. While it’s one thing for artists such as Nicki Minaj and Beyonce to choose to be naked within their own music videos, it is quite another thing for naked women to be displayed as accessories, as pieces of furniture, by the likes of Robin Thicke and Justin Timberlake. I find it very difficult when these male artists are celebrated and rewarded as they parade half-naked women throughout their music videos while female artists are condemned for choosing to do the same thing themselves: how is that justified?

It seems as though it is fine for an unnamed model or actress to prance around naked (literally, in the case of ‘Blurred Lines’) in a male’s music video while it is unacceptable for a known famous woman to do the same in her own music videos. Rihanna is another female artist who has been condemned by the media for acting sexually and being practically naked in her music videos. Rihanna even showed up to an event wearing a sheer dress, which exposed her nipples, and confronted people as to why they were so offended by her body. Or, rather, the way in which she chose to display her body.

To me, it seems blinding obvious what the issue is: it is fine for women to be naked, exposed and presented as sexual beings in relation to a man but it is inappropriate when a woman chooses to be sexual herself. Women’s sexuality and bodies are allowed to be exposed and, even, taken advantage of for the benefit of men but not for the benefit of themselves.

I think women such as Nicki, Beyonce, Rihanna , to name only a few, should be congratulated and celebrated for displaying their bodies and sexualities. For hundreds of years the sexualities, and even physical forms, of women have been highly controlled by men (and, of course, in many ways still are) but these woman - and many more - are rebelling against this in the public sphere. Of course there are still many problems (don’t even get me started on the “leaked” naked photo fiasco) with the inequality of the sexes, but it inspires me to see quite a large portion of women in the public eye rebel against the oppressions of patriarchy.

All of this being said, I do still believe that there is a serious issue to do with censorship within the 21^st century. As I said within my original article, my twelve year old self would be shocked by the music videos of today and what is deemed appropriate for general viewing. However, I was wrong to attack the likes of Rihanna and Nicki. I now realise that they are simply rebelling against their male counterparts within their industry and are showing women that they can be sexual beings and do not have to exist simply in relation to men. For too many years woman’s existence has only mattered in relation to men: from birth you were owned by your father until he “gave you away” to your husband. While these traditions still apply in many cases and cultures, I do believe this sense of ownership has evolved within recent years. I am glad that these women are defying gendered assumptions and are displaying themselves as sexual being who do, surprisingly, have autonomous thoughts and self-governed naked bodies underneath their clothes.