Here is the link: http://www.ubspectrum.com/opinion/why-put-a-bumper-sticker-on-a-ferrari-1.2755789?MMode=true#.Tym2l8U7VXM
My e-mail:
Lisa Khoury,
I guess I’ll just start right from the first sentence…
“I get it. It’s the 21st century. You’re cool, you’re rebellious, you’re cutting edge, you have a point to prove, and you’re a woman. Awesome.”
I don’t think you could be more sexist if you tried. So, women are the only ones who must be held accountable and be “classy” in your definition? And they get tattoos simply to be rebellious and to prove a point to OTHER people? You couldn’t have written a more condescending hook.
But what’s funny is you describe women who get tattoos as seeking attention, trying to prove a point, attempting to be cutting edge, etc… But then you write this…
“An elegant woman does not vandalize the temple she has been blessed with as her body. She appreciates it. She flaunts it. She’s not happy with it? She goes to the gym. She dresses it up in lavish, fun, trendy clothes, enjoying trips to the mall with her girlfriends. She accentuates her legs with high heels. She gets her nails done. She enjoys the finer things in life, all with the body she was blessed with.”
There are so many things about this segment that infuriate me. First, I can’t believe you (and others in the world) equate “class” to how much one fits their particular gender role and feeds the media! Since when were parents teaching their kids that “lavish” material possessions and what you can afford make a person?
I’m not going to deny that there are shallow things in the world that are desired and I’m not going to insist that women stop getting their nails done and start jogging outside, but it’s all about balance and how much weight you put on the frivolous things in your life. If I’m not happy with my body or I’m feeling down on myself, I might get a manicure, I might treat myself to a bit of shopping, but all of that, in no way, makes me a decent person. I realize those are trivial things and that there are other things I can do that provide way more long lasting, healthy benefits.
“Seriously, though. Your body literally has the ability to turn heads. Guys drool over us. We hold some serious power in our hands, because – as corny as this sounds – we hold the world’s beauty. But something girls seem to forget nowadays, or maybe have not been taught, is that women hold the world’s class and elegance in their hands, as well.”
I know this is intended to be uplifting and empowering for women, but all of this goes in one ear and out the other when it’s surrounded by the other ignorance I’ve read. First of all, beauty is not exclusive to women. Secondly, yes, men are visual people, women like to show off, some men eat it up… But when it comes down to it, most of the men I know are way more interested in a woman’s personality, not in how much money she spends at Macy’s.
“…At the end of the day, are you really a happier person? Has this tattoo, for instance, caused you to learn something new about yourself? Has it challenged you? Has it led you to self-growth? Nothing comes out of getting a tattoo. You get a tattoo, and that’s it. You do something productive, though, and you see results. That’s a genuine, satisfying change in life. Not ink.”
This entire piece is so poorly written and you are so LITERAL with your approach that it’s hard to not write a condescending response. Not to mention, I highly doubt any actual research about the culture and history of tattoos and tattooing was done in preparation. Apparently the literal act of sitting in a chair and enduring needles poking into flesh is supposed to magically make someone into a good person. For me, it’s not all about the physical act and I don’t get tattooed TO learn something… It’s about the emotions behind it and what lead to it. A tattoo can be a physical representation of something important or even something silly. Can you not learn lessons, be productive or be satisfied with life if you get tattoos? Apparently not. Yet again, one has nothing to do with the other.
“I’m not here to say a girl should walk around flaunting her body like it’s her job – that’s just degrading. Instead of getting a tattoo, a more productive use of your time would be improving and appreciating the body you have been given, not permanently engraving it.”
Of COURSE a women like you has to insert this bit about women who flaunt their bodies for money in their professional life and how it’s degrading. I wouldn’t expect anything else. You’re not here to say a girl should flaunt her body like it’s her job, but you ARE here to promote gross, objectifying gender roles and a superficial lifestyle as character building in one’s PERSONAL life. That’s way better…
Also, if we refer back to “Your body literally has the ability to turn heads. Guys drool over us. We hold some serious power in our hands” you DO encourage women to flaunt themselves, but mock women who actually profit off of that. I am an exotic dancer (a tattooed one, no doubt!) and I can’t speak for other in my same profession, but I can say with confidence that my job has nothing to do with how I act or treat people and THAT is what I think class is all about. You are the LAST person to be preaching about class.
“I promise, it will be a much more rewarding experience, and you won’t find yourself in a rut when your future grandkids ask you what’s up with the angel wings on your upper back as you’re in the middle of giving them a life lesson on the importance of values and morals. God knows the last thing this world needs is another generation of kids questioning their basic values and morals.”
What rut does one find themselves in when they have a tattoo and a grandchild….? If someone asks about a tattoo, the usual response is a simple explanation as to why they got it in the first place. That goes for family, strangers, whoever. As far as morals and values go, I intend to teach my children and grandchildren that morals and values are about how you treat people, how you carry yourself, your desire to do better and I will be covered in tattoos while doing it.
The last thing this world needs is more people like you, Lisa Khoury, who puts weight on all the depthless things in life and who fails to see the importance in acceptance and the most BASIC of virtues. I really hope one day you can open your mind and see what life is REALLY about. You may look down on girls who have tattoos, girls in the sex industry (and I say GIRLS, because that’s the only gender you bring up), you may be quick to judge others, but just from reading your poorly written, uneducated, pathetic excuse for a story, I would say it is you I feel truly sorry for.
- Lauren A. R.
P.S. You should see if The Onion is hiring.
