Feminism Without Clothes

I’ve been studying my modeling skills. Besides maybe needing to tone up a little, the only thing that really needs work is my facial expressions. This is kind of ironic, because in real life, I’m such an expressive person. I use my face and my voice and gestures to make sure that my point gets across. But, somehow, when I take pose, I can’t seem to capture the essential spark which makes a decent amateur model a real model(at least in my opinion).

When you study yourself over and over in pictures, it’s easy to know exactly where your faults are. And also understand how eating disorders and the like come about. I look at models I admire, and compare their poses and expressions to my own modeling, and see what I can learn from them. Besides the fact that I really need to start using acne cream again. And stop crashing my bike.

At times I can’t believe that I, a self proclaimed uber-feminist, chose to participate in such a hobby. Modeling? The poisonous industry that chews girls up and spits them out? How dare I!

I know that I’ll never be a runway or commercial model, which is really what people mean when they say “model.” But the fact that I’m participating in something that requires me to rely on how I look is…surprising, to say the least.

In high school I was a little judgmental(okay, a lot judgmental) of anyone who wanted to be a model. I’d turn up my nose and think to myself, “don’t they want to be anything more than just a pretty face?”

Jealousy is quite a thing. I doubt I’ll ever truly conquer it. But, at the very least, I can try and overcome it.

And here’s the part that’s about feminism. Women are taught to be jealous in America. At least, that’s been my experience. And it’s probably true in other western places as well. It’s easy enough to say, “Don’t be jealous! It holds back happiness and women’s rights! We should help each other!” But doing it…that’s quite another matter.

Photography by Bill; March 2006.

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One of my roommates pointed out this wonderful article in the Washington Post about a play called “Hakeh Niswan,” or, in Arabic, “Women’s Talk.” Inspired by the Vagina Monologues (which, by the way, is a wonderful experience that everyone, vagina or no, should see), a Lebanese woman decided to write her own play about issue surrounding women in the Arab world. It took five tries to make it past the censors, but it finally did, playing to sold-out audiences in Beirut, my father’s birthplace. Awesome.

Photography by Al. Taken in April, 2006.

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So, I’ve got some great news in the online world of Candy.

First thing: my online set at ishotmyself.com won the April I Shot Myself Prize! I’m looking forward to doing another set for that site- I highly recommend it, and not just because it features me naked on it(although that’s certainly a valid reason to join).

Second thing: Jane’s Guide recently review this blog, and gave it an amazing review. Not only was it rated at “Quality” and “Original,” it was also the reviewer’s pick! Part of his review:

In this blog Candy is also the model, as the title intimates, and the photography by both herself and by several photographers is all quite well done; far above most amateur porn sites. Her writing is what I ended up enjoying [although she is a very sexy and attractive model, and I enjoyed them very much as well]. Her musings on current events, feminism, and other things are interesting, intelligent, and worth reading.

That review completely made my day.

In addition to these two great things, I’ve also been reading up on other feminist blogs. You can read my picks by clicking the links to the left entitled “Other Sexy and Feminist Blogs.” I also recommend going to this site for an official list of “The Top Ten Blogs on Feminism and Women’s Rights.”

The cherry on top of this huge prize-winning, nicely-reviewed, blog-reading sundae is that I finally got a job! In conclusion, it’s a good day.

Photography by Al. Taken in April, 2006.

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I find myself wondering where this blog, and I, myself, fit in. There seems to be a whole sphere of feminist blogs- and then an entirely different one in which sex blogs live. There are very, very few blogs that intersect both those worlds. I think that Susie Bright’s blog is a perfect example.

Should I continue to put the effort that I have previously in my articles. How many people really read them? I’d like to get more exposure, but can I really expect porn blogs or feminist blogs to feel comfortable linking to a spot like this?

Ah, forget about it. Whether you’ve come to read up on current feminist theory, appreciate nude art photography, jerk off, or any combination of the above, you’ve come to the right place. Enjoy your stay.

Photograph by Gary. November 2005.

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My apologies for lack of updates on all my sites/blogs- but I’m in the process of moving. Expect normal updates to occur as of Monday night.

However…if you want to see a whole lot of me wearing a whole lot of nothing, do yourself a favor and join the site ishotmyself.com- my name there is Kandice.

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