Cyrus’ performance at the Video Music Awards offended many with its inappropriate displays, but the former child star didn’t deserve the massive criticism she received. Photograph courtesy of http://d3na4zxidw1hr4.cloudfront.net/site_media/uploads/images/post/m/miley-cyrus/miley-cyrus%20(1)_jpg_630x1553_q85.jpg
Among all the performances held during MTV’s Video Music Awards on Aug 25th, people discussed Miley Cyrus’ performance the most, and not for positive reasons either. Cyrus’ performance of “We Can’t Stop,” featuring her and other dancers twerking on stage, that transitioned into a duet with Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” drew criticism as being lewd and vulgar.
Why has Cyrus’ performance attracted such harsh criticism and why hasn’t Thicke’s performance attracted any criticism? Robin Thicke’s song “Blurred Lines” has been rumored to endorse rape and yet everyone attacked Cyrus. While an admittedly inappropriate performance, the reaction was just as inappropriate. Cyrus didn’t deserve the condemnation she received.
This is essentially a global demonstration of slut shaming, the shaming or attacking of a female for being overtly sexual. Millions of people responded to the VMAs with disgust and insults, indicating a level of acceptance of slut shaming. This, however, is grounded in the act of shaming the victim. In this case, millions of people decided that they had the right to attack and shame one person.
Slut shaming has serious negative effects on the victim’s personal life, as well as on her self-esteem and confidence. There is an implication that the female being victimized should feel guilty or inferior because traditional society disapproves of what she has done or that how she has expressed her sexuality does not conform to patriarchal expectations.
Problems occur when shame becomes an integral part of a person’s self-image or sense of self-worth. Shame contributes to the development of social phobias, eating disorders, domestic violence, substance abuse, road rage, schoolyard and workplace rampages, sexual offenses and a host of other personal and social problems.
Degrading a woman because of her natural, sexual nature is inherently wrong and slut shaming needs to be stopped. Miley Cyrus’ performance, while inappropriate, did not deserve the overwhelming amount of disgust and complaint it received. That particular response does demonstrate a display of slut shaming and Americans need to realize that it is not all right to do so. Not everyone agrees with her performance, but next time, change the channel.