Why Kim and Kanye’s Latest Drama Is Actually A Big Deal
photo courtesy of @kimkardashian
Ok Jerks, we have a game for you. Close your eyes and picture the most loved family in America. Got your answer? If you do, we want you to do the same thing again, but this time with the most hated family. All finished? Make sure you have both your answers!
And the winners are…The Kardashian-Jenners! They win both awards, but now let’s go over the reasons why.
The Kardashian-Jenners have undoubtedly been making scenes, headlines, and memes since even before Keeping Up With the Kardashians premiered 12 years ago. It is no surprise, then, that they’re back and more frustrating than ever, this time with the help of Kim’s ever-controversial husband, Kanye West.
Kanye’s statements in the episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians that was aired on October 13 sparked serious controversy online. When discussing Kim’s 2019 Met Gala look, which included a corset and a highly fitted nude dress, Kanye told Kim that “...it affects [me] when pictures are too sexy.” Kim went on to defend her choice, explaining that it was her prerogative to wear her dress, saying “just because you’re on a journey, doesn’t mean I’m in the same spot with you.” Naturally, the internet immediately exploded with opinions on both sides of the fence: was Kanye trying to police what his wife wears, or was he simply expressing his discomfort? We’re here to tell you that it’s probably the former, and it needs to stop.
It is no secret that men have tried to control what women wear for basically as long as women have worn clothes. Without dragging you through the entire history of the oppression of women through dress, we will give one example you are most likely familiar with: school dress codes. If you went to high school (especially those private schools), chances are you had a dress code, if not a complete uniform. Usually, within dress codes, girls are asked not to wear short shorts or skirts, crop tops, tube tops, spaghetti straps, and much more. In some instances, a visible bra strap might even violate a school’s dress code. While girls are limited in what they can wear, and often punished when they violate these rules, boys have far fewer limitations on their clothing. And the reason for these codes is often more disturbing than the codes themselves; principals or administrators will often attempt to justify dress codes by saying something to the effect of “boys just won’t be able to pay attention or control themselves if girls wear revealing clothing.”
By insinuating that men are ‘animals’, and thus cannot control themselves when a girl wears revealing clothes, we as a society shift the blame to women and force them to limit their self-expression for the sake of the common male’s comfort. This is a harmful but pervasive notion, and it is exactly the point that Kanye raised in his argument. Furthermore, it can be argued that Kanye felt uncomfortable that Kim was showing her body because he believes, at least to some degree, that Kim is merely a sexual object. The corollary to this belief is that any man could simply take her from him if he wanted, which completely ignores the fact that Kim is an adult woman with a brain who can make her own decisions.
Make no mistake, we are not saying that we support Kim Kardashian or any of the Kardashians all the time. We’re just saying that it is simply unfair for a husband -- or any man -- to try and restrict his partner from doing or wearing what they personally, please.