In order for this post to make sense, I recommend that you watch this recent viral video. It looks innocent enough right? You begin with little girls dressed as princesses. How cute! But then you hear,"What the F#@k! I'm not the f#@king helpless princess in distress!" Yes you heard it. A company called FCKH8 released a video recently, featuring 5 to 12 year old girls that address the injustices against women, with attitude and lots and lots of swearing. I mean like every word in the book of swears. The girls tackle everything from the wage-gap, the representation of beauty and rape. It is informational as much as it is jaw dropping. Right now I'm trying to figure out whether or not this is the best way to spread the goals and ideas of feminism. A discussion is most certainly in order.
Since it's release on October 22, the video has received over 7 million views. It has caused both outrage and curiosity. For the more conservative viewer, this video might be considered a form of child abuse. A five-year old should not be dropping the f-bomb. But then there is the more relaxed view. Yes it is shocking, but it also proves a point. Feminism is important for all ages. The video destroys the image of the innocent princess and replaces it with pissed off girls. And they should be pissed. They were all born in the 21st century and yet they are still living in a world where women are treated as second-class citizens. "I'm pretty f#@king powerful," one girl proclaimed.
The swearing is designed to grab your attention. Would this video be as powerful if the girls were not swearing? Probably not? So I don't have a problem with its execution and message. I'm all for it. Everyone is finally having a nationwide discussion about women's rights.
But here's my beef with the company that made the video. The owner of FCKH8, Marcus Kon and Brand Manager Justin Warner stated that they put these girls in princess costumes and got them to use, "a bad word for a good cause, " therefore starting a conversation about gender equality. But FCKH8 is a for-profit company. Towards the end of the video, they start to advertise t-shirts you can buy for 15 dollars. A portion of that money will go to a charity. A portion! The rest will go to the company. Yes they are sending an important political message but they are "also selling a product," according to BBC journalist Anne-MarieTomchak.
Is FCKH8 using feminism for their own financial gain, or are they truly sincere. I would certainly not call them activists. But they are getting our attention and right now people need to have a discussion about gender equality.
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