2 Reimagining Power: Women in Profit Driven Settings

Reimagining Power: Women in Profit Driven Settings

Introduction:

Due to past histories of gender Inequalities in capitalist societies, women have often been deemed as sexual objects that are the possessions of men. Seen as commodities and heavily sexualized by oppressive ideas, women have been subjected to and treated as second-class citizens by their male counterparts. At the turn of the century through the women’s rights movement in the 1960s, women became fully integrated into life outside of the home and bedroom, the workplace. With the entering of women in traditionally male-dominated sectors, such as law and politics, predicaments rise over gendered qualities and attitudes towards the attributes of women that exist in settings where power dynamics drive profitability. Interest in this topic mostly grew based on the duality of attitudes that women in politics, busin

ess, and positions of power tend to hold, with women in these sectors either capitalizing on their over-sexualization and exploitations of their erotic selves, or women presenting in a much more serious, strong masculine energy to shift favorability to their economic advantage.^[1]

In a society where it was atypical for women to have no political voice and simply deemed as objects and property, signs of progression and indicators of positive change toward the advancement of success for women are plentiful with an uptick of economic advantages (although it is important to note that women’s suffrage first became an option to help the progression of white women in society). Drawing from Intersectional Feminist theoretical frameworks such as Audre Lorde’s The Erotic as Power, Maria Lugones’s The Coloniality of Gender, and Michael Foucault’s The History Of Sexuality, well as other significant contemporary studies and scholars; I attempt to understand the role that women’s sexuality plays in the context of power dynamics in a westerncapitalist contemporary society. Through the concepts and perspectives of women of color theorists and various leaders in philosophical thought, I unravel the complex nuance conversations regarding the shifting and reframing of power structures, so that it is more equitable and conscientious towards valuing and rewarding the capability and energy that women contribute to the well-being of the community as significant, reflected in the material and physiological environment of all people. This path towards change lies mostly In the shifting of our pedological, teachings of social hierarchies, and encouraging more accepting, and safe workplaces and environments for everyone. 

Theoretical Framework:

Before we can narrow our scope of understanding of women’s role in the workplace and the subjugation of women’s sexuality in a capitalist society, we start by broadening and reflecting on our histories of human sexuality over time. The most publicized and documented understanding of human sexuality is told in the 1990s by Michael Foucault in The History of Sexuality. In the field of feminist and queer theories, the repressive hypothesis is presented where it is argued that in Western Europe and Western Societies, the idea and topic of sex is extremely hidden and scrutinized. Throughout his work, Foucault leads the readers through examples of how members of society have been taught and conditioned to have an inverse reaction to sex through inherited shame and censorship. Our Western understanding of sex has led the community to live repressed and unfulfilled human experiences. To be unfulfilled sexually is to be unfilled as a person and your being. This theory is important because it lays the foundation for the fact that most members of Western society have very little authority over their sexuality and sexual experiences, leading to repressed community members who should find healthyoutlets and use facets of their lives to explore their sexuality in a pleasurable form, but instead, turn sexuality into a form of violence by nature of the way that sex is heavily censored and scrutinized by society.

Sexuality can be both a form of violence and empowerment, especially with the female, and nonbinary presenting, members of society, two-spirited people. In the Erotic as Power progressive and Feminist, Audre Lorde speaks on the power that women hold through their erotic and sexuality, and why it is most beneficial for the patriarchy to have women repress this type of power. As Lorde describes the erotic, sensuality, and the power that women hold within their sexuality is often repressed in their daily lives, especially in their professional matters. A woman’s sexuality is so oppressed that it has become hypersexualized into the category of pornography. This extreme suppressionof sensuality denies a woman the pleasure and life force of pursuing afulfilling life while embracing the sexual energies that they naturally holds (Lorde, 3)  There is a lot of use for the erotic factors of life, that can enhance everyone’s contentment with their sense of self. Yet intentionally repressing the sexual nature of women, allows for men to intentionally use that as a tactic against women who lead a repressed life as it is a facet of their life that is heavily subjected to public opinion. Maintaining a monopoly on sex, so that someone can either feel exploited or hidden in their sexuality, can act as a power strategy that maneuvers against less empowered individuals to feel subjugated, inhibited, and apprehensive.

Now that there is an understanding of the role that sex plays in the dynamics of power and its history as a tool of oppression against women and non-gender conforming individuals, we turn to the theoretical framework of both The Coloniality of Gender by Maria Lugones and Bodies That Matter by Judith Butler to learn how to transition into a more accepting society regardless of gendered expectations. In Maria Lugeon’s revolutionary writing piece, she outlines the fact that society has implemented the modern/colonial gender system, which means that there is a binary that exists that makes us adhere to either male or female traits that are assigned to our sex at birth. This is a very strict and conforming way of viewing one’s gender, either you are male or female and the traits that you choose to identify with should ascribe to society’s portrayal of that gender. Judith Butler presents the alternative to this violent colonial form of gender and introduces the topic more fluidly by stating that gender exists as a performance of the sense of self. Simply put by the author, ‘If gender is the social construction of sex, and if there is no access to this “sex” exceptby means of its construction, then it appears not only that sex is absorbed by gender, but that “sex” becomes something like a fiction, perhaps a fantasy,’ (Butler, 5).  Essentially, sexuality and gender mostly have to do with the way that one chooses to portray oneself, and the roles that one chooses to personally ascribe oneself to embody what one feels as an accurate expression of oneself. Ideally, people should have the ability to express their gender in whatever way that they see is the most fit to present themselves given their environment.

Case And Sources:

Now we explore, how these theories can be presented in the real world: women’s sexuality in business. Sitting at a round table during a business meeting full of older white men, the young female stands out from the group. This gender imbalance is glaringly obvious and could result in the inequitable distribution of funds, material outcomes, and credit for the intellectual outcomes at the end of the discussion for the women at the table. As trailblazers, women in business often come at a disadvantage to their male counterparts due to the long unequal histories outlined and the view of their bodies as sexual objects. Often, women in political sectors are subjected to negative stereotypes and viewpoints that could affect their ability to make money. A couple of examples of the power struggles that women face in these environments are popular pop cultural icons and influencers such as Kimberly Kardashian West, Alexandria Ocasio, and Samantha Jones from the Sex in the City show.

All these women defy the traditional expectations of womanhood and venture on to become businesswomen and politicians: their unique positionality as sensual women allows disadvantages in their business due to social condemnation. Displayed in the dramatized fashion of the Samantha Jones Character^[2] She is rejected from a position of power and prestige when her boss finds out that she has partaken in sexual activity with one of the bosses of the organization; Rightfully infuriated, she storms out of the interview and declares that if she were a man, she would be given even more generous offer at the fact that she embraces her sexuality openly. Certainly, in many cases, women are scrutinized and harmed in their businesses for being open in the way that they present their sexual presence. Not only are they denied career and economic opportunities due to their sexual history, but promiscuity at the business table is also often shamed as well. The New York House of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was torn up in the media for wearing red lipstick to house meetings. Many headlines ^[3] debated whether it was inappropriate to wear rather feminine makeup to important male-dominated meetings. The way that women present themselvesin their gender and sexuality within their work environments can affect the ways that their co-workers view their work and determine their pay.

While there are disadvantages such as receiving criticism and unfair judgment from their bosses, there are also advantages to the role that sexuality can play in profit-driven environments for those who have a strong sense of self within their erotic being. Notably, Kim Kardashian has been made infamous for her ability to profit and create a business by leveraging her sexuality and attractiveness. This is a woman who has created multibillion-dollar businesses beginning from her legacy of a sex tape. This is no coincidence, as the author of Sex as Power: “The combined results of the studies provided converging evidence for the notion that feelings of power and sexuality are linked for women high in attractiveness, which therefore make these women more likely to compensate for a lack of power by attempting to boost their sex appeal”(Torelli,85).In this study, it shows that women who are confident in their erotic self and sexuality, tend to do better in power dynamics as they live fulfilled lives and can leverage this freedom to their advantage. In the case of Kim Kardashian, she was able to shamelessly, despite societal standards, acquire capital power and resources through the full utilization of her body and sensuality at her comfort and to her advantage.

Optimistic outlooks of the advantages of women’s bodies and desirability in their professions can neglect the concept of sexual harassment. The Sexual Harassment, Workplace Authority, and the Paradox of Power: Power theory suggests that women in authority are more frequent targets of sexual harassment (McLaughlin, Uggen, Blackstone). Women can assert their dominance and strength in their sexuality, but their male counterparts also exhibit qualities of masculine overcompensation, where men react to threats to their manhood by enacting an extreme form of masculinity. What tends to happen is that women in authoritative positions are seen as a threat to their male co-workers and to shift the power imbalance in their favor, the male co-workers take advantage sexually of the women as a form of control.

Analysis:

So to break down the theory and the case studies into an analysis, there are multiple perspectives to be considered when conversing on whether or not it is most beneficial for women to use their sexuality to their advantage when conducting business. In a neo-liberal society: women should aim to increase their profits through the exploitation of their sexuality. This is mostly done as power leverage, using your body, that is already exploited to its fullest extent to maximize profits. Especially in a capitalist society, where bodies and resources are heavily exploited, the natural erotic nature of a woman should not be undervalued, but rather compensated.^[4] Our society should aim to not scrutinize the natural womanhood of the female leaders of the country by rejecting their feminine nature.

In a fully liberated society, the goal would be for everyone to have an equitable life that is full of resources and opportunities, so that women and all kinds of people should be treated with respect and not have the exploit themselves for an economic advantage.^[5]

Conclusion: 

In conclusion, the exploration of women in profit-driven settings unveils a complex interplay between societal attitudes, historical gender inequalities, and power dynamics. The journey from the era when women were considered mere possessions to their emergence in traditionally male-dominated sectors highlights both progress and persistent challenges. The theoretical frameworks provided by feminist thinkers such as Audre Lorde, Maria Lugones, and Judith Butler offer lenses through which we can understand the role of women’s sexuality in power dynamics within a Western capitalist society.

The repressive hypothesis, as articulated by Michel Foucault, underscores the societal conditioning that has led to the repression of sexuality, creating a dichotomy where it becomes both a form of violence and empowerment. Audre Lorde’s concept of “The Erotic as Power” emphasizes the potential strength within a woman’s sexuality, while Maria Lugones and Judith Butler challenge the binary and encourage a more fluid understanding of gender expression.

Examining real-world scenarios, particularly in business and politics, reveals the double-edged sword that women face. The experiences of figures like Kim Kardashian, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and fictional characters like Samantha Jones demonstrate the tension between leveraging one’s sexuality for economic gain and facing societal scrutiny and discrimination.

The analysis indicates a nuanced perspective on whether women should use their sexuality to their advantage in profit-driven environments. In a neoliberal society, the exploitation of sexuality may be viewed as a pragmatic strategy to maximize profits, acknowledging the societal reality where bodies are already heavily exploited. However, the goal, of a fully liberated society, should be the creation of an equitable environment where individuals, regardless of gender, do not feel compelled to exploit themselves for economic advantage.

The path toward change lies in challenging social hierarchies, fostering acceptance, and creating safe workplaces that value the diverse contributions of all individuals. By embracing a more inclusive and conscientious approach, society can move toward a future where women and everyone can thrive without compromising their authentic selves for economic success.

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