The Fight for Respect

As the feminist movement gained traction over the years, it led to the development of many admirable initiatives by uniting those who were tired of conforming to the ridiculous principles that gave women next to no power. In turn, this newfound confidence won American women many rights, from simply wearing pants without receiving judgment to voting for the country's next president. After centuries of being considered second-class citizens, women were no longer ignored.

Despite the numerous fundamental rights women now enjoy, many remaining social injustices must be considered. Until men and women are treated equally, discrimination and ignorance will remain a problem: by ignoring their concerns, men assert that they still have more power than women. In today's age of rapidly advancing technology and seemingly endless possibilities, we must remind ourselves that feminism is still important; the world still houses those who threaten to erase the progress that has been made. Even in today's seemingly morally conscious society, men everywhere are still gaining at the expense of women who are being "Broken with their own tongues", forced to comply in order to provide for themselves (Kingston 47). 

One such businessman in life was Hugh Hefner, whose recent death has put much-needed emphasis on the questionable way he built up his legacy. As founder of Playboy Magazine, he essentially used the feminist movement to promote premarital sex and make money, "But [he] did so within the narrowest of frames: men's views, experiences, interests, biases and desires," (TIME). Ironically, because he was idolized for his progressive way of thinking, Hefner's main crime, shamelessly portraying women as objects whose sole purpose was to please men, was overlooked. The way he treated the girls he employed was far from progressive as well: "the women who lived in the Playboy Mansion were essentially trapped, required to stick to tight curfews, pressured to engage in whatever sex acts their ancient benefactor demanded and plied with drugs...to get them through it," (TIME). Furthermore, the twisted mindset that led to his fame and made his magazine a coveted accessory also gave other men the notion that they could continue to look upon women as sexual objects, ultimately getting rid of whatever respect they had begun to gain for women. The subconscious discrimination initiated by Hefner's magazine led to the promotion of rape culture and misogyny, once again making it extremely difficult for women to be taken seriously.