Keke Palmer is a hot topic now, and I will eventually get to the why.
Allow me to clarify that I don’t care what any woman decides to wear on her own accord. What I do care about is calling things out as they are. When I see a table, I call it a table, and not a dog.
You might be wondering, where from this statement? Well, it’s just to give you a heads-up; I will speak candidly about this topic, in whichever direction the conversation takes me.
Women’s empowerment has done some good!
Gone are the days when women were told what to wear and how to behave to please a man. These days, the priority is all about women’s empowerment; empowering women to acquire education, aspire to take leadership positions, and take charge of their lives.
I can proudly say that without this kind of empowerment, women would still be prisoners in their minds and subjects to a patriarchal society. The turn of events has given rise to a different kind of ‘woman.’
For years, women have fought their way through educational and economic inequality, sexual violence, sexual objectification, etc. Major talks have centered primarily on the wrongs done to women.
Self-control for men
In recent years, various conversations criticizing the events contributing to the sexual abuse of women have sought to address another side that has been overlooked for a very long time- which is male self-control.
At first, the argument was solely centered on women dressing appropriately in other not to entice a man sexually. But now, men are being cautioned to exercise self-control.
Men do not have the right to rape women just because of their appearance. Myself, I’m an advocate for such concern; Men should control their sexual drive.
But, I mostly ask myself an important question using this scenario: You have a cat. you know cats steal fish, and you’ve warned your cat not to steal any fish. Does it mean that you should constantly put fish in the cat’s face to see how it reacts?
This scenario may be ridiculous but think about it- It’s a must for a man to control his sex drive and not irresponsibly act upon it, but does it mean that he should be tempted?
These days, while men are advised to exercise control, women are empowered to dress anyhow.
Left to me, men must exercise self-control, and women must dress decently.
As you have observed, the real focus of ‘empowerment’ now has taken different turns. Now, women are encouraged to disregard one of the major things that make us women; decency (Don’t you agree?).
A woman is considered to be confident, independent, modern, iconic, or beautiful if only she wears revealing clothes- clothes she’s very comfortable in, or inappropriate clothes that make her feel ‘confident’ about her body.
Take a look at our so-called top female celebrities and how they exhibit self-confidence, especially when it comes to body confidence. The nudity is too much.
If we talk about it and express the importance of being decent as a woman then we are tagged as haters or enemies of progress.
Our societal values and morals have been condemned. Many have been plunged into the corner where they’re prevented from speaking the truth about what’s important for women or condemning the things that will destroy women.
Girls, as Beyoncé says, run the world now. So men have no say in how a woman makes money, the relationship she’s involved in, and how she conducts herself.
“No man can tell a woman what to wear because women do not tell men how to dress.” True? I believe women criticize men’s fashion all the time, and we’re selective when it comes to choosing a romantic partner based on his physical appearance.
Dear reader, let me ask you: In the times when women are at war with the structure of our society, and men, where traditional roles are being challenged, and where women are striving for gender equality in the family, marriage, and workplace, do you think that men have the right to criticize what women wear?
This question stems from the latest story surrounding Keke Palmer and her boyfriend Darius Jackson. Darius tweeted his opinion about Keke’s outfit in a video that surfaced. In the video, singer Usher was serenading Keke Palmer at his Las Vegas show on July 5, 2023. Keke had worn a black bodysuit under a sheer, long-sleeved dress.
Darius took to social media (tweeted) to express his concern, “It’s the outfit tho…You a mom.” Mind you, Keke and her boyfriend Darius recently had a baby together, so his concern stems from the recognition that Keke is the mother of his child.
As you know how people react on social media, his tweet met unfavorable comments as people stood up for Keke and called him a misogynist. Darius countered those comments with a new tweet:
“We live in a generation where a man of the family doesn’t want the wife & mother to his kids to showcase booty cheeks to please others & he gets told how much of a hater he is. This is my family and my representation. I have standards and morals to what I believe. I rest my case.”
Analyzing the whole situation, I believe social media isn’t the place for him to criticize his partner. Who knows? Maybe, in his defense, that’s the only chance of getting his girlfriend’s attention. However, what he said was right; I’m saying this as a woman.
Keke’s outfit is not right, not just for being a mother, but as a woman. That’s why I said earlier that decency for women is fading away. Showing your thighs, breasts, and butt to the whole world, especially on social media, does not signify confidence. It only adds to the sexual objectification of women.
As for men having the right to criticize what women wear, I strongly believe a man can express his thoughts about a woman’s outfit as much as a woman can also express her thought about a man’s outfit.
Especially when you’re in a committed relationship (even better- married) your man can share his views about how you represent him out there in the world, and as a woman, you can equally do so.
Keke and Darius are in a committed relationship, and they even have a child together. Yes, he has the right to comment on Keke’s outfit. I’m sure his intention was not to shame her but to draw her attention to an important issue.
