After appearing in a NSFW photo shoot for Paper Magazine’s winter issue, Kim Kardashian has once again come under scrutiny for the revealing nature of the photographs. Written in bold, blocky letters, the words “BREAK THE INTERNET” appear on the photos, and break the Internet she almost did. Almost immediately after the pictures gained attention, people began doctoring the photos and posting memes. The picture that seems to be receiving the most ire features an oiled up, nude Kim standing in a trash bag, dressed only in silk gloves, pearl necklaces and diamond earrings. In this contentious photo, Kim’s front side faces away from the camera, the focus quite obviously being her infamous derriere, as Kim glances back at the camera.
While Kim is no stranger to controversy, this particular photo shoot has brought on a new criticism of the buxom star — many commentators seem to be of the opinion that baring her naked body makes Kim a bad mother (warning: NSFW due to language and images).
While it is true that Kim is a fairly new mother, there are many times in the past that she has been photographed while scantily clad (we are discussing a woman who first gained notoriety from a sex tape, after all) and I don’t see why the birth of her daughter is relevant to the already slut-shaming judgments that people place on Kim. If Kim has always been comfortable flaunting her sexuality, why would that suddenly change once she entered motherhood? Do people really think that after a woman gives birth she turns into some sexless hag whose only desire is to raise her child and suddenly values propriety over all else?
As far as the argument of such a blatant show of sexuality setting a bad example for her daughter, what bad example would that be — that when her daughter grows into a woman, it’s perfectly acceptable to show her body and sexuality if and when she pleases? What a horrible lesson; someone call child services now! In an effort to shame Kim’s mothering skills, commentators have been playing the “what if?” game, implying that Kim would have misgivings about her daughter growing up and taking similar actions. If Kim’s one-year-old daughter were to partake in a sexually charged nude photoshoot tomorrow, sure I can see why that would be upsetting. But to suggest that as an adult, for her to take control of her body and show it willingly would be unsavory is such a blatant attack on female sexuality that I fear I’ve unwittingly time traveled back to Puritanism.
Provocative photographs such as these are rather commonplace for people in the entertainment industry, which Kim is. If you want to argue that the sexual nature of these photos makes Kim a trampy excuse for a woman, go for it (which I still would urge you not to) but please, leave motherhood out of this.
