Interesting take on the whole Miley Cyrus Robin Thicke duet at the VMAs:
http://ericclapp.org/2013/08/28/how-to-talk-with-your-sons-about-robin-t...
Iowa pastor on Miley, Robin and misogyny
Thu, 2013-08-29 11:44
#1
Iowa pastor on Miley, Robin and misogyny
Thu, 2013-08-29 12:00
#2
Yes, it was good to see that making the rounds on facebook this morning.
There was another piece - actually a response to a Vanity Fair article ridiculing Cyrus - which pointed out the hypocrisy, since the media, and VF in particular, build up these stars, yet they are the first to pounce on them.
Thu, 2013-08-29 12:13
#3
I feel bad for parents of both sons and daughters having to raise their children in this sick culture.
Thu, 2013-08-29 12:49
#4
Timebandit
Thanks so much for sharing that link! I had a really interesting conversation with my daughters yesterday about Cyrus, criticism (much of it deserved) along the lines of sexism, racism, etc (the little-girly cartoony thing was utterly, utterly creepy!). I also went into Thicke's role in the whole thing. He could have halted the whole thing at any time. And yet, there is so little that holds him to account. IMO, that man is scum.
And so are Cyrus' handlers and promoters. Let's talk about who really benefits from the spectacle - because I don't think, in the long view, it's going to be that young woman.
Thu, 2013-08-29 15:02
#5
She seems to not want to be associated with Hannah Montana soo bad that she can be led into all sorts of unhalthy things
Fri, 2013-08-30 05:08
#6
She seems to not want to be associated with Hannah Montana soo bad that she can be led into all sorts of unhalthy things
"led"? She's a victim now?
Oh please!
She's an astute publicity hound, delighted at the media storm she's getting.
Fri, 2013-08-30 08:17
#7
Face it, she and her handlers got exactly what they wanted. In addition to tons of press (and commentary on any number of discussion boards, social websites, and whatever) she's put the entire Hannah Montana image behind her permanently.
As an aside, I don't think we'd be seeing anywhere near this level of consternation if she wasn't "Hannah Montana" the Disney princess - people didn't expect this sort of act from her (people don't get anywhere near this upset about Madonna or Lady Gaga because that's what they expect).
Fri, 2013-08-30 12:50
#8
She has gone from selling Good Girl sex to selling Bad Girl sex. Both sides of that coin are misogynist, IMO.
Fri, 2013-08-30 18:37
#9
She has gone from selling Good Girl sex to selling Bad Girl sex. Both sides of that coin are misogynist, IMO.
In other words, she's selling the image she wants to sell. [To add a completely irrelevant comment, a couple of weeks back (prior to her latest act) I saw the results of a poll that said "if you were going to have an affair with a celebrity who would it be?" Miley won hands down. And that's the audience she's catering to.]
Sat, 2013-08-31 08:58
#10
We have five girls, aged 12 to 29, and It's been a tough row to hoe, maintaining a balance between praise for their intellectual and creative attributes and feeding their need to know they are beautiful which, of course, they are. Two of them have epilepsy, which makes things more difficult for them. Not because of their condition, but because of the ignorance they have to deal with.
One thing I don't worry about is whether they look to someone like Miley Cyrus as a role model. They know it's crap, because they live in a world where it's necessary to be cynical and questioning of everything. Sadly, there is no facade of the innocence of youth, but perhaps it is for the best.
Sun, 2013-09-01 00:39
#11
Timebandit
I'm kind of shaking my head at this thread. Did anyone read the article in the OP? There's three of you that sound a lot like you didn't.
I'm not claiming that Miley Cyrus is a complete victim here, or that she had no agency. But even in this thread, commented on by so-called progressives (mostly male, too), we switch from a discussion of how Robin Thicke - her partner in the VMA act she put on - and the other people involved in orchestrating it have not been criticized, that the condemnation falls directly on the young woman, and how that's a little strange, to how the young woman is selling bad girl sex.
Not them. Her.
So, there's a strain of endemic sexism here that I'm wondering if some of you even see.
Why aren't we upset and commenting on how Robin Thicke is a creep for dry-humping a girl young enough to be his daughter on stage? Why is it so easy to revert to the "well she's no victim" and "what Miley's selling"?
And in the feminist forum.
Well done, guys.
Sun, 2013-09-01 02:11
#12
Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Britney Spears, Zac Efron, and Christina Aguilera were all Disney child stars who ramped up the slutty factor as they broke away from the magic kingdom, and this is just a partial list. Tis reality TV—predictable.
Sun, 2013-09-01 10:21
#13
Very good points Timebandit. The entire blog makes just that point - Robin Thicke is a creep and dry-humping a young woman on stage, for the viewing pleasure and titillation of millions, is about as low as it goes. Yet still, it's all about Miley, isn't it? Always nice to see the worst of the status quo maintained by men in the feminist forum.
Until men get it, the common world view that girls are "sluts" and boys "will be boys" when it comes to any kind of expression of sexuality, will be maintained. Ad nauseum. Oh, and I forgot to add, girls who dress "slutty" get what's coming to them. Boys who go for macho, sexualized posturing are hot. Especially if they can degrade a few girls along the way. Sick culture indeed.
Sun, 2013-09-01 11:36
#14
Timebandit and Rebecca West thanks for wording it so well...i watched the PR machine of Robin Thicke's last spinning it all away from him. His mom and dad are oh so proud of him and so is his "wife".
Sun, 2013-09-01 13:10
#15
Actually the creepiest things I have read are the religous ones about her breaking her dad's achy breaky heart. I ran across one of those following back an online piece by someone bragging that he was beaten as a kid and he survived so there's nothing wrong with it.
I think the reaction to this wouldn't have been quite the same had it not been simply bad theatre - like 1989 Oscars bad. And if many hadn't just finished exhausting their anger over Thicke's video. And of course the Disney image that they were obviously trying to bury once and for all.
And there are the accusations of racism. There's so much going on here that it is kind of hard to pinpoint one thing. So I'm not surprised that some are seeing differeng aspect and missing the whole.
Just thinking on Mr.Tea's comment, I get it, but when have we not faced that sickness? And what culture doesn't have it to a greater or lesser degree? Obviously the open exploitation and sexualizing of children is a bit more front and centre, but I can't say I'd prefer to raise our kids in another time when opportunity, and laws, and a bit of a sense of how these things are discriminatory, weren't quite what they are today (and that's not saying things are good today).
I don't minimize the double standard in it, nor the really lame sexual content, but what offended me most was the sexualizing of children, and the fact that there were probably more than a few 7 and 8 year old kids and their parents who watched that show and were completely ambushed by it.
Funny... both my kids have the sense, when they run into stuff like that, to tell us that it is inappropriate and turn it off (and no, we didn't watch it). Too bad those to made that show didn't have the same maturity.
And sorry, but one person didn't do it - certainly not the one person who wound up being the object of everyone's ire. It was everyone from producers down to costume design.
(edit)
The first thing those costumes made me think of was pedobear. Somehow I don't think those who did that piece were quite so self-aware.
Sun, 2013-09-01 16:29
#16
It is disturbing how easily I blew past Robin's action and concentrated on hers. Though I never watched the clip and the new sreports I read seemed to indicate (because they were ignoring Robins action obviously I realize now) that it was a unplanned action by miley that Robin just went with but was not part of.
Stupid of me not to dig deeper before commenting
Sun, 2013-09-01 17:19
#17
There's no reason to waggle your fingers at Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke, the crew, or anyone else involved in this performance, the principals got exactly what they wanted and no one was coerced or victimized; if anyone has evidence to the contrary I'd love to see it, I might even give a string of pearls a clutch.
If you want to get creeped out about something Miley has done I offer you this; Miley was 15 when Annie Leibovitz photographed her for Vanity Fair, not 20 as she is now. Not surprisingly Leibovitz and Vanity Fair were criticized.
The shots of Miley and her dad are nice... really.
Sun, 2013-09-01 17:49
#18
@ Mórríghain
Duly noted, and I am sure she was a willing participant, may have come up with the idea herself, and is sure to sell lots of records here. That still doesn't change the fact that she is bearing the brunt of this, as opposed to Beetlejuice, who is twice her age, and everyone else who is making a pile of cash off this. And as for responsibility, I don't want to slag young people, but I am of the opinion that they aren't responsible for ignorant and stupid decisions in the same way that the rest of us are, seeing as our brains generally don't fully grow in until we are in our 20s. I'll underscore that that does not apply to young people who really are on the ball, but I know I made my fair share of really ignorant moves back then that I would not want held against me.
(edit)
Case in point - my post above, about Vanity Fair cashing in on trashing her image , just as they capitalized it not too long ago.
Or maybe it was different because when they did it it was supposedly more classy.
Sun, 2013-09-01 17:56
#19
Timebandit
There's a big difference between pop stars like Brittney Spears and Miley Cyrus and pop stars like Madonna and Lady Gaga.
Madge did provocative performances, but she was always solidly in control of her career. She was also a little bit older. You never got the sense that she was heavily managed. Spears, on the other hand, was, and look how well that went. I get the impression that Miley has lived in a highly managed bubble, like most of Disney's pop princesses, and that the bubble continues to exist and she is in a position where this is the next logical step in her career if she wants that career. Ask yourself, has she had anything else? Who is she without the career and persona? Can you honestly say there's no coersion here?
Consent is not always informed or well-thought-out consent.
Thicke, on the other hand, benefits and bears none of the risk.
Sun, 2013-09-01 20:27
#20
I actually think Miley Cyrus is one of the few teenage pop stars who is making her own decisions. I barely know anything about her, of course, but that never stops anyone from talking, now does it? Based on the celebrity babble I've picked up here and there, it sounds like she's pissed off a number of people who expected her to keep conforming to a more innocent persona, like Disney and her parents, as well as lots of fans who seem have a strangely possessive attitude towards their stars.
Has it occured to anyone that the VMA performance actually was an honest expression of her sexuality and her art, and that it was made for an audience that none of us are a part of, and that's why we don't get it? Apparently the "furry" thing is a popular fetish among club kids these days, which is what Miley and her friends are. Maybe she's one herself. She might be legitimately trying to entertain the segment of viewers that she identifies with, and not caring much about everyone else. Why assume she's trying to shock people just because you find it shocking? For myself, I have to say that all the bogus outrage over this reminded me of parents in the fifties wailing about how Elvis's hips were going to bring about the downfall of society.
On the other hand, I feel very confident saying that Robin Thicke is a complete tool, so I can be found making my own assumptions as well. His fifteen minutes can't be up fast enough for me.
Sun, 2013-09-01 20:30
#21
Who is she without the career and persona? Can you honestly say there's no coersion here?Consent is not always informed or well-thought-out consent.
Thicke, on the other hand, benefits and bears none of the risk.
Who is Miley Cyrus without career and persona—who is Jane Frontporch without her career and personality? In the absence of evidence to the contrary yes, there has been no coercion here. Consent does not have to be informed or well thought out; who are we to say whether Miley's consent has been ill-informed or lacked thought? She's a free woman, she can consent for whatever reason she likes. "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose", Janis said it so much better than I.
Thicke may have gotten off relatively lightly here but he's been pilloried elsewhere. Tis not his fault if much of the entertainment media gave him a pass, perhaps the entertainment 'journos' (I use the term feather-lightly) felt sorry for him because he got beaten up pretty bad earlier over an awful video he crafted (Blurred Lines) and he's catching a little flak for grabbing a strange woman's butt during the aftershow party.
Sun, 2013-09-01 21:20
#22
Timebandit
The reaction Thicke should have gotten for Blurred Lines was a knee to the groin so forceful it knocked his nuts out of his ears. Particularly after he reacted to criticism by saying the sordid piece of crap was "almost a feminist movement" in itself. Nobody should feel sorry for him. And then this as the follow-up? Getting off lightly is an incredible understatement.
J22 - I don't get that impression. I think the trope of breaking Billy Ray's achy old heart is just part of the machine's narrative spin. That kid has been so packaged since day one, so much has been invested in the media product that is Miley Cyrus, that I don't buy there is room for her to be exercising the kind of agency you're proposing.
Sun, 2013-09-01 21:43
#23
Apparently the "furry" thing is a popular fetish among club kids these days, which is what Miley and her friends are.
I must say, I didn't even consider that one. And yes, I am familiar with furries.
But.... nah, I seriously doubt it, and I'd say it is clutching at straws
Creepy, and badly done creepy at that. I know from a censor's perspective it probably didn't cross as many lines as Prince did with his see-through rear pants on the same show in 1991, but that was Prince, and I don't think many 7-year-olds were waiting anxiously to see him.
Not to mention all the other problematic things that have been mentioned upthread.
Mon, 2013-09-02 02:15
#24
The reaction Thicke should have gotten for Blurred Lines was a knee to the groin so forceful it knocked his nuts out of his ears. Particularly after he reacted to criticism by saying the sordid piece of crap was "almost a feminist movement" in itself. Nobody should feel sorry for him. And then this as the follow-up? Getting off lightly is an incredible understatement.
Could be eh? Nothing like a bit o' violence, however beware "You've proved to me that all this ultraviolence and killing is wrong, wrong, and terribly wrong." Alex was forced learned now wasn't he? Not right to pile all the blame on poor dirty ole Robbie when the E-talkin' heads and other entertainment journos coulda strung him up right and proper bit didn't! O' course the celeb press come to praise their darlings, not bury them so the torch passes to us, the droogs whose sole purpose is to consume the tainted products. Don't. Ever. And feel good about it.
Mon, 2013-09-02 04:10
#25
Speaking of that...
Another aside to this is that people have been all over Cyrus about cultural appropriation and racism, while Thicke's lawsuit against Marvin Gaye's estate - to copy work without having to pay for it - has kind of sailed under the radar.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/oliverherzfeld/2013/08/20/the-blurred-lines-...
I didn't intentionally tune into his interview on CBC some weeks ago (I think it was Q) because I wasn't interested, but I certainly started paying attention when he bragged about having "more of a hood pass than some black people".
Not exactly on topic, but it is yet another example of her getting raked over the coals by the popular media, while his actions don't get noticed nearly as much.
Mon, 2013-09-02 10:33
#26
Speaking of that...
Another aside to this is that people have been all over Cyrus about cultural appropriation and racism,
Racism... , that sounds like a bit of a stretch.
while Thicke's lawsuit against Marvin Gaye's estate - to copy work without having to pay for it - has kind of sailed under the radar.
And this reads like a make-work project for entertainment lawyers and the Goddess knows lawyers need the work.
Mon, 2013-09-02 11:30
#27
Racism... , that sounds like a bit of a stretch.
Stretch or not, she has been taking quite a bit of flak for it (and that was my point).
Mon, 2013-09-02 11:59
#28
I'd like to see this thread return to feminism (as mandated by the feminist forum). There was a reason I created it in this forum as opposed to a forum more geared to pop culture.
Mon, 2013-09-02 17:04
#29
Timebandit
Here's some intersection of racism and feminism - creating the image of desirability on the backdrop of race:
That said, ultimately, we are all still falling into the trap of continuing to criticise Miley or defending her. There's also considerably more sympathy for Thicke's position - I find it fascinating that my feeling like Thicke needs a metaphoric kick to the manhood is far more disturbing than the idea that a young woman feels she has to strip and waggle her ass on an international broadcast to have the same level of success that her male counterparts gain with all their clothes intact.
Sat, 2013-10-05 10:36
#30
[url=http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/feminist-current/2013/10/sinead-oconnor-... O'Connor is (mostly) right about Miley Cyrus. Now let the ageism and sexism begin![/url]
Sat, 2013-10-05 12:07
#31
Timebandit
I disagree with Murphy's criticism at the top - Sinead and I are of an age, and at this stage of my life I do find myself feeling motherly toward people, especially young women, starting out in my field. O'Connor doesn't seem to suggest that all women feel this, or should necessarily, but that she does.
That said, I am in total agreement with the rest of the article.
Sat, 2013-10-05 18:29
#32
[url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/id-love-some-respect-from-fema...’d love some Respect from female pop stars, but I’d settle for pants[/url]
Just this week, Ms. Spears acknowledged that the raunchiness of her own videos made her uncomfortable and that she feels pressured to push the boundaries. (The fact that three men – her father, her director and her manager – immediately denied that their golden goose was subject to such pressures was creepy in the extreme.)
Sun, 2013-10-06 14:55
#33
Here's a parody of Thicke's song Blurred Lines:
http://www.3news.co.nz/Students-parody-performance-blurs-lines/tabid/418...
Sun, 2013-10-06 20:16
#34
I am much more in line with Amanda Palmer's comments:
Sun, 2013-10-06 20:54
#35
It appears that Sinead's "motherly love" for Miley has dissipated rather quickly.
Sun, 2013-10-06 22:32
#36
Timebandit
Can you blame her?
Mon, 2013-10-07 16:35
#37
Timebandit
Actually, O'Connor wouldn't likely have said anything at all if Cyrus wasn't executing her "business savvy" by making comparisons to O'Connor's work and citing her as an influence. I think that leaves it open to O'Connor explaining where that comparison falls down and sharing her opinion that there's a better way to do it. If there was anything tacky here, it was Cyrus claiming comparability to O'Connor in the first place. Frankly, I thought O'Connor was rather nice about it.
As for "declaring her to be a pimp and/or prostitute for the recording industry", calling a duck a duck is not out of line. Sure, soft core porn sells, anyone with "business savvy" can tell you that. But what do you call the people who profit from it? Are they not pimps?
Mon, 2013-10-07 17:02
#38
I watched a couple of Miley's music videos out of morbid curiosity and after being discusted. Then I found myself feeling sorry for her instead - and disgusted at our soceity that promulgates this kind of stuff. Her video is basically her slapping her ass, her shaking her ass and her sticking her tounge out every chance she can get.
If I was Ms O'Connor I'd be pretty pissed off that someone staring in that kind of shit show would cite me as an influence. I'd do some serious soul searching too to see why someone would suggest it.
It's sad that talented singers need gimmiks like this.
Mon, 2013-10-07 18:02
#39
The letter was condescending, contradictory, and tacky. Granted, Miley's response was not cool, but I can understand her being annoyed. If O'Connor really wanted to "help", she'd have tried to contact her directly, instead of publicly declaring her to be a pimp and/or prostitute for the recording industry. My thinking is that Cyrus is very familiar with the entertainment industry, and knows how to make decisions she feels will be in her best interest. She seems to have real business savvy and talent along with an edge of rebellion (which I gather from reports of her recent SNL appearance). She does not need any help from O'Connor.
Mon, 2013-10-07 23:20
#40
Timebandit
I can't see how O'Connor could take it as a compliment. Bareassed sledgehammer licking? Seriously?!
Dry humping Robin Thicke in public isn't kinda porny?
And now we're into calling it "hormones" instead of "business savvy". Which is it? Just can't keep her clothes on because of all those out of control hormones or does is she making calculated decisions?
Would you like to have your cake and eat it, too?
Mon, 2013-10-07 23:33
#41
Robin Thicke should get condemnation, not Cyrus (though I do concede that her initial response to O'Connor lacked class). Anyway, in case you missed an earlier post here, check out this video satire of Thicke's song: http://www.3news.co.nz/Students-parody-performance-blurs-lines/tabid/418...
Mon, 2013-10-07 23:48
#42
Timebandit
You're right, he should. See upthread.
But that doesn't mean she isn't being pimped out. O'Connor hit the nail on the head - there are a lot of people making money on her bare ass. And as we've seen with Britney Spears and others, it tends to end in tears. I'm sure Cyrus found that hard to hear. That doesn't excuse ridiculing someone for a disability. It was low move, and O'Connor was not deserving of that treatment. Again, I think she was quite restrained in her reaction to being cited as inspiration for something that is so far away from her own sensibility.
I also find it interesting that you're a guy in the feminist forum, telling us how a woman should have adjusted her tone on a feminist concern. I'm not overly fond of tone trolls to begin with, and I can't say that the overtones of mansplain have made it any less pungent.
Tue, 2013-10-08 00:21
#43
Actually, O'Connor wouldn't likely have said anything at all if Cyrus wasn't executing her "business savvy" by making comparisons to O'Connor's work and citing her as an influence.
Nice way for O'Connor to respond to Cyrus' acknowledgement. If she felt she had to make a critique rather than merely accept the compliment, I feel a simple statement like this may have sufficed: "I'm glad that my work still inspires the artists of today. Her video though does raise concerns in me about the music industry's objectification of women. I was young once too and know what the industry is like. Miley could get by on talent alone, I feel." Instead she called her a whore.
As for "declaring her to be a pimp and/or prostitute for the recording industry", calling a duck a duck is not out of line. Sure, soft core porn sells, anyone with "business savvy" can tell you that. But what do you call the people who profit from it? Are they not pimps?
She wears skimpy outfits sometimes. Heck, didn't Jim Morrison hang a rat in front of an audience once? Didn't Iggy Pop writhe around naked on a stage cutting himself with beer bottles? Youth, rebellion, and hormones is what it's all about.
Anyway, calling her music and videos "porn" does beg the question, who is consuming this? What is the demographic that is buying her albums and watching her videos? I doubt it's primarily male, which would be the expectation if she is indeed making "the art of prostitutes". I'm guessing her main client base is women near her own age.
Tue, 2013-10-08 00:36
#44
Sorry, you're right. I erroneously wrote a personal opinion as a fact ("a simple statement like this would have sufficed"), which was wrong, and I have edited it to make sure that it's expressed as an opinion and not a fact. My apologies.
Tue, 2013-10-08 09:51
#45
Timebandit
Nevertheless, you are still making yourself the arbiter of tone. O'Connor apparently felt strongly enough about this to use the tone she did, and attempted to offer some constructive criticism. You will note that the basis of her criticism was "You're talented enough that you don't need to do this".
Cyrus opened the conversation, O'Connor spoke up for what she thinks is right, and Cyrus got mean when it wasn't all hearts and flowers. but we should just ignore that and pretend she's acting like an adult when she's clearly playing spoiled princess.
BTW, there are still some unanswered questions up there.
Wed, 2013-10-09 12:04
#46
Some blogger named Melissa Fong gave an interesting perspective on the letter thing.
Wed, 2013-10-09 13:24
#47
Timebandit
Interesting, how, exactly? She stated some opinions, but doesn't support them well and the piece lacked depth and thoughtfulness, IMO. Obviously a very young writer, one who hasn't really thought hard about the big picture, by my reading of it.
Wed, 2013-10-09 15:49
#48
A lot of viewpoints in popular music features a difference in opinion of the young vs the old, as boundaries are pushed. But, seems lately the boundary that is often being pushed is simply commodifying women's bodies, as seen in Blurred Lines, and as seen in a lot of advertising too. I long for the old days when bands like the Who or the Plasmatics were pushing boundaries by smashing shit up. The difference in boundary pushing perhaps is reflective of the current conservative political climate. Anyway, CBC had a good show on this issue on the Current with both older and younger voices represented.
Wed, 2013-10-09 20:19
#49
I totally get that the music industry isn’t the cleanest- and that the sexualization of women is smack-dab- on that intersection of capitalism and sexism/patriarchy. I get it. But I’m so… offended by “Feminists” who try to tell other women what they can or can’t do with their body in a public forum. I guess I would be less offended if she had taken more aim at the record industry.
Sounds to me as if there's agreement there - except on the issue of whom to target. Miley Cyrus is acting out female victimhood perfectly - even making lots of money off it - but she didn't invent misogyny and sexualization. She was simply recruited by it. Targetting the record industry, indeed every institution of society which perpetuates the subordination and humiliation of women, sounds right to me. But at least there's consensus as to the aim - equality, dignity, autonomy, freedom. I think, anyway.
Wed, 2013-10-09 21:29
#50
melissafong.wor...
Some blogger named Melissa Fong gave an interesting perspective on the letter thing.
I saw an extraordinary amount of traffic coming from this thread to my blog and was interested in seeing the discussion. I'd like to guide people to Jezebel: http://jezebel.com/the-problem-with-all-these-half-naked-pop-stars-is-th...
The gist of the post is that there are a lot of things to criticize and slut-shaming, which is something I feel Sinead did in spades, is NOT one of the things we should be supporting: http://melissafong.wordpress.com/2013/10/04/sinead-oconnor-likes-to-slut... (I wrote that post just after the first one that mark_alfred linked.
Also, @Timebandit : You may disagree with my point of view and critique it as undersupported. But assessing that I haven't tought about the big picture re: sexism and capitalism due to my youth is incredilby condescending.
Wed, 2013-10-09 21:29
#51
melissafong.wor...
Some blogger named Melissa Fong gave an interesting perspective on the letter thing.
I saw an extraordinary amount of traffic coming from this thread to my blog and was interested in seeing the discussion. I'd like to guide people to Jezebel: http://jezebel.com/the-problem-with-all-these-half-naked-pop-stars-is-th...
The gist of the post is that there are a lot of things to criticize and slut-shaming, which is something I feel Sinead did in spades, is NOT one of the things we should be supporting: http://melissafong.wordpress.com/2013/10/04/sinead-oconnor-likes-to-slut... (I wrote that post just after the first one that mark_alfred linked.
Also, @Timebandit : You may disagree with my point of view and critique it as undersupported. But assessing that I haven't tought about the big picture re: sexism and capitalism due to my youth is incredilby condescending.