By Morgan Levy ’19

Dear Kim Kardashian,

I generally don’t keep up with the Kardashians, but I am pretty sure you have something to wear. If that’s not the case (are Kanye’s money problems worse than expected?), I will gladly take you shopping.  But please stop posting naked selfies.  

When you post a picture like this, your influence on our society (which is far too great) makes it spread like wildfire. With millions and millions (63.6 million to be exact) of Instagram followers, I cringe at the thought of just how many of the 1,613,137 likes came from little girls who want to grow up and be just like you one day. Because no offense, I would never want this for my daughter.  

Before you start a Twitter with me like Chloe Grace Moretz and cry that I am a horrible feminist, I would like to say I am writing this letter because I am a feminist. I am a feminist sad to live in a world where women are both shunned and applauded for their sexualization. I am sick of living in a world of confusing double standards, standards which are only propelled when people with 60 million plus Instagram followers “casually” has no clothes to wear and makes that a reason to post a naked picture.  

Arguably, your selfie is not even the real issue.  The real issue is the school dress codes that force young girls to feel shame for wearing skirts to their knees so they don’t distract the boys.  The real issue is that when nudes get sent around after getting into the wrong hands they often lead to ridicule.  

We live in a society where it is rare for women to love their bodies, and that is something we should celebrate, but there are much more modest ways to do so.  And the real problem is not that you love your body, but that you use it to create an identity as a sex symbol to rake in millions and millions of dollars a year. You may love your selfie, but I am pretty sure your empire likes the dollars signs a lot more.

If you really want to make a statement, consider advocating for the women in our society who don’t have the luxury of behaving like you.  And also, I am pretty sure you can take something out of the $80 million dollars you made of off your video game to buy some clothes.

Sincerely,

Somebody who has something to wear