Little Mix’s Little Outfits

Last Sunday saw Matt Terry win X Factor 2016. And while the news should have been centred around his win, it was elsewhere. Little Mix’s performance caused quite the reaction; sadly not for their talent.

Performing their new singles “Oops” featuring Charlie Puth and “Touch” the girls displayed an immense amount of talent, for which they should be recognised for. However it wasn’t their vocal abilities or dancing that social media responded to, it was their outfits. Starting off wearing mini dresses during their performance of “Oops” this was deemed by the public just about enough clothing to cause a positive response. As the song ended and they began their next single, they ripped off those dresses to reveal leotards underneath. So why, in 2016, are women still being shamed for wearing ‘too little’ clothing?

We've had #Touch on blast? hands up if you loved the girls' first EVER live performance as much as we did ?? https://t.co/BvpTHMHt8y LM HQ x pic.twitter.com/Tu7FvuAan3

— Little Mix (@LittleMix) December 12, 2016

The main problem people seemed to have was that these girls are supposedly ‘role models’. Firstly, what they were wearing are stage outfits, not something they would walk down the street in. Secondly, why does what someone wear cause them to be a good or a bad role model? Why are people ignoring what they stand for – which in many of their songs is female empowerment and encouraging women and importantly, young girls, to be who they want to be.

The main problem here is that if this was a male singer or group and they chose to wear little amounts of clothing there would be absolutely no backlash. This view of the world is incredibly out dated. Why, in 2016, are we still treating women differently to men? Justin Bieber sings topless and he’s desirable and applauded. A woman wears something slightly provocative and she’s a ‘slut’ and a ‘bad role model’. It is worrying that mothers still think their daughters shouldn’t look up to these women simply because they wear what they want.

So @LittleMix were dressed like sluts on last nights @TheXFactor what great role models they are to young people ? #XFactor #XFactorFinal

— Chris Cox (@CCoxy07) December 12, 2016

Is it the fear that women are finally doing what they want? Kim Kardashian’s nude selfies caused the same reaction, as well as Emily Ratajkowski’s. An example of this is Piers Morgan’s Twitter account, which is full to the brim of him slating women getting their kit off, unless of course it is for his own pleasure.

"I HATE FEMALE NUDITY (except when I fancy them)" – Piers Morgan, a Man™ pic.twitter.com/KXKsiomKFJ

— jingle bellend✨ (@katieleighwalsh) December 13, 2016

Little Mix’s backlash is just the tip of the iceberg. People everywhere seem to have a problem with female nudity when it suits them. It’s a prime example of the Madonna / Whore complex. As Freud once wrote: “Where such men love they have no desire, and where they desire they cannot love”. There is no debate that men (and women) everywhere desire women such as Kim Kardashian and Little Mix, but they have no respect for them. In this day and age it seems crazy to think that women are being shamed for being desirable through their own choice, simply because we have been taught it is wrong, unless of course it is for men’s pleasure.