OPINION: Richard Poon’s dismissal of sexually-empowered women was disheartening to see

Richard Poon dismissed Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion‘s sexually-empowered performance on the Grammys. And, it was disheartening to see. It’s already 2021. A new generation rules this year — the most diverse and accepting generation among others. We see them express their feelings, thoughts, and ideas in writing, art, music, and even dance. We see them accept everyone’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression – understanding that sometimes, a person can only see love.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed by the writer of this article don’t necessarily represent those of the rest of Village Pipol Magazine.

Also, we see them reject outdated patriarchal thinking. They know that women can wear whatever they want, dance however they want, and do whatever they want with their bodies. This generation knows that sexually-empowered women are not supposed to be shamed. They know that these kinds of women are not supposed to be humiliated. Richard Poon, on the other hand, does not know that. He expressed his disappointment on the Grammys production but shamed sexually-empowered women in doing so.

Richard Poon’s dismissal of sexually-empowered women was disheartening to see

Richard Poon — an influential man. He remains a talented singer-songwriter up until this day. Aside from that, he also married one of the most powerful women I’ve seen on both film and TV — Maricar Reyes. His status in the country gives him the power to guide other people’s opinions and ways of thinking. Sure, he admitted that it wasn’t an attack on the person or the musician itself but a dissent over the Grammy’s production. But, he also wrote this as the caption of his post:

“Ah yes… the Grammys.

The worldwide musician’s authority featuring the leaders of pop music.

Expect many entertainment shows to follow and replicate this so-called “empowering” performance by Cardi B and Megan Stallion.

This must be our music-industry standard I guess?”

As a twenty-three-year-old woman, I felt disrespected with the way he said “empowering.” Not only was it condescending, but it was also malicious. Sure, the post was dedicated to the Grammys but it was Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s performance that he focused on. Harry Styles literally opened the awarding ceremony TOPLESS with a song called Watermelon Sugar. It was about going down on a woman and giving her pleasure through oral sex. What, just because he’s a man he’s allowed to express his sexual desire and these brown-skinned women are not?

There is no shame in being wrong, Mr. Richard Poon. But, there is a shame in refusing to learn.

So, just in case you didn’t know, sexual empowerment is understood as a multidimensional process. It promotes us, women, to think that our bodies are amazing — something that I personally have yet to learn. Sexual empowerment makes us believe that our bodies are ours to control. It validates our own sexual desires and as women, we are right to express our sexuality and that it’s okay to have expectations of sexual pleasure.

What, men can express their own sexual desires and women can’t?

The song WAP was literally made for women. Not men. It was made to make adult women feel positive about themselves. Cardi B acknowledges the maturity of her songs’ lyrics. That’s why she stops her own child from listening to it. If she can stop her own child from listening to her rated-R songs, anybody can do it, too. No one is forced to watch or listen to her and Megan Thee Stallion shake their glorious asses. It’s not their job to parent other people’s kids.

If they want to show off their bodies and shake their asses while doing so, they shall.

Are women still supposed to carry themselves like Maria Clara did? Are women supposed to cover their bodies from shoulders to the bottom of their feet like our ancestors did? As I said, it’s already 2021. And, if any of you haven’t remembered, Maria Clara was raped… even with her body hidden underneath layers of clothing. Women — whatever they were wearing — are not responsible for any man’s erection. Women can wear whatever they want whenever they want and they shouldn’t be shamed for doing so.

“Learned a new line today: ‘Empowered confident women should stay mad!’ Thanks, that helps explain a lot of things.”

I don’t know if this was genuine or mockery upon women who responded to his posts. But, yes, women are supposed to stay mad. You’re a man, Mr. Poon, an influential man living a luxurious life. You wouldn’t know an inkling of what a woman has to go through just to exist in this timeline. Women are silenced, raped, harassed, discriminated against, and disrespected all the fucking time. As little girls, we are taught to keep our heads down while our male counterparts were taught otherwise.

Mr. Poon, we have been living in a very heteronormative narrative where women and femmes who say no to certain forms of sex or with certain partners are labeled as uptight, prude, and old-fashioned. And, yet when women and femmes embrace themselves sexually, they are dubbed as a slut, whore, or the worst of it all, ‘asking for it.’ That’s why we stay angry, and we probably will for a long time.

Because we live in such an unfair world that favors men – straight and fair-skinned men.

And, please do not say that it’s the women’s fault for being disrespected because of the sexual way they present themselves. Because that ain’t it, chief. ‘Sexy’ and ‘sexualized’ are two different things. Women feeling sexy and confident in their bodies remain different from a grown-ass man leaving private messages on a young girl’s Instagram asking for her ‘to show more.’