Kim Kardashian: Breaking the Internet? Or Just the Work of Feminists?

Kim Kardashian - 'Breaking the Internet? Has Kim Kardashian completely backtracked the work of feminism trying to get features such as 'Page 3' off the media?

Women are constantly seen in the media to be 'mocked' for not sticking to a certain 'image'. In comparison to men, it is obvious that women, a lot of the time, are seen in the media as wearing much less clothing than males. Kim K's recent photoshoot for Paper magazine had the title 'Breaking the Internet', and to say that it very much tried to do this is very evident - social media went bezerk over these images.

One of the first images to be posted on social media was Kim popping open a bottle of champagne, a the champagne glass resting on her derrière, and the rest of the photographs were of her very much naked. Images like this are exactly what feminists are trying to avoid. There was also an immense amount of photoshop used, as well as a bottle or two of baby oil. However, it is clear to anyone, that Kim Kardashian's photoshopped figure is definitely an impossibility. Her waist is evidently not in proposition to her most prized asset. Again, this just surfaces the problems women encounter with an unattainable body image via magazines; and the media's portrayal in general. 

A vital question comes to mind - would a man pose like this for a magazine?

Agreeing with an article in the International Business Times, Smith (2014), 'Kardashian's nude photos are not empowering, nor feminist'.

In comparison to Kardashian's full frontal, is the recent topless picture of Kiera Knightly. Her message is stark contrast - to show her views on going against the use of photoshop. This automatically brings up certain feminist issues to the table. Knightley, shows her bare breasts without the use of photoshop enhancing them.

Knightley told The Times: "I've had my body manipulated so many different times for so many different reasons, whether it's paparazzi photographers or for film posters...that shoot was one of the ones where I said: 'Ok, I'm fine doing the topless shot so long as you don't make them any bigger or retouch.' Because it does feel important to say it really doesn't matter what shape you are."

Although many people can praise Kiera Knightley for her actions and protest against photoshop and a distorted view on body image; did she really need to expose her own body to get the message across? Freeman (2014), in a post for the Guardian, describes how Knightley doesn't even explain in the interview why she is posing topless. It is only later, when she spoke to another British newspaper, her reasoning behind her exposure. 

Feminists have their work cut out for the latest stunts from both Kim Kardashian and Kiera Knightley. Is Kim Kardashian REALLY empowering women by stripping naked, or is she just continuing a certain aspect of the media that really needs to be stopped? And is Kiera Knightley's unedited topless image in protest the media's 'perfect body' the way forward?