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The pearl clutching, racialized, missing the point American lens through which #Cuties is being view currently is fucking ridiculous. First of all, it's a story about a Black girl coming of age, by a Black woman. 3/4 of the cast are POC.
Half of the cast is Black. And that is where American discomfort starts. Anytime a Black girl dances it's sexualized. Because studies show y'all see Black girls as significantly older than they actually are. And view most Black things as taboo anyway.
Y'all also lack an understanding of dance culture outside of America. Because if you did, you'd note that for a good portion of the film many of the moves the girls are doing are pulled straight from modern African dance. So maybe go broaden your horizons?
And yes, they practice moves that come straight from music videos. That's the point.These girls are trying to be grown up and sexy and their only example of that are Video Vixens. Their dancing is shown to be very serious for them, but extremely awkward. As it should be.
This movie never lets you forget these are little girls running from their families where they feel disempowered. That's the meat of the story. 4 girls in a big metropolitan city, finding something they feel empowered by.
And then there is the final dance sequence. Which is the still #Netflix chose to use for the poster. And the scene everyone is passing around. Because we know y'all ain't actually watching this movie.Yup, it is hyper sexualised. And the crowd is in full agreement with viewers.
Their dancing is mortifying. In fact, it's the catalyst for the lead to join the girls from her building in a game of jump rope instead of another round of dance competitions with her friends.
Another point of contention is the way they dress. Crop tops, short shorts, debatable make up choices. Umm... that's certainly what my friends and I were wearing at that age. Urban girls picking up cues from the world around them in an attempt to be grown up? Sounds familiar?
Then there is the "But they're so young!!!" Clearly y'all have never watched Degrassi. Remember when people couldn't believe how the 15 year old girls in "Foxes" behaved? Remember how appalled people were by the girls in "Thirteen"?
Girls are being sexualised younger and younger. That's what the film reflects.They are also learning about what that sexulization means and discovering it's power and limits. Is it comfortable to watch? Not necessarily. But it's a Black coming of age story that needs to be told.
I'd also like to point out that majority of celebs who have seen the film and are praising it are almost entirely women of color. And the pearl clutching "But what about the kids!" celebs are white. It's almost as if it's a story for women of color and not everybody.
And my last point is, Dance Moms. Y'all made sure that show had 36 seasons. And it's all about little girls in skimpy clothes replicating sexy dance moves. Hell, y'all have the Zeigler sisters and JoJo Siwa whole entries careers. And that had absolutely no cultural context.
That was little girls being verbally abused and exploited by moms who were living vicariously. It's wasn't the girls' narrative. #Cuties is the girls' narrative. And that's also what makes yall uncomfortable. It centers the girls as people with agency.
While you're accustomed to consuming hyper sexualized little girls as objects for entertainment. #Cuties makes girls protagonists with dreams and problems and complex feelings and cultures. You're forced to see them as people. And that's why you're so uncomfortable.
They don't exist for consumption. They're part of cultures you don't understand. They have agency. Their story is biting and uncomfortable, funny and ridiculous. Y'all need to go look at yourselves.
And to those with personal stories of being preyed upon by men. I'm so sorry that that happened to you. But take a step outside your pain and realize it happened to every girl and woman. Even the ones not in Hollywood. It's an unfortunate part of being female.
And to argue that these girls are more susceptible to being preyed on because of what they wore and what they did? Sounds a lot like victim blaming. What they wore made it so men couldn't control themselves? Tell that to Amish girls.
This is the same discourse that came up with Bratz dolls. White parents were (and are) still horrified and pissed of and consider the dolls to be inappropriate. White Black and Brown girls were thrilled! Dolls who looked like their moms and sisters!
