This will be an interesting series. I certainly have a lot of guilty pleasures like this. Critiquing them while still enjoying them can be difficult, though.

In addition to critiquing those guilty pleasures, how do we deal with them without actually shaming and guilt-tripping ourselves?

What a great series, I'm sure you'll help a lot of people feeling conflicted.

Awesome series!

I have a lot of them. Sexploitation, Jerry Lee Lewis, Girls Next Door. WooO!

I enjoy pro wrestling now and then ...yeah ...time to deconstruct Hulk Hogan's masculinity and my tendencies for violent things ...

I am really excited for this segment. I believe there are plenty of us out there who feel slightly bad about our guilty pleasures and feel like we need to justify them like

"I can't believe you watch Sex and the City"

"Yeah but I also really like Buffy the Vampire Slayer"

I have to confess my two unfeminist guilty pleasures:

1) America's Next Top Model. I have no excuse. I am ashamed. But I keep going back, week after week. It's like a drug.

2) Anime, anime, anime. The women are nearly always drawn in ways that they are unrealistic and over-sexualized. But in the anime that I watch, they have such kick-ass personalities that I forgive the animation. I almost stopped watching Cowboy Bebop because of the way the animators drew Faye. That would have been a huge mistake on my part because she is one of the most realized and developed characters that has been on television (IMO).

Oh, anime is totally my guilty pleasure, too. Some of my favorite female characters also have incredibly unrealistic physical characteristics. Faye Valentine is one of them. I also love Yuiko from Loveless, Orihime from Bleach, both of whom have exaggerated features but are not as sexualized in their clothes/behavior as Faye.

And my yaoi addiction, that includes very non-feminist yaoi fanfiction.

I get this (sort of) but I do wonder why you felt it necessary to create this feature. It hits me like a (giggle) people mag version of feminism. Is it enough to say 'I can't resist this show' without pausing to examine its effects on you, or paying attention to how you turn off the inner critic, even temporarily? Are such events excuse for indulgence (and what's the 'guilty' bit about, anyway?)

For me it's fashion, though I'll never wear high heels. I love fabric and construction and the tactual, sensual risks taken by designers - and I do not feel guilty about it.

When I look at Perez.com, though, I actively delete my history. Interesting, eh? I don't like the thought of how my zoned-out celeb-gawking might appear to those who might by chance use the 'history' feature on the pc. Part of me, reading, is 'tsk-ing' at brittney, and I am more likely than I care to admit to be able to recognize the celebs in other images, to understand the cultural references. Is this a kid-self? An adolescent self, rebeliously doing something 'bad' for me - the very same kind of pap I sneeringly dismiss? What do these people mean to me? How do I feel about myself, physically, compared to pam anderson, etc? Aren't I demonstrating my own vulnerability to media, proving its ubiquity and impact? I read the comments with horror and sometimes pity. Sometimes there's a rational comment among them, and I cheer, recognizing how useless such comments probably are, in that space.

Bret Michael's Rock of Love. Shameful. I know I shouldn't look but I can't turn away. And soap operas.

Bret Michael's Rock of Love. Shameful. I know I shouldn't look but I can't turn away. And soap operas.

Bret Michael's Rock of Love. Shameful. I know I shouldn't look but I can't seem to turn away.
And soap operas too.

I hear you, Geek. I tried as hard as I could to resist the anime bug, but it was so different than anything that I had been watching. And so very pretty. I think animation, like literature, allows stories to go where they can't go in regular television or movies without major CGI. When it's done well, it blows my mind.

cperry, personally I like this new segment. Whenever I find myself liking media for whatever reason, I want to know why. And when I like something that goes against what I feel are my personal (feminist) morals, I have to really deconstruct myself and why I'm responding in such a way. I think the questions you ask yourself above are wonderful because they're a challenge to your beliefs and you have to know where you stand.

I just also love taking apart mass media and seeing how it works. It helps me to understand society and how I fit into it.

Hmm. Except aren't we kind of already surrounded and assaulted by "unfeminist guilty pleasures" every day? Not to say that unfeminist guilty pleasures are bad. Of course I have plenty of my own and recognize them for what they are. But I'm still not convinced they're deserving of air time.

Family Guy is totally my guilty pleasure. I feel horrible laughing at some of the jokes (especially when they pick on Meg for no reason) but it's so goddamn funny.

Granted, I don't feel guilty liking any of these things and certainly don't feel like I should feel guilty. But often I wish that some of my favorite authors (Philip Roth and Saul Bellow immediately spring to mind) and movies (most Godard, a lot of westerns -- and God, how I love westerns!) were better at handling women. At best, they're oblivious; at worst, they're misogynistic.

But yeah, I'm with the people who take issue with the idea that unfeminist pleasures are guilty ones. I imagine plenty of us are handed plenty of guilt by others; I sure as hell don't plan to deal with any more if I can help it.

Geek, do you really think a yaoi addiction is (un)feminist? I think more women would benefit from this genre. ;)

My favorite guilty pleasure is visiting http://www.kissmesuzy.blogspot.com/. KSK is a hilarious sports blog on the NFL - and none of it is PC. It is definitely sexist (Friday cheerleader posts), slightly homophobic (they call themselves the KSK Gay Mafia) and a tad racist (see the Hines Ward posts). Also, one of the contributors posted something on his own blog involving a teen gymnast - which was totally inappropriate (can't remember what but I know it was also mentioned here). But I visit it faithfully everyday - which is such a weird dichotomy since I visit this blog everyday as well. I like the humor, I like the sports commentary, and sometimes I think they are pretty creative guys. Unfortunately in the world of male-dominated sports, stereotypes reign supreme, which makes it that much harder to be an engaging female sports fan.

one word: porn.

Yes! Good one, femmecrite!

Jane Minty, I don't think yaoi is unfeminist at all. I think it has wonderfully feminist aspects in that it helps women express their sexuality in ways that is normally not allowed. I'm sorry I wasn't clear about that.

But my yaoi addiction is connected to my anime addiction, both of which can also be very superficial and shallow. The men are just so PRETTY. And I find myself enjoying yaoi fanfiction that involves non-con scenarios and other power dynamics that are not feminist.

Anime is certainly an unfeminist pleasure for me - I'm a fan of Bleach, Gundam Wing, Witch Hunter Robin, and basically all of Miyazaki's films. Though, hrm. Those all have strong female protagonists (Rukia, Relena, Robin, and Nausicaa, Sheeta, San (and etc!), respectively).

Law and Order and Law and Order SVU; again a mix of strong females (Anita van Buren, Serena Southerlyn, Olivia Benson, Casey Novak, Alexandra Cabot, the female ME's and judges) and lots and LOTS of female victims. Also our paternalistic friend Fred Thompson.

I like the video game series Dead or Alive. Nothing remotely feminist about it. I just really like the engine and controls and find the play very satisfying. I can't justify it, though, because there are many, better fighters out there.

Ariane, I'm with you on SVU. This year, though, has been harder than ever to enjoy by turning off my misogyny radar. It seems like they've repeatedly gone out of their way to find examples of justifiable rape, make the rapist sympathetic, or make the victim unimportant. But I have a huge crush on Olivia.

Porn. Yes, indeed.

This sounds very much like the idea in some branches of Christianity that your actions are irrelevant and you are saved by grace alone. Here it is, you can have fun any way you want, as long as you call yourself feminist, or in some cases 'critique' it.

Farhat, give me a break. Yeah, that's just what this is. Feministing is saying that it doesn't matter how unfeminist we as long as we say we're feminists. That's ridiculous. If every single thing I did or like had to be feminist, I'd end up having to live in a dark room with no contact with the outside world. Actions do matter, but they are not cancelled out by my having appreciation for high heeled shoes or putting on concealer before I go to work. But, way to try to shame feminists for having anything in their lives that doesn't make them perfect feminists 100% of the time.

What kissmypinapple said.

We can't escape living in a patriarchy, having sexism and misogyny woven into every fucking aspect of our lives. Making fighting patriarchy a moral duty put on individuals doesn't do anything to reduce the patriarchy. It only sets women up, once again, to uphold some ideal standard that is ultimately impossible to live up to. Things that in and of themselves are not sexist become sexist in a patriarchy, and women are deliberately placed in a no-win situation. And it fucking pisses me off when feminists are once again placed in this no-win situation by being told that to be legitimate feminists we have to reject everything that doesn't have to do with feminist goals.

Mine would be pre-vacation bikini waxes, a few questionable hip hop tunes, and Briget Jones' Diary. (Which is weird bc I can't stand Renee Zellwegger's face but I like it with a little dimple or two.)

Speaking of porn and feminism, has anyone heard of feminist porn? My professor showed it in our theory class last year, but I kind of missed the class - and I kind of feel awkward going to the university library asking for feminist porn - even if just out of curiousity.

Speaking of guilty pleasures, read a essay called, "Getting Off on Feminism," by Jason Schultz. I love that piece! It speaks of the very things we're talking about!

Re: Faye Valentine

Yeah, she's oversexed, but at least she seems to own it about herself. I think it's supposed to just be part of her character (as there are a host of other women who aren't like that - Ed, Julia and VT to name the first that come to mind).

Definitely seconding the anime guilty pleasure, though I'd argue that certainly a bloc of feminist anime.

Ariane and anyone else who likes Miyazaki-- that is not an unfeminist guilty pleasure! Miyazaki's films star powerful young girls who overcome obstacles without being sexualized. Spirited Away is a great example.

My guilty pleasures? America's Next Top Model... Old school Disney movies... Male-oriented comedies like Wedding Crashers (one of my favest movies ever!!)... Family Guy most definately....

oh, and Eminem--> my most cringe worthy one.

Profeministmale - I've heard of feminist porn! I don't have much to tell you about though because I'm in the process of doing a project on it. I love projects about pornography! I'll probably resort to doing a search through scholarly articles for it.

As far as my guilty pleasures...Rock of Love, some hip hop music, A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila, and yes, America's Next Top Model.

America's Next Top Model. I hate HATE HATE Tyra Banks at this point, but the photographs are so damned interesting! Also Family Guy, definitely. I always feel so icky laughing at Quagmire...

But my major (un)feminist guilty pleasure is corsetry. Three layers thick, with spring steel boning and strong laces. I'm by no means a tightlacer (ouch!), but I gain weight in my midsection, so it's great to have that very effective temporary fix if I want to fit into one of my old dresses or just, hell, walk around in a corset. Also, I love the way they support my posture and the hourglassiness.

Sex and the City

However, Miranda is definintely my favorite character. Carrie often drives me up the wall.

i have several.

Stripping. I love it. I dance myself. I go to clubs occasionally as a customer. Sigh.

BDSM. I'm a female submissive. It was hard to wrestle with for a long time.

Hijab. I've always thought Muslim women were so dignified and beautiful, and I find the hijab plays into it. I find it so beautiful.

Sigh...

I suppose this is only vaguely unfeminist, since an overwhelming amount of feminist commentary seems to appear in undertones, but Gossip Girl is my guiltiest pleasure du jour (the show, not the books).
And word on Rock of Love and that whole VH1 Celebreality oeuvre. I miss when VH1 Celebreality used to just be The Surreal Life.

I have a few...my most current one being "Keeping up with the Kardashians." Not only is this antifeminist, but just completely worthless in general. It's an entire family trying to cash in on good looks and shameless publicity. Yet, I am drawn to them. I like the family element, and I think we all love to see that no matter how rich you are, family shit is family shit.

I watch Top Model marathons, which I'm greatly conflicted about, as they perpetuate unrealistic ideals of women's bodies. Yet, they also manage to (sometimes) encourage female empowerment. Tyra Banks in general confuses me.

Ok and the worst, the absolute WORST: TMZ. I am so ashamed. Yet, this is the one where I feel I can truly critique it throughout. Not only are their stories intrusive, repulsive, and sexist, but the comments are horrifying! I find the entire celebrity obsession to be very sad, especially when you see people who truly need help (Britney Spears), but TMZ has just taken it to an entirely new level of evil.

I have so many guilty pleasures. Where to start?

Some hip hop or reggaeton songs that completely objectify women. Also, so many shows. I am completely obsessed with my Hispanic Soap Operas, Desperate Housewives, Family Guy, anything Disney (The Little Mermaid is my all time favorite), etc.

And of course there's the way that I like to objectify men every once in a while. Such as smart men turn me on or watching guys play basketball with their shirts off.

*sigh*

Pfft, I also objectify men.

I did a ballet workshop once that was taught by a husband and wife who were about 27. I felt so awful because I could not help but check out the guy's ass when he pranced around in his little spandex shorts. It was so beautiful! I tried to hide my oogling to an extent, though. I'm sure his wife would have hated it.

Sex and the City.

I feel like this doesn't have to be have to be unfeminist though. I've been watching the show for years, and constantly watch my entire DVD collection. I feel like it accurately represents a variety of women and how they feel about their own lives. I can definitely connect with a lot of what they're saying. I just think that it's important to ask yourself why they do some of the things they do (ie: what societal factors lead them to believe certain things). Also, I think Samantha is a great role model for young women. She goes out and does what she wants (in a safe manner) and doesn't really care about what other people think: men or women.

I will never give up this show, or feel guilty about it, and I will be in the theaters when the movies comes out!

Sex and the City.

I feel like this doesn't have to be have to be unfeminist though. I've been watching the show for years, and constantly watch my entire DVD collection. I feel like it accurately represents a variety of women and how they feel about their own lives. I can definitely connect with a lot of what they're saying. I just think that it's important to ask yourself why they do some of the things they do (ie: what societal factors lead them to believe certain things). Also, I think Samantha is a great role model for young women. She goes out and does what she wants (in a safe manner) and doesn't really care about what other people think: men or women.

I will never give up this show, or feel guilty about it, and I will be in the theaters when the movie comes out!

sex and the city always makes me think...there are aspects of it that are pro-woman and encourage women's lib. Yet, the whole show focuses on their quest to find a man (the ultimate success). I do enjoy the episodes where they discuss marriage versus single life and why one is held up higher.

PEREZ HILTON!

Why, Oh Why, do I enjoy reading it? It's so horrible!