Cake

After lounging around on the "boyfriend sofa" of various boutiques James accompanies his girlfriend into American Apparel, where the "clerks dress like pornographic film actresses from 1982." After the first dig, wherein Jay-dog makes the leap of faith that all provocatively dressed women are equal to porn stars (not just in his mind, but in real life too!), he gives it the old one - two punch by contemplating that this same hot clerk has given him the let's get it on eye, much to his girlfriend's chagrin.

To round out his internal conflict, Jay reminds us that should he have a daughter of his own, he would never let her out of the house dressed like that. Although he doesn't mention why, we can assume it's because his would want to protect her from...you know...guys like him with only one thing on their mind. He'd also "make her get a less sexually exploitative job, like waitressing at Hooters." Way to go Jay, you understand the concept of equal pay!

It's not that I don't sympathize with Jay's situation. I, too, would rather spend my Saturday doing something other than shopping and I often feel that American Apparel is the devil. while in their dressing rooms trying on trendy clothing in the word's most perfect colors. It's just that I'm a little tired of this sexual prescription going down so easily.

In James' world, women should know that their flamboyant ways attract only the most devilish ideas in the male species. Therefore we should cover up lest we allow men to want to cheat on their girlfriends (also women), or enjoy porn without realizing that it's just a fantasy. And what of men's responsibilities for their own actions? Eh - just leave it to the girls - we've always manned the moral compass so we'll continue to take care of things while you have your fun.

In my scenario, I'm going to wear what I want, when I want and for whatever reason I want to. And I'm going to assume that the men around me are smart enough to know fun from fiction. And no, Ariel Levy, this does not mean that I am confusing "sexual" power with "real" power - or at least until you can accurately define each idea. But yes, sometimes women just want to fuck and I bet, Jay, this is the scariest idea of them all. Because, as you realize when another woman gazes at the male mannequin in the window standing next to you, in a world where women make sexual choices for themselves...you might just have to spend Sunday shopping for yourself.