Six Questions I'd Like to Ask Jennifer Lopez and Shakira

Note: This is my opinion, and if you have a different one ... awesome! Wow! Feel free to write your own post! I won't hold your opinion against you, as I hope you will not begrudge me mine. You know, freedom of expression and healthy discourse ...

-1-

The New York Times and other news agencies have applauded your Super Bowl halftime show as being about woman empowerment. You stated how you wanted to give the message that women are on top of the world. There is no doubt that you are successful, beautiful, and talented. There is no doubt you are a powerful woman. There is no doubt that you can command audiences. But an editorial in the Washington Times also called your show “scandalously sexual” so I’m curious as to why you chose to objectify women in a manner we’ve been fighting against for years?

-2-

According to a report by the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, Florida ranks third nationwide in human trafficking cases and Miami-Dade County is the biggest sex trafficking hub in the state. Then, when you add a sporting event like the Super Bowl to the mix, the number of sex trafficking cases skyrockets. Did you think about this? Were you thinking about woman empowerment as you selected costumes, choreographed dance moves, and strategically catered to camera angles?

-3-

Supporters of your show have mentioned that it was also meant to be an in-your-face commentary to Oscar voters for their mistake in not nominating you in last year’s stripper drama, Hustlers. I find this interesting since words like “stripper” and “stripper’s pole” have been used to describe the halftime performance. Again, how does this not objectify women?

-4-

I understand that the use of rope and girls in cages were meant to convey that women can break free; that it was a political statement against immigration policy when you said, “Other people can try to build walls, keep us out or put is in cages.” But break free to do what? Undulate, twerk, spread their legs, grab their crotch, and put their bodies in a situation of being objectified? Forgive me, but surely you can understand the confusion.

-5-

How did you honestly think your performance would be viewed?  For example, did bar patrons, college students, or football fans across America watch the show and say, “Wow, what a powerful, strong woman.”?  Or, were the majority saying, “Damn, she’s hot.”? Was your intention to get attention for your accomplishments, talents and strengths, or to showcase something else entirely?

-6-

Finally, as a powerful woman in which you called the shots, and being in a position in which you could have taken the show in any direction artistically, why then did you choose to go back to objectifying women in this manner when we have been making strives to overcome this objectification? Would you consider this progress, or regression?