Who Can Be Sexy and Who Must Be Safe?

I saw this article/video today on Jezebel. It is about a project that a photographer has taken on where she  travels around the world interviewing women and taking 2 pictures of them: one of them in a "safe" outfit and one of them in a "sexy" outfit. In some countries, there is only slight differences between the two outfits, but in others they are polar opposites. Listening to her talk about her project and the reactions she was getting from these women made me think: if the opposite of sexy is safe, should we be worried? Sexuality always seems to be a touchy subject where ever you go in the world, but it is sad to think that it could be unsafe to be in touch with your sexuality (even if it's just through clothing).

I feel as though in our society, expressed sexuality is discouraged, yet encouraged at the same time. Society wants, even needs, women to be sexy: to sell products, get ratings, get attention. You see women in magazines, on TV, and on the internet in advertisements and entertainment wearing sexy clothes and being seductive, and encouraged to do so (by clients, fans, etc). These women are idolized: she's either wanted, or people want to be like her. And people do try to be like her.

And yet, when women do try to dress and act like these celebrities, they are looked down upon. They are considered slutty and too sexual. Victoria's Secret models march up and down the run away in lingerie with wings in the VS television commercials, yet if a woman walks down the street in a short dress, she is a slut. There's a double standard; it's almost like you have to earn the right to be sexy and experience sexuality. It seems that the women who have not earned this right, are not "safe" from judgement.