Naked Pinay Views

Monday, January 25, 2010

WHEN A PINAY DREAMS OF BEING NAKED

I wonder if it is safe to say that almost every Filipina has had a dream where she was naked, or scantily clad in just her underwear. But I am certain that somehow the typicality of such instance is very real. Perhaps the dream was in school, or in a grocery store or even just walking down the street without a stitch of clothing on her back. Maybe she suddenly found herself nude on a beach, naked on the bus or up on a stage in her birthday suit. This is a common dream pattern, yet nakedness is a complex symbol in dreams which could be dependent on the culture in which the dream occurs and who is interpreting the experience.

Dream patterns arise from a society's shared beliefs, experiences, fears and anxieties, literally from the hopes and dreams of the people both individually and collectively. As such, these experiences which are fundamental to all peoples, will hold significant dependence upon the culture's attitude toward them. One population’s attitude toward nakedness can vastly differ from others. For example, in Pinoy culture, public nudity is a taboo and in almost all areas it is connotes abnormality and public scandal. As such, the Pinoy attitude towards nakedness is unfavorably a social humiliation.

Sigmund Freud considered the dream of nakedness as a typical dream and it fulfills an exhibitionistic wish. There are three characteristics of the dream of nakedness: shame at being naked, indifference on the part of the spectators (usually numerous), and the sense of being paralyzed. It can be interpreted as a fulfillment of an exhibitionistic wish dating back to the happy period of early childhood, when such a wish could legitimately be satisfied. Such would be the case if a parent taught their child that nakedness and the human body are to be something hidden from the public view, or even more compounded if the parent taught that nudity is something to be ashamed of. Dreams of nakedness enable the dreamers to express their "undying longing for the return of the paradise of childhood. Dreams of nakedness, always linked to an erotic or exhibitionistic theme, are universal, and accordingly should be considered typical dreams. Despite their commonality, however, they have not yet led to a specific theorization.

However, wherever the origin of nakedness anxieties arise for an individual or culture as a whole, the human mind tends to create dreams in flashes of visual imagery which can symbolically represent our individual personal hopes and fears. For one dreamer, a dream of being naked could be a window to the inner self which indicates a fear of sexuality, being exposed or vulnerability and weakness. For yet another, it may have a more positive spin, indicating attributes such as honesty and openness (such as in the cliché "the naked truth").
Only the dreamer can interpret her own dreams of nakedness. For the Filipina, it could mean that wonderful feeling of being uninhibited, unencumbered, of being free to express herself as she chooses. For another, dream nudity will be a nightmare representing complete exposure of the deepest, most hidden parts of the self.

Dream dictionaries, interpreters and psychiatrists will all offer suggestions on what nakedness means in the dream based on their personal proclivities and schooling. You can go to any modern bookstore and find shelves of books which will tell you that one particular dream motif means one thing or another. However, you must decide for yourself how important underwear is to you, and what it means to be naked in the dream.

Dreams are a kind of entertainment and learning experience of their own at the same time. If you can figure out your dreams, you may have more insight into what needs paying attention to in your own life. In the meantime, dream well.

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Friday, December 4, 2009

Half-Naked Pinays as Objects?

A recent study found that some men may view scantily clad women as objects rather than as people. Male heterosexuals had their brains scanned by an MRI machine while they viewed a series of photographs of men and women, some of whom were fully clothed and others of whom wore only swimsuits. The pictures of bikini-clad women activated brain regions associated with objects or “things you manipulate with your hands”. These men also remembered the photos of the half-naked women better than they did any of the others noting that the subjects remembered the bodies, not the faces, most clearly. These results indicated that some men may objectify or dehumanize partially clothed women, though further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Study participants were also asked to fill out a survey designed to measure how sexist they are. The researchers found that when the men whose surveys indicated that they were the most sexist saw the pictures of women in bikinis, they were least likely to activate a part of the brain associated with thinking about people’s minds and thoughts. This relates to the effects of having pornography and sexualized images of women around and in the media because they spill over into how people treat women in general. These images may dehumanize women and encourage men to see them as objects. The reactions observed in the study might be a consequence of society’s emphasis on sexualized female imagery.

It was also noted that men do not look at their wives or sisters in the same way that they look at a sexualized image of a woman on an advertising billboard. Men’s perceptions of scantily clad women may be closely related to the ways people “dehumanize” groups from which they wish to distance themselves, such as homeless people and drug addicts.

Women may also see men as objects in some ways. These findings are not unique to men. The results would likely have been similar for women, perhaps in terms of male status.

It’s certainly not uncommon for men to reduce women to body parts; objectification is the reason that men say ‘get some ass’ and not ‘get some fully three-dimensional human. Women also objectify men, though that is often considered less socially acceptable. The findings seem to confirm what women have been complaining about for decades as they walk past construction sites, though they do give a new, scientific basis to the social phenomenon of objectification. The research appears to provide evidence of a more hardwired, less socially constructed tendency to objectify women, which will make eradicating the problem that much harder.

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Sunday, November 22, 2009

Naked Pinays on the Internet

Some sort of a research reveals that women have wide-ranging sexual interests and are savvy enough to figure out how to harness technology to pursue their erotic desires -- and occasionally make some money doing it. This is not surprising, even for Pinays, but you won't hear this general assumption on the evening news. Yes, women are slipping into sex the internet, and while the rare cynical comment and the nifty draw on individual tales expands the speculative pitch, they don't undermine the seriousness of the work.

Most fascinating is how sex workers nowadays are beginning to ascertain themselves as legitimate voices in the changing sphere of female sexuality. The internet itself has changed sex work extensively, but it has also brought more Pinays into the field, many of whom don't think of themselves as "sex workers." If a Pinay models fetishy outfits once or twice a year for cash to spend on a new tattoo, is she a sex worker? If she dances naked on webcam in an adult community but don't get paid for it, is she a sex worker, an erotic artist or both?

While a number of Pinays explore sexuality online for personal reasons and have no intention of making it a side business, much less a career, there is much more to learn from their' stories. Real women, of various ages and backgrounds and moral codes, are finding their sexual power online.

The problem is how the mainstream media treat sex technology. Technology is bad, sex is bad and anything that combines women and sex and technology is some sort of triple-whammy threat. Yet when it comes to specifics, the media are remarkably fuzzy. There’s now a question rooted in crazy technophobia that's all put off on the internet. Meeting people could be dangerous. But what's the characterization of danger? Does it suggest that you are prone to get murdered or raped? Maybe not. But are you going to have a bizarre experience? Acquire an STD? Break your heart? Danger on that scale is realistic -- but not necessarily tied to the internet.

Probably, meeting people online is much safer than meeting in a bar. There's no alcohol involved (well, there can be). But when you meet a stranger in a bar, how much can you really know before you take him/her home? The idea that meeting online is dangerous is sometimes helpful because it gets people to take steps to make things safer. What's funny is that sex workers, before and after the internet, have always had very elaborate check-in systems, with other workers, with friends, maybe an agency or escort service. Someone else knows where they are at all times. They tell someone where they are meeting, as much as they can about who they are meeting, and set a time to call. They also tell the person they're meeting that they have given this information to a friend and that they will check in. The exact same advice is listed on a lot of dating sites -- the same safety tips go for online daters as for escorts!

Now, for our dear Pinays who dare the internet for what it can offer in terms of relationship and acquaintances, sexual connections is an issue that only you can handle with utmost care and candor. Cyber technology is such a convenient medium. The risk is there but also with any other relationship. When the time for you to reveal yourself and open up your character comes – getting naked so to speak – your personal reasons are your own lookout.

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Friday, November 20, 2009

Pinay Models and Morals - Getting Naked

Every day, the fashion industry in the Philippines continues to push the envelope. The Pinoy creativity that designers, photographers, and models express is amazing. But, along with innovation, other boundaries are pushed out further as well. This places amateur and professional Filipina models alike into compromising situations that force them to either give into the industry or make a stand for their convictions. In most cases, pressure from the industry makes it seem as if giving up their dignity is the only way they can pursue their dreams.

The pressures of the fashion world prompted some Pinay models to eventually give up their morals and participate in risqué modeling jobs just a few episodes later. It is so sad, but it also a reality that no matter how strong you think you are, it’s a lonely road when no one around you holds the same convictions.
If you want to be a model, the reality is that you will have many opportunities to get naked. Nudity – full, partial, and implied – are definitely part of the modeling business, especially in the high fashion industry. But, most modeling jobs don't ask this of you at all. There are plenty of commercial, fitness, lifestyle, and print assignments that will never ask you to take your clothes off for money. In many cases, clients will arrange for private dressing areas and female stylists to keep the talent comfortable. But, this is not always the case either.

If you are looking into pursuing a modeling career, you must first determine what your boundaries are and how you will deal with requests to cross them. Discuss them with your modeling agent, who should filter potentially compromising requests for you, in honor of your standards. If they are not willing to do that, dump them. A talented model can find representation anywhere, so do not let an agency bully you into either getting naked or letting go of your dream.

The bottom line is that there are many models, actors, and entertainment professionals that lead successful careers without ever getting naked. If more of the talent would dare to make a stand, the industry would be forced to stop asking. Besides, what sense does it make to use naked bodies to sell clothing!

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A Young Pinay's Confessions

If my friend or acquaintance catches me, he or she will know my secret and perhaps think I'm a sham. So I put the mascara wand down coz’ I don't want them to think I'm superficial. Can I wear makeup and still be a pure feminist? a real Filipina at heart?

Actually, it's amusing that I used to be so tense about being "girly." When I was a little girl, I experimented with lipstick or eye shadow. I thought it was a big deal to smudge pretty colors on my face. But as I get older, I learn that some girls and women refuse wearing makeup as a way to decline the pressure of looking a certain way. So it must be common for us girls to have mixed feelings about makeup. And I've gone through different stages in how I feel about it.

Can't Make Up My Mind
I am one of those Pinays who feel guilty about wanting to wear makeup. That's how I felt. I believe that Filipinas like me should be treated equally, no matter what they look like. So I kept my curiosity about makeup a secret, afraid to betray my beliefs about feminism. Well, there's a new secret I learned, and this is one I should tell everyone - I CAN wear makeup and be a real Filipina. I can still stand up for my rights and demand to be treated equally, no matter what I’m wearing on my face. Wearing makeup doesn't mean I’m weak or brainwashed - it just means that I’m experimenting with new ways to express myself.

I think it's fun, and I should feel free to enjoy it, just like how I enjoy other interests I have.
I am still beautiful without makeup, am I not? I look at pictures of myself when I was little? I didn’t wear makeup then, but people still liked me for reasons that had nothing to do with my looks. I believe that everyone has unique features - I can highlight my features with makeup if I want to, but makeup doesn't "make up" who I really am.

All Made Up and Nothing to Do
Sometimes I also feel like I have to look a certain way to be accepted. But then I can't play too hard, because I might mess up my makeup. I feel it's really dispensable to wear makeup all the time. I know I’m still a girl, and I have the rest of my life to wear makeup if I want to. If I wear makeup, it should be for fun - not because I’m scared that people won't accept what I look like without it.

Fresh and Relaxed
Sometimes I feel pressured to wear makeup but I’m really not interested, so I don't! I think it's good to keep my face free of chemicals. I know I don't have to wear makeup until I feel ready - or I don't ever have to wear it at all! I need to experiment with different ways to express myself. Yes, it's OK if I wear makeup, and it's OK if I don't. What really matters is what I keep here in my heart, not exactly what I wear on my face.

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Naked Views at the Airports

Here is some bad news for terrorists! Well, I'm not sure how this one will fare with our demure and conservative Pinay beauties and Pinoy hunks.

An X-ray machine that generates "naked" images of passengers was pioneered at an airport enabling staff to instantly catch a glimpse of any hidden weapons or explosives. Just as luggage is systematically X-rayed to see what's inside, airport security personnel have tested this scanner which looks through clothes for drugs and concealed weapons. But is modesty preserved?The thrilling worries for the naked Pinay views could be a delicate issue. It could be seen as invasive and pernicious.

The X-rays in effect strip you naked - little is left to the imagination and it’s very graphic." Here, privacy could be an issue. The general outline of the body can be seen, along with some blurry details of the anatomy. It shows about as much as if the person were wearing a tight bathing suit. Obviously, it must be used with discretion, such as ensuring that the monitor is visible only to the security screener. While the scanner is more invasive than a conventional metal detector, it is more effective as it can detect "21st Century weapons" such as explosives and plastic guns.

What it does is reduce the resolution at certain parts of the body, much like a broadcaster can pixelate someone's face. At present, the only way of locating these dangerous items is through a pat-down search, where the security officer rubs his hands over the person's body."

Already the scanner is in use in the US and worldwide in airports, embassies, court buildings, prisons and government properties. While modesty was preserved during the police operation by the scanner - and its operators - being hidden away in a mobile unit, civil liberties advocates have raised concerns about an operator's code of conduct and any risks of passers-by having a look.

The full body scanner can produce a 360° digital image of the body - minus clothes in just six seconds. And will also show up any breast enlargements, false limbs, piercings, and a clear outline of passengers' private parts. What shows up is the naked human form and anything concealed on the person: coins in a pocket, trouser studs, metal or ceramic knives, guns, explosives, drugs. The shin bones, which lie close to the skin's surface, can also be seen, as other features such as the cleft between buttocks.

Some passengers might not want to be scanned because of the graphic nature of the images and they can refuse to undergo the virtual strip search at the terminal opting for the traditional "pat down" search instead. But the black and white image will only be seen by one officer in a remote location before it is deleted. Most customers do not like the traditional "pat down" search, they find it too intrusive, but they still want to be kept safe.

This scanner completely takes away the hassle of needing to undress. The images are not erotic or pornographic and they cannot be stored or captured in anyway. The scanner makes the check-in process much quicker for passengers, who will not have to remove their coats, shoes or belts.

Frequent flyers do not need to worry about radiation from the low-level X-ray. Passengers can go through this machine 5,000 times a year each without worrying, it is super safe and the amount of radiation transmitted is tiny. Electromagnetic waves are beamed on to passengers while they stand in a booth, and a virtual three-dimensional "naked" image is created from the reflected energy.

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Friday, November 13, 2009

Pinays Behind the Success of Pacquiao

The most successful Pinoy Boxer, and the current world boxing superstar – Manny Pacquiao, has a lot of things going on for him. He has even hit the right notes for his 7th title bid. He’s booked a concert for after the fight at the Mandalay Bay and they are paying him $100,000 [about £60,000] to play 13 songs. When Freddie Roach heard, he asked, ‘Manny, what are you doing? This is a hard fight.’ Manny just said, ‘I can do both.’ Every night, after training, he goes off to rehearsal. At least, when he does his music, he’s calm, he’s relaxed and it gets his mind off the boxing.

After the boxing and singing, Pacquiao appears as a masked superhero in Wapakman, a film released in the Philippines this month, wearing a red spandex suit. “That suit is really funny,” Roach said. “With all that money spent, they should have got him a better suit. Let’s just see how the film will fare based on the result of his fight with Cotto.

But while we see upfront those things going on for Pacman, we cannot deny the important people behind the people’s champ. As the old cliché, “behind a man’s success is a woman”, goes, we cannot ignore the impact of 3 or more Pinays in his life.

First is Nanay Dionisia, his ever supportive mother who also loves the limelight. Nanay Dionisia’s newly acquired ballroom dancing skills were not the only surprise for everyone but her comical popularity is growing by the day in its grandiosity as she gets busy with TV commercials.
Second is Pacquiao’s wife Jinky, the beauteous life partner who shares with every sacrifice and reward that Manny gathers along the way. As the well-picked Belo commercial model, she exudes all the rage that her husband’s popularity carries. She is even on the cover of Good House Keeping where she talks about what she always thinks about her husband and how she’s become stronger on the grind of events in their lives.
Third is PGMA, the lady president of his country, the Philippines. Pacquiao doesn’t care about all the hullabaloos surrounding the unpopularity or popularity of Pres. Gloria, but their long-time reciprocity of support encompasses every struggle that Pacquiao and the country went through.

What about Pacman’s young daughter, Queen Elizabeth? His movie leading lady, Ara Mina? And to all the girls she met before and after? Don’t get me wrong, but the Pinay contribution to a man’s success cannot be denied. That naked truth should disclose some secrets of success in every man’s endeavor. Surely, a multitude of Pinay’ will pray for and watch his fight tomorrow. Let us just see how they will react on the result.

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