Why does Belle Knox consider herself a feminist?

[jakeXT]

140. Here is Sasha Grey commenting on the Belle Knox empowerment

The backlash to the Duke porn star strikes me as more than a little absurd. One of the worst op-eds I’ve read on the subject was in Time, and the writer criticized her claims of “empowerment,” writing, “In most adult films, women are depicted as objects who are there to please the man in whatever way he might choose.”

It’s ridiculous. I didn’t read her whole essay—just blips online—but I read a quote where she said, “I wanted to prove how ridiculous this could be,” which is interesting, and I’m fascinated by that. But do I think that this discredits her? Absolutely not. People said the same thing to me. They said, “If you’re so smart, why did you do porn? You’re not a feminist.” I never declared myself a feminist. I believe in the empowerment of women and men everywhere. But to say that porn only depicts what men want? One of the reasons I did porn was because I had things I wanted to experience and try and do, but I was so ashamed of them, and in doing porn I realized, “There are women like me, and why should women be portrayed as a victim? Why can’t we take control?” And if you’re putting yourself in that position, that’s your choice.

Right. The counterargument proposed by that misguided Time author is that, even though women wield more power in porn and are paid more, and are the ones who achieve “star” status over men, porn tastes—and the content—is governed by the taste of men.

But you can say that about anything! The male gaze. You can say that about romantic comedies. You can say, “Women are naïve to think that it’s a man’s role to give the woman a perfect house and two kids.” That offends me as a woman. I think romantic comedies are anti-feminist. That kind of shit offends me. I was raised to believe in myself, take care of myself, and not let other people take care of me. Traditional marriages are fine, but there are a lot of other people out there who feel differently. So, to say that porn only satisfies male tastes is ridiculous. I went to Russia and Siberia and other fucked up places and I’ve met tons of women who have told me, “You’ve changed my life.” Not all women are alike.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/12/sasha-grey-on-her-secret-true-detective-cameo-open-windows-and-the-duke-porn-star-backlash.html