‘Love Island is fun – we don’t need to question its morals’
Lit has come under fire for lots of reasons over the years, and last week a critic accused Love
Island of being anti-feminist. It was branded a “prime-time display of misogyny” and called “offensive” to women, after the ladies took part in competitions in their swimwear and dressed up as sexy devils, while discussing their sex lives in a risqué game with the boys.
But it was also strongly defended by fans, who pointed out that these are independent and confident women who aren’t afraid to show off their bodies.
Personally, I think people need to remember that Love
Island is entertainment. It doesn’t need to be made into something it’s not. It’s a bit of fun – we don’t need to be questioning its moral integrity all the time. While it may not be as feminist as some would like, I think it’s a great platform to show girls how important it is to stick up for yourself. I feel most of them don’t go back to a guy who treated them badly. They usually end it and move on.
Instead of arguing about whether or not Love Island is a feminist show, I think we need to look at the representation it offers. I grew up in Newcastle in a predominantly white area, so I had no one to look up to who looked like me. A lot of people were shocked that I wore my hair natural for the whole eight weeks I was on the show, but I was showing girls that you don’t have to look a certain way to be considered attractive.
I think the show is making a conscious effort to be more diverse, which can be seen in this year’s line-up – there are more black people and someone with a disability, which is great. I’d love to see more curvy women and larger men – I think that’s an area where the show is lacking.