Carnival vs Passa Passa

If you are a Jamaican or a Caribbean national then chances are you have heard of Passa Passa and carnival. This article is not specifically about the parties themselves but about how ideas of class and decency are dealt with in relation to the two.

Now I'm writing from my own biased point of view that I've tried to justify for sometime (unsuccessfully I might add) but to which I still seem to hold determinedly.

If you've ever watched any dancehall related clips (on youtube, the dancehall channel or where ever) that show women and men dancing together you will notice the dancing seems to be a little (well a lot) degrading to the woman. there appears to be no respect for the woman's body. She is thrown all about the place, the men jump on top of her and she performs all kinds of sexually explicit moves to get "the video light". I'm usually disgusted seeing these women allow themselves to sink to such levels. I'm especially appalled when I see women go to Passa Passa (a street dance) and other such events without panties on. These women will then proceed to dance exposing themselves to all and sundry, even going as far as to ensure their pubic area is captured on film by whichever videographer is present.

But my boyfriend has carefully pointed out to me how hypocritical I am because I am a big fan of carnival. catch me at any soca fete and I'll be wining away on whoever is near. According to him carnival is even worse because at carnival every and anyone has licence to come wine up on you and usually you and these persons are wearing almost nothing. I once participated in a carnival road march while at university and thinking on it for real i was basically prancing around on the road in panties and a bra because that's how small the costumes were, and I definitely wasn't being bashful about bending over and wining and jiggling. After all carnival is a time to get mad and lose my inhibitions.

Looking at both scenarios I have to admit even in my biased state that they are quite similar. why then do I look down on one and not the other? Apparently the whole class dynamics is at work even in matters of entertainment. therefore, it's ok for uptown, rich people to jump and prance in the streets in their underwear but not ok for downtown people to do the same?

Link to see a passa passa clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABjg4stSVNU

And a link for a carnival clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MYYzyoIdYs&feature=related

Watch and decide for yourself if I'm biased or one is more degrading for women. Maybe neither puts women in a good light.

ciao