Posts Tagged objectification

By Maya Dusenbery • 11 years ago

ESPN announcers drool over quarterback’s girlfriend, illustrate football’s culture of entitlement

So there was a big football game yesterday. And while I boycotted it, apparently ESPN announcers Kirk Herbstreit and Brent Musburger had some time between plays to devote to ogling the Alabama quarterback’s girlfriend. Some real classy stuff:

“When you’re a quarterback at Alabama, you see that lovely lady there? She does go to Auburn, I’ll admit that, but she’s also Miss Alabama, and that’s A.J. McCarron’s girlfriend. Wow, I’m telling ya, you quarterbacks, you get all the good looking women. What a beautiful woman! Whoa! So if you’re a youngster in Alabama, start getting the football out and throw it around the backyard with pops.”

This is some pretty standard objectification. So common–especially in the sports world–it’s almost not worth ...

So there was a big football game yesterday. And while I boycotted it, apparently ESPN announcers Kirk Herbstreit and Brent Musburger had some time between plays to devote to ogling the Alabama quarterback’s girlfriend. Some real ...
By Anna • 11 years ago

The Feministing Five: Norma Kamali

Norma Kamali is trying to do something radical: stop the objectification of women. And considering the industry she works in, it’s pretty remarkable.

Norma Kamali has worked in the fashion industry for over 20 years. Known for her transformative designs such as her sleeping bag coat, parachute collection and swimwear line, she’s now pioneering a campaign to empower women and stop the objectification experienced everyday on the streets.

Her campaign “Stop Objectification” includes a short film titled “Hey Baby” in which Norma re-appropriates the male gaze, highlighting the accomplishments unseen by objectifying eyes. Her effort also includes the website Stop Objectification, in which she seeks to foster dialogue by having women upload photos of themselves with a quote that celebrates ...

Norma Kamali is trying to do something radical: stop the objectification of women. And considering the industry she works in, it’s pretty remarkable.

Norma Kamali has worked in the fashion industry for over 20 years. Known for ...
By Maya Dusenbery • 11 years ago

Why ESPN’s Body Issue could have been great but doesn’t quite succeed

There’s a lot I appreciate about ESPN’s Body Issue–the primary thing being Danell Leyva.

I’m all for admiring “the vast potential of the human form,” I love seeing naked bodies, and as someone who is endlessly irritated that female athletes are sexualized more than men are, I think it’s great to have a chance to “gawk” at beautiful athletes of both genders. Of course, the range of types of bodies celebrated in the issue is pretty narrow–someone like Sarah Robles is, unsurprisingly, not featured. (Although I’m super excited they included paralympic athlete Oskana Masters being totally badass.)

In a culture in which women’s bodies are typically valued for being passive objects that are nice to look at, admiring ...

There’s a lot I appreciate about ESPN’s Body Issue–the primary thing being Danell Leyva.

I’m all for admiring “the vast potential of the human form,” I love seeing naked bodies, and as someone who is endlessly ...
By Jos Truitt • 11 years ago

(Un)feminist guilty pleasure: I don’t want to critique Magic Mike

Feministing used to run an “(Un)feminist guilty pleasure” series. I liked it – the posts inherently acknowledged the complexities of living as a feminist in an overwhelmingly anti-feminist world. There’s an increasing preasure in the blogosphere to always get it right, to be the perfect feminist, which is impossible and unrealistic – and frankly dangerous for a movement that’s supposed to move in reality. So I’m bringing it back.

Cause I don’t want to overthink Magic Mike.

There’s a ton of critique out there. I’m sure some of it is on point (though not the ones I skimmed). Yes, equal opportunity objectification is actually a problem. Sure, there are no real lady characters except The Kid’s sister, who only registers because ...

Feministing used to run an “(Un)feminist guilty pleasure” series. I liked it – the posts inherently acknowledged the complexities of living as a feminist in an overwhelmingly anti-feminist world. There’s an increasing preasure in the blogosphere ...
By Maya Dusenbery • 12 years ago

Dear Johnny Depp: No, photoshoots aren’t like rape

“Well, you just feel like you’re being raped somehow. Raped…It feels like a kind of weird — just weird, man.” — Johnny Depp tells Vanity Fair how much he hates photoshoots.

Dear Johnny,

Big fan over here. Your incredible acting skills and magnetic sex appeal made me fall in love with every single one of your characters–even that lovable, dirty scoundrel Captain Jack Sparrow. So kudos to you!

But, no. Being photographed is not like being raped. At all. I have not been professionally photographed or raped before, but I feel pretty sure about this one. As a general rule, you should just steer clear of rape metaphors. Comparing things that are not rape–such as taxes ...

“Well, you just feel like you’re being raped somehow. Raped…It feels like a kind of weird — just weird, man.” — Johnny Depp tells Vanity Fair how much he hates photoshoots.

Dear Johnny,

Big fan ...
By Vanessa • 13 years ago

PETA’s latest sexism: “Be Proud of your Body Scan: Go Vegan”

Only PETA can try to profit off of the invasive TSA screenings by pushing objectifying and body image bullshit with their latest ad. Thankfully, it was rejected by several major airports this past holiday weekend:

The ads from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals features a scan of a curvaceous woman in lacy underwear with the message: “Be Proud of Your Body Scan: Go Vegan.”

Major airports in Las Vegas, Charlotte, N.C., and New York City refused to display the ads designed to entice holiday travelers waiting in security lines.

Officials with McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas say its policy prohibits political ads.

PETA Vice President Dan Matthews says the ads were meant to be humorous. He says PETA ...

Only PETA can try to profit off of the invasive TSA screenings by pushing objectifying and body image bullshit with their latest ad. Thankfully, it was rejected by several major airports this past holiday ...

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