Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Model Defends Cover As Empowering

[NaturalHigh]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- If Nashville fans thought they'd be rubbing elbows with models clad in bikinis at Wednesday's celebration of the 2015 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, they were disappointed, as all the models were fully clothed.

But the issue's cover model - Hannah Davis - did address the backlash about her provocative photo, in which she's pulling her bikini bottom down - a pose some critics have suggested is, well, overly suggestive.

''There's controversy every year, so I think it's kind of just silly that they're making it out to be the big thing; I mean it's the swimsuit issue,'' Davis said. ''There are far more scandalous pictures in the magazine if you open it up. It's a girl in a bikini, and I think it's empowering; I've been hearing it's degrading. I think the people who are saying that aren't feminists, because I think when you're a woman and you look at that picture and if you overanalyze it as anything more than just a full picture, it's just silly to me.''

https://celebrity.yahoo.com/news/sports-illustrated-swimsuit-issue-model-defends-cover-163547129--spt.html

[Beaverhausen]

1. yes!

[PoliticAverse]

2. Certainly it empowered her bank account. n/t

[NaturalHigh]

3. Undoubtedly.

[RiffRandell]

6. Good for her. nt

[Auggie]

8. And her fame

[treestar]

52. +1 it is not empowering for women generally

and not even for her, as the same society will find her too "old" to be "empowered" soon enough.

[snooper2]

165. you don't give society enough credit

society still finds lots of woman smart AND beautiful....

like the greatness that is!

[treestar]

173. Who is there and where did she get the wig?

[snooper2]

178. you really don't know the greatness that is Kathy Griffin?

LOL

watch this

[GummyBearz]

181. The last time I felt "empowered" and started to pull down my pants, I

ended up in court

[Spider Jerusalem]

4. Empowering for whom and how?

It seems to be empowering the notion that women are there to be attractive objects for men to look at, yes; I am not really sure that this is "empowering" in a broader social sense, though. Certainly the idea that women own their own sexuality is empowering, but arguing that's what's being presented in this particular context seems problematic, at best.

[NaturalHigh]

9. It's her quote, not mine.

If she says it was empowering for her, then I see no reason to doubt her.

[kcr]

53. I don't doubt it's empowering for her.

That gig pays big bucks. Life changing kind of money. But if she thinks it's empowering for anyone else, I don't know what world she's living in where a significant portion of women are making liveable wages posing in bikinis. Most can't do that. And it's not like a gorgeous woman in a bikini is some huge paradigm shift. What is so empowering about that? Now, a woman who isn't considered conventonally attractive? An older woman, for example? Well, the day a woman breaks the mold and can manage to sell her image successfully? That's when I'll stop rolling my eyes at talk of empowerment in that context.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

149. I agree and will defend a woman's right to control her own body every time.

[RiffRandell]

11. No, you are speaking for her.

If you have a problem I suggest you join an anti-magazine crusade.

And take lessons on not speaking for other people.

[Spider Jerusalem]

12. I'm not, actually, speaking for her.

However she's presuming to speak for all women everywhere on the subject of what constitutes objectification (which she certainly doesn't have the right to do, either).

[RiffRandell]

16. She never said that, but if were questioned she could answer like

several people on this site...or imagine this...HERSELF!

Just like she already did.

[Spider Jerusalem]

17. Except she did in fact say that.

"I've been hearing it's degrading. I think the people who are saying that aren't feminists"

That's a direct quote. I am not making things up, here.

[RiffRandell]

19. Please!

I got out of it exactly what she said. It's a picture!

Nice try.

I've been hearing it's degrading. I think the people who are saying that aren't feminists, because I think when you're a woman and you look at that picture and if you overanalyze it as anything more than just a full picture, it's just silly to me.''

[ND-Dem]

105. she's presuming to speak for other women. and to decide they're not feminists if they disagree

with her. (and also to brand herself as some 'true feminist')

in fact, she's selling her sexuality, same as a 19th century prostitute did. and heaven knows, that was certainly 'empowering'.

[one_voice]

118. Well damn...

she's all but called a prostitute on a liberal message board. Seriously, what the fuck universe did I stumble into.

she's selling her sexuality, same as a 19th century prostitute did. and heaven knows, that was certainly 'empowering'.

[ND-Dem]

121. right, that's exactly what i said.

[snooper2]

168. You should give her a call and explain this in detail

LOL

[ND-Dem]

176. personal attack on the poster is a good way to demonstrate one's lack of an argument

[snooper2]

179. grass is greener on the other side of the moon

[Warren DeMontague]

58. Why? Why is she not allowed to have an opinion on what constitutes objectification, but others are?

Oh, right, there's only one set of viewpoints about that gibberish that people are "allowed" to have.

[kcr]

66. What does it matter? Okay, so she's "allowed" to have that opinion.

I was no more empowered the second before she took that picture than I was the second after. It didn't affect me one bit. I'm not empowered. Maybe, somehow it did empower the rest of the billions of other women on this planet that are not highly paid swimsuit models, but I"m struggling to see how that could be. Good for her self empowered self.

[Warren DeMontague]

80. I also don't see how bagging on the damn magazine endlessly is going to empower those women, either.

Although someone tried to argue the other day that the thing would be directly detrimental to Hillary's campaign.

Which strikes me as a bit o' a stretch.

[ND-Dem]

108. If swimsuit models were paid less and ordinary women workers were paid more, it would be empowering.

High wages for a handful of young women to expose skin ain't empowering to anyone but them -- and then just because of the money.

[Warren DeMontague]

114. It would also have less than nothing to do with the point in question.

I think the minimum wage should be higher, too, but it isnt sports illustrated that underpays McDonalds workers.

[woolldog]

115. They are genetic anomalies...which is why

they are paid so much. Similar to why great athletes are paid so much. Models' looks are a rare commodity just as athletic prowess as well is a rare commodity. Both make a lot of money and as a result pay those blessed with those qualities well. Simple supply and demand

[ND-Dem]

122. um...no.

[Warren DeMontague]

123. No what?

He's right. They're paid what they're paid because lots of people want to buy the magazine.

That's what people do, they buy stuff they want, with money, and if enough people want something the price of it goes up.

it's not that complicated.

[ND-Dem]

133. those fake grapefruits have nothing to do with genetics.

[Warren DeMontague]

148. Au contraire

It took billions of years of evolution to get the human brain to the point where it could invent and use photoshop.

[ND-Dem]

154. try saline and plastic bags. which is why they look so preternaturally round and sharp edged.

[snooper2]

169. You spend way too much time looking at SI covers

[ND-Dem]

175. attack the poster is always a good way to demonstrate one's lack of an argument

[NaturalHigh]

126. Actually, yes.

That explanation was pretty much perfect.

[smirkymonkey]

159. Thank you!

It's really all about the money. It kind of makes me sick when they throw the "empowerment" term around so loosely.

[Bobbie Jo]

160. Well, when you think about it

Money is particularly empowering.

[NaturalHigh]

195. I look at it like this.

She enjoys modeling, and she landed one of the most coveted modeling jobs in the world. She's secure enough to ignore all the hand wringers who tsk-tsk at her career choice. That's pretty empowering.

[RiffRandell]

199. Nothing pertaining to this topic is ever that simple for people to grasp.

And never will be.

[NaturalHigh]

200. I know, but you would think that progressives...

would be on board with the whole "her body, her choice" thing. Maybe I'm just being overly optimistic on that point.

[RiffRandell]

201. I caught on during the porn wars which I stayed out of as it seemed

useless, but yes, I was the catalyst for the SI cover last year.

I was in a silly mood as in my part of the woods we had unexpected storms where kids were home all week and my husband came home from an international trip.

Made friends, enemies but no regrets.

[NaturalHigh]

202. You were the catalyst for the 2014 SI wars?

You, my friend, are a historic figure on DU!

[RiffRandell]

203. Not in a good way, though.

It caused a bunch of shit. I honestly did not realize people would freak over it...seriously.

Jesus...it's a magazine.

[smirkymonkey]

205. Yeah, while she's young and pretty.

Then she will be discarded. Hope she saves her money. We'll see how empowering her irrelevance gets as she ages.

[NaturalHigh]

209. When she's older and babysitting her grandchildren...

she will be able to pull out that magazine and show them. They'll undoubtedly think grandma has lived a pretty cool life.

Athletes get old and have to find different things to do too. They too need to save their money and plan for the future. There's a lot less hand wringing for them, though, even though their chosen careers often lead to crippling injuries and life-altering brain trauma.

[Warren DeMontague]

210. yes, I'm sure models are the only people featured in sports illustrated

Whose career prospects diminish after, say, age 30.

[Hekate]

96. I don't think so. She was responding to the statement as presented in the OP.

I did the same thing in my response to the OP downthread. I'm not "speaking for" the bikini model; but as an older and more experienced woman, I am in a sense "talking to" her or at least using that as a springboard for the discussion here.

Unless that makes you uncomfortable?

[RiffRandell]

99. What constitutes more "experienced?"

Are you a former model?

[Hekate]

104. You funny. I'm old enough to be her grandma, and I've lived and observed my whole life.

At least one of my bosses loved to empower women right into bed. One even got promoted, but mostly they didn't get anything so useful as that. I was a good looking chick myself, but I had other goals in mind than getting shtupped by him so I finally left.

My life on my terms, that's empowerment.

If you are in a position to do so, Helping other women get ahead, blazing a path for other women -- those are all forms of empowerment.

Pulling your bikini bottom almost off? Not so much. Hope she enjoys the paycheck, but it'll be a short lived career, and surely won't be helping very many other women.

Like I said, a lifetime goes into my comments. Not a modeling gig.

[pintobean]

158. Her life on her terms, that's empowerment.

She is an adult woman, capable of making her own decisions. I'm sure she's aware of opinions like yours.

[Saboburns]

15. Well, maybe she feels sexy, healthy, and happy.

You know, it's ok to feel sexy, healthy, and happy.

Even for girls.

[ND-Dem]

109. so you're saying that in order to feel that way, one must appear mostly naked in a men's magazine?

[alarimer]

162. But it's on someone else's terms.

If she looked some way other than she does, she wouldn't feel so empowered.

She (probably with some help) looks the way women are "supposed" to look: hot.

When she no longer does, she will be ignored as non-hot women (whatever the definition of that is at the time) ALWAYS are, in pop culture.

I don't know why people keep ignoring the elephant in the room: that women are expected to always look or be a certain way, so as to turn the men on. They claim that is it a choice to do so or not do so. I'd say that it is not really a choice. There is an enormous amount of societal pressure (on women, especially, but on men too) to be pleasing to someone else's eye.

The thing is, we have all absorbed that message, unconsciously. Put someone else on the cover of that magazine and see the howls of outrage as someone not "hot" dares to exist.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

174. "I don't know why people keep ignoring the elephant in the room"

Because nobody wants to see an elephant in a string bikini?

[Saboburns]

188. Maybe you're correct

She would be much happier putting down people for appearing as she does, by posting messages on an internet message board.

And damn her for looking like she does. The fool.

[Warren DeMontague]

24. I think what is truly "problematic" is self-appointed arbiters of morality trying to tell consenting

adults what they "should" or "shouldn't" do with their own bodies.

[RiffRandell]

5. Appalling.

I thought she wanted to be a sex object.

[Katashi_itto]

7. I feel empowered too.

[LondonReign2]

93. LOL!

[one_voice]

10. Huh...

It's a girl in a bikini, and I think it's empowering; I've been hearing it's degrading. I think the people who are saying that aren't feminists, because I think when you're a woman and you look at that picture and if you overanalyze it as anything more than just a full picture, it's just silly to me.''

Interesting....

[RiffRandell]

21. Isn't it?

Bizarre!

[one_voice]

50. Indeed. I read things...

and I'm shaking my head at some of the things that are said about the women that CHOOSE to do this. If men or other women were to insult women in the same manner or use some of the same language a fire would rain down. I don't understand it.

They're paid well. Many are married and live a very fulfilled life. If modeling isn't your cup of tea that's find but is it necessary to berate and belittle women that CHOOSE do to it?

I've said it before and I'll say it again, women are the women's worst enemies. They can be the most hurtful and the cruelest. How are we supposed to build each other up when we're busy tearing each other down.

[NaturalHigh]

59. Apparently the whole "choice" thing only goes so far for some.

This young woman is doing nothing illegal, nothing immoral, is making big money and enjoying herself. Why is that such a bad thing for some? Is it just because men (and many women) enjoy looking at her?

[RiffRandell]

71. I can't even explain as somehow we'll be mocked.

Yet deep down they are ugly (personality) and unfulfilled so it's taken out on other people....the more prettier the better.

You and I should take it as a compliment!

[one_voice]

102. Not to our 'faces' we won't be...

and if that happens I'll just say my peace. I'm comfortable with who I am. I raised a very independent strong woman. She has a masters degree, owns her own home. She does a lot of volunteer work. She's physically fit--she a runner and does races/marathons/spartan races. And she's been in bikini contests when she was in Vegas. She was in 2 magazines. No one EVER uses her or degrades her.

This is her finishing her first marathon. Before this she'd done 1/2 marathons.




I'll brag about my son another time.

[RiffRandell]

103. So awesome!

Not hard to believe coming from a woman like you.

[one_voice]

119. thanks!

[HereSince1628]

13. Sometimes referred to as "controlling the gaze" by women's studies types...

SO was a director of Women's Studies so the notion of 'empowering' woke a memory...

The phenomenon is related to but even more engaged than claiming a disparaging identifier as one's own.

There is no doubt that men look. Controlling where and what they are looking at is the source of power...and of course for models there is also money from the gig.

[ND-Dem]

110. the models don't control where and at what men look. they're low on the totem pole.

[HereSince1628]

161. Whatever... when I wrote that it seemed the point of view was missing from the discussion

I inserted it.

People can agree with it, pick at it, argue that activists and/or scholars who think and write about empowerment via control of the gaze (at women's bodies) are deluded or debased, it doesn't matter to me.

Awareness that this is a developed concept in the discipline of Women's Studies is something that people who argue over these issues would benefit by, if only because having foreknowledge means better capacity to engage in discussions on the topic and to understand that single points of view are limiting when dealing with attempts to understand human behavior.

It seems very likely that people who work in industries that involve controlling the gaze at women are aware of the concept, whether or not an individual model makes the choices of clothing, posture, etc for a particular photo. That the woman in the photo on the SI cover used the word empowerment suggests that she does have a grasp of the concept and that she experienced the positive feedback of empowerment from that work.

Knowing the vocabulary used in discussing the concept, whatever ones feelings are about erotica or psychological manipulation of advertising and magazine layout, facilitates seeking understanding of what empowerment might mean in those contexts with just an internet search of key phrases "empowerment" and "control of the gaze".

[ND-Dem]

180. The models aren't 'controlling the gaze'. They don't own the media, they don't set up the shots,

they aren't the advertisers or corporate owners, they're just (sometimes) well-paid workers.

[HereSince1628]

183. But they DO choose to work in the industry

I'm not sure you can validate claims of slavery for SI swimsuit models. You can try... I'll read your attempt with an open mind.

Anyone who stands in front of groups, literally as actors and teachers do, or figuratively as models do vicariously, or both literally and figuratively as many politicians do will tell you that there is tremendous emotional feedback from that process.

To deny that psychological boost that people get, is simply to try to suppress expression of what is widely felt.

I don't make that as a claim to goodness of people who employ female (or male) bodies to attract attention. I only recognize that people are attracted to look. And the looking is controlled.

[ND-Dem]

186. please link me to any claims of slavery for SI swimsuit models. Models are the least powerful

actors in modeling. To claim that they're in 'control' of anything is ridiculous, except in some high profile special cases.

[hunter]

14. If anyone finds sexy naked or near-naked pics of me on usenet...

... feel free to post them here.

No, I will not provide keywords, but damn, for a couple of years there I was hot.

[benz380]

23. I looked just like Andy Gibb in my younger days. Now it's more like Andy Rooney. nt

[Warren DeMontague]

26. There are naked daguerrotypes of me out there, somewhere

probably still being transmitted by telegraph wire. Or smoke signal.

[Chellee]

31. They're not coming.

They were sent by pony express.

But the pony was old, and he died on the way.



In lieu of flowers, please send memoriums to 'Old West Home for Retired Ponies.'

[Warren DeMontague]

63. I think the pony was spooked by something he saw

specifically, me nude.

[Comrade Grumpy]

131. Don't frighten the horses!

[hunter]

33. You are tempting me.

When I was young a girlfriend convinced me to pose nude for a drawing class.

The best drawings were later displayed in the college administration building.

So I was standing there looking at a drawing of me.

A woman, maybe twenty years older than I was, old enough to be my mom, walked up, examined the drawing, and suddenly exclaimed "Oh! That's you!"

We both blushed and walked off in opposite directions.

I'm not sure why I was embarrassed. Even my mom has seen me naked plenty of times before that, and after that.

[Warren DeMontague]

55. Nothin' wrong with being preserved, artistically, in the old prime.

Nothing, at all.

[hunter]

92. Two of my high school classmates were featured in Playboy, and one in Penthouse.

Another was a successfully suicidal porn star.

In my Southern California high school class of 600+ I don't know if this is a statistical anomaly or not.

I have tales too ticklish to tell about the Penthouse model, and another about one of the Playboy models.

In high school I wanted to be a television engineer and that was my first major in college. After my second year I applied for a summer job/internship and it seemed fairly innocuous by the advertisements, I only had to manage cables and such. But during the interview I walked onto a San Fernando Valley film set and people were fucking.



The guy who was interviewing me immediately noticed my distress, and handed me more than enough cash to pay for my time, gasoline, and lunch. No more of that. Forget it ever happened.

It could've been worse, I met a woman years later, someone I'd gone to grade school and middle school with, who told me the same guy had once grabbed her head with one hand, her breast with the other, and stuck his tongue in her mouth.



She'd fled too, but she didn't get any money.

That fall I changed my major to biology, for a couple of reasons, one of them being that unlike the engineering classes, the majority of biology majors were women and they were all less likely to talk about cars and "babes" in the labs, hallways, or dining halls.

In the curious life of Hunter, my first serious girlfriend, and my always in-between-the-crashing-and-burning relationships-girlfriend, was a future network engineer with a fondness for cars and babes and flat chested very messed up and damaged waifs.

I tell myself I was an exception, and not just another one of her messed up waifs, one who just happened to have a penis.

[Laffy Kat]

18. Oh, puh-leeze.

[NaturalHigh]

22. Care to elaborate?

[Laffy Kat]

72. Not really because I will be raked over the coals.

Yes, I believe all people should do whatever they want with their bodies as long as it doesn't hurt anyone. And, yes, I believe the magazine is exploitative and hurts women and girls. It's insidious. But I grow weary of this fight. I know the drill. My fellow leftists will accuse me of being asexual and a poor sport. That's why I usually sit these posts out.

[NaturalHigh]

76. I truly can't see how this magazine cover hurts anyone.

[Laffy Kat]

78. Obviously. Is that why you felt compelled to bring it to everyone's attention?

You wanted to declare how empowering it is to women? Good for you. Go in peace.

[NaturalHigh]

81. I wanted to reiterate that this woman...

is not the victim of the "patriarchy" that some paint her to be. She made a choice to be photographed in a provocative pose, and she was undoubtedly well compensated for it. Where is the harm in that?

[Warren DeMontague]

25. Well, she obviously doesn't know what she's saying.

Clearly she has been brainwashed to believe this horrific wrongthink

[NaturalHigh]

27. She's hoping for a pat on the head.

Isn't that the usual accusation?

[Warpy]

30. She's hoping no one will notice

the huge gap between empowerment and doing a striptease.

After all, the swimsuit itself was OK for the average exhibitionist. It was the bottom pulled halfway down that made it cross the line.

Not that I expect many straight males to get it.

[NaturalHigh]

34. What are we supposed to "get"?

[Warren DeMontague]

51. empowerment is a subjective concept. At most basic level, "empowerment" shakes out to

"feeling empowered".

If she says it empowered her, or made her feel empowered, it did.

I realize that some people think that the only real "Truth" is the gibberish-heavy gospel they learned in their postgrad sociology classes, but the simple fact is that folks can't order people to not feel empowered by something just because it makes them personally, mad.

[DebJ]

137. Women on the "M' side of "S&M" find that to be an empowering experience also. n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

147. Do they?

I'm not one, so I can't verify that blanket statement, or not.

I suspect at least some do, or some would assert that they do, which again, isn't all that different to my mind.

And again, if everyone's a consenting adult, I see no problem with any of it.

[HereSince1628]

36. LOL

[Marr]

28. Well... she's a model.

I wouldn't expect a model to have an ethical problem with modeling.

[riderinthestorm]

44. +1000. I'm sure the $$ helped make it empowering as well nt

[dhol82]

29. Yeah, like it's empowering

to have the most expensive boobs money can buy and expose myself to within a hairsbreadth of not being able to be on the magazine rack.

Ummmmm - not my taste. Don't deny anyone else. Just not what I would consider empowering.

[NaturalHigh]

32. You think she bought them?

[dhol82]

35. Ummmmmmm

yeah.

Nothing says fake like two canteloupes glued to your chest.

[NaturalHigh]

37. I consider myself a pretty good judge of such things...

and I didn't think they were fake. Mind you, I'm not being critical one way or the other.

[dhol82]

39. Don't care how young you are

the boobs do not stand up like that and have edges if they are just natural boobs.

Perhaps you have seen many fakes?

[NaturalHigh]

40. Well, I've seen my fair share.

When I was in my early twenties, I dated an older woman with implants. They didn't look like these.

[dhol82]

43. What did they look like?

Just curious.

[NaturalHigh]

45. Let me think how to put this...

Very large, very...stationary. I was young and thought it was the greatest thing ever. Of course, just being with an older woman was exciting at the time.

[dhol82]

46. Well

that's what those boobs on the model look like.

You might be remembering with the haze of lost youth.

[NaturalHigh]

47. LOL...I can't argue with the lost youth part....

and yes, some of it is a bit hazy.

[Warren DeMontague]

82. I agree with Naturalhigh--- I've seen them up close too.

Who knows, maybe the medical technology has changed since those days, but those don't look like implants on the cover of the SI issue to me.

Photoshopped? Totally possible.

[prayin4rain]

153. You're right.

I was curious because it never occurred to me that they were fake, so i looked it up. Google has lots of images of her in bikinis pre-breast implants and there's nothing there.... like a double A, maybe. Breast implants have certainly improved in the last ten years.

[snooper2]

170. you need to get out of the boonies and walk around in a city sometime

[dhol82]

189. Um - not sure what you think you are saying

I live in NYC. Home of millions of fake boobs.

What should I be looking at?

[ND-Dem]

113. yes.

[leftyladyfrommo]

38. If I were a parent I would not want them to see that cover.

And I'm hardly a prude. I just saw that magazine at Walgreens right out front on the counter and just went "Whoa." I really think they pushed that one too far.

[dhol82]

41. Agree

I am not a prude at all. But, that sweep of the bikini bottom is way beyond propriety.

In essence, the mons pubis is exposed. Frankly looks like they had to airbrush out the top part of the labia.

What is the point? What statement are they making?

The sweet young thing is just playing her points and trying to buff up her bank account before she gets aged out of the mix.

Whole thing is just sad.

[leftyladyfrommo]

48. It is sad.

I hate to see young women exploited like this. I hate to see them buying into the whole "being hot" thing.

They are being exploited because they are too young and naïve to see just how they are being used.

I hate it.

[NaturalHigh]

54. "they are too young and naïve to see just how they are being used"...

Are you serious? How well do you think she was paid for this photo shoot? How big a boost will this be for her career?

Why is it that when a woman uses her looks to her advantage people think it's such a bad thing? Does the same standard apply to men when they appear scantily clothed?

[dhol82]

60. Ummm, yeah

When men do the same thing they are judged poorly also.

I am sure she was paid handsomely for this photo shoot. Hope that she is of the saving sort. She will need it. Women in this profession have a short life. It is good that she has hooked up with a wealthy professional athlete.

[NaturalHigh]

73. "When men do the same thing they are judged poorly also"...

I beg to differ. If a man were on the cover of a magazine slightly pulling down a speedo, there would be no backlash like what we've seen toward this woman. In fact, I've never seen such vitriol when a man posed while dressed in skimpy attire.

[dhol82]

75. OK

We can agree to disagree.

[tammywammy]

84. This is the calendar I've bought the last couple years

Hangs in my kitchen.

http://www.warwickrowers.org/product/2015-calendar/

Those men are celebrated because they make a donation to an excellent cause. They're actually naked, with bare butts, but never pictured full frontal.

[NaturalHigh]

85. I see nothing wrong with it.

Just a guess - these men don't feel the least bit exploited

[tammywammy]

86. agreed.

I obviously like it.

[one_voice]

90. I think I need that calandar.

I'm looking forward to the ESPN body edition. I think the pictures in there (all naked) are gorgeous. Men and women. My husband buys it for me every year.

[tammywammy]

98. I've bought it for myself and given it as a gift.

It's a lovely calendar, and they do donate to a good cause.

[dhol82]

157. Nice pix

Although, I think the guy with the bucket is being a bit grandiose.

[ND-Dem]

112. the career athlete will also likely have a short career. and despite the big bucks, most players

and models typically don't wind up rich in their old age.

[leftyladyfrommo]

164. Those professions really are a lot alike.

They both treat people like they are a piece of meat.

When the sell by date expires they are both gone.

[NaturalHigh]

198. That's undoubtedly true.

The difference is few people call athletic careers degrading or wring their hands at the example being set.

[snooper2]

171. I know, at 25 years old we need to take her under our wing and teach her more

I think a burqa training camp would be a good start LOL

[melman]

49. When someone says they're not a prude

you can bet they are about to say something prudish.

[dhol82]

56. Excellent

You would like your child to see the gynecological pix, I am sure. Do tell.

Have no problem with any porn you would like to present. Do have a problem with the SI cover on the news stands.

[Warren DeMontague]

61. If that's "gynecological", it's the most non-invasive gynecological exam I've ever heard of.

You could make a mint, selling that gynecologist's office to women.

[dhol82]

64. Referred to pix

You are, obviously, just being contentious.

Enjoy.

[Warren DeMontague]

65. I know, so am I.

There is nothing "gynecological" about that picture. She is pulling her bathing suit bottom down a little, but you do not actually see her genitalia in any way, shape, or form.

And as others have noted, it's not the first time they've run pictures showing that move, either:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6193705

[dhol82]

69. Sorry

Really do think that it is far enough down to have needed to be airbrushed to clean up the top of the labial cleft.

Just not necessary.

Would like to know the thinking behind this. Can't get over the thought it was a bunch of guys saying 'how low can we go?'

Can't imagine many parents being happy with this cover on the racks at the supermarket.

[Warren DeMontague]

79. I think the anecdotal horrified parent in the supermarket checkout line thing is overplayed.

I haven't seen it in the supermarket checkout line, usually the magazines they have anywhere near where the kids can see them is crap like "Us" or the National Enquirer, and personally the most annoying thing my kids see at the supermarket is big bright boxes of gum and candy, which inevitably spur a debate over buying or not buying said items, and WHY NOT

The dreaded labial cleft-laden magazine cover has never, actually, been a problem.

[ND-Dem]

116. aging men appear to be pro-'empowerment'.

[Warren DeMontague]

57. I disagree. Babies dying of measels is sad. Fundamentalists murdering cartoonists is sad.

World poverty and hunger, polar bears on shrinking ice floes, homeless vets... sad, sad, sad.

An attractive young woman in a bikini on a magazine cover, to my mind, is not "sad".

[dhol82]

62. OK

[Augustus]

70. You are also a prude

prude
noun
a person who is or claims to be easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity.


Usually, when one starts a sentence with "I am not an X, but...", it's an indication that that person is, indeed, an X.

[dhol82]

74. Looks like he can be added

[Augustus]

68. I'm sorry to say that you are a prude

Prude
noun
a person who is or claims to be easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity.

[dhol82]

77. No problem

Opinion is everything.

Enjoy.

[LittleBlue]

42. Well said, Hannah

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

67. porn! porn! porn! porn!

[ND-Dem]

83. It didn't used to be 'empowering' to feminisits for women to show off skin;

it used to be seen as a sign of a male-dominated society.

when did it become 'empowering' among 'feminists'? when did the people who questioned it become 'not feminists'?

[NaturalHigh]

87. It's certainly not for me to decide...

who is or is not a feminist, but I think it's sad that some criticize this young woman for showing off her body.

[ND-Dem]

107. I don't think it's sad at all. Children being bombed is sad. People starving is sad.

[NaturalHigh]

141. You're absolutely right.

Children being bombed is sad. People starving is sad. Attacking people for displaying their sexuality is also sad. Attacking people for enjoying that display is equally sad.

[ND-Dem]

143. no, it's not a bit sad.

Sadness is emotional pain associated with, or characterized by feelings of disadvantage, loss, despair, helplessness and sorrow. An individual experiencing sadness may become quiet or lethargic, and withdraw themselves from others. Crying is often an indication of sadness.[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadness

[NaturalHigh]

152. LOL...okay. Thanks for that bit of "education."

[prayin4rain]

88. I guess the flesh trade can be empowering to

some individual women who find themselves in the right situation. But for women, or society for that matter, as a whole, I don't see any positive effects.

[NaturalHigh]

91. Well, I fail to see how it has any NEGATIVE effects.

The human body is a beautiful thing, and the human animal is a sexual animal. What is the harm in acknowledging, and even celebrating that?

[MicaelS]

89. I have never understood why some feminists believe ....

They should have some sort of veto power over what other women choose to do in life. I have never understood the concept of pushing individual choice, but then having to get approval from the group over what you do.

The old adage "my body, my choice" would apply here, too. Just like it does for reproductive choice.

[NaturalHigh]

97. It's the Andrea Dworkin syndrome.

Supposedly females who express their sexuality are "tools of the patriarchy" who are looking for "a pat on the head."

[RiffRandell]

101. Where the fuck were you last year when I got hammered

for posting? I saw it on the news and was all straight up yes.

[NaturalHigh]

117. I got in on the SI wars late last year.

[RiffRandell]

167. I'll forgive you as I like you.

One of your hearts was from me.

[NaturalHigh]

185. Thank you very much!

[ND-Dem]

120. the andrea dworkin syndrome is fat middle-aged male pornography consumers' pretense that all

criticism of their habit is made by ugly feminists and therefore laughable.

[NaturalHigh]

124. Well, I don't actually watch pornography.

Fat, middle-age male...yeah, you got me.

[MicaelS]

128. Quite interesting and telling you had to throw in the "fat" eptihet. n/t

[ND-Dem]

129. i found the dworkin reference quite interesting and telling as well.

[NaturalHigh]

130. I thought it was very accurate.

[ND-Dem]

132. i assumed you would.

[ND-Dem]

106. I have never understood people who think women have *ever* had veto power over other women.

[DebJ]

136. I don't think I should have veto power. But I do have, and will continue to always have

the right to my opinion that it is just really sad to market your meat for money.

[HappyMe]

182. You pretty much hit the nail on the head.

It's what she chose to do.

[treestar]

184. that is not the point

it's the choices women have to make in a sexist society. Choices men don't have to make. It's not a privilege to have the choice of being exploited. It's not a chance. Better chances would be there in an equal society.

The choice to be exploited for men's entertainment is not a great privilege.

[NaturalHigh]

197. "Choices men don't have to make."

Actually, it's more like "an opportunity that men don't have." Plenty of men would love to be on the cover of the SI Swimsuit issue and collect a huge paycheck for it, but that's going to happen because it wouldn't sell.

This young lady landed the dream job of any model, and yes, I would say that's a great privilege.

[treestar]

206. Holy cow

so you are defending exploitation as an "opportunity?" No just no. Men would not love that chance if they had it. The very reason they don't have it is their superiority, that they get to pursue being themselves, not objectification. Claiming they want it is a way of trying to make the women feel better about it, when they know they'll never have to do it.

No it is not a great privilege. Just no. Being the best looking woman is the best you can do, rather than being the best artist or scientist? No.

[NaturalHigh]

208. Who says women can't be the best artists or scientists?

You didn't read that in my post.

As for my reply, I stand by what I said.

[LondonReign2]

94. Is it time for the annual SI Swimsuit issue wars so soon?

[Hekate]

95. Yeah, sure it is. I don't think it's "degrading," but all it does is use sex to sell whatever...

Which has been going on for a hundred years in the world of advertising. And how, exactly, is that empowering? You're just being used.

[CatWoman]

100. my thing is

she looked like she is about to use the toilet.

[closeupready]

111. Empowering for her if she says so; made me want to barf

because I say so. Tacky and low class, but it's the cover of the swimsuit issue, so I guess I'm entitled to my own opinion.

[hunter]

125. Sigh. I remember when I was an empowered sex object.

Alas my last selfie here on DU got hidden.

[NaturalHigh]

127. LOL...my "selfie" would undoubtedly be hidden.

Fortunately I go out of my way to make sure there are no pictures of me on the internets.

[hunter]

151. There are pictures of my naked hot young self on the internet...

... among the earliest and fairly anonymous internet naked people. Not my own doing.

But I'll not tell how to find them.

We used to upload pics from German magazines, my girlfriend and I, and we communicated in German well enough. Alas I've lost most of my German, along with the Latin Binomial nomenclature of California Flora. Occasionally I can say, hey, that's a California Coastal Live Oak, Quercus agrifolia or something somewhat intelligent like that, but not always.

Anyways, a university librarian found out what we were about so she'd put her big black ink university library "received" stamp on all the naughty bits.

Mind you, it was all one bit graphics, or at best four bit EGA then.

[DebJ]

134. I hope to live long enough to see a discussion on here about a man in such a pose on the SI cover.

And have him say how 'empowering' the experience was.

And read the comments on DU.

LOL.

[NaturalHigh]

138. I can guarantee you won't see...

all the vitriol and condemnation that you see for female models.

[DebJ]

140. To be honest, if you read my other comments, I don't think much of them myself.

Just my opinion, and I'm entitled to that.

There are things I could have done in life when I desperately needed money,
but I valued other things more. My choice.

Her choices are not those I'd ever want to see my grand-daughter make.

[NaturalHigh]

150. Of course you're entitled to your opinion...

just as I'm entitled to my opinion that this woman's display is perfectly acceptable and even healthy.

I think the Puritan-type shaming of sexuality is what's unhealthy.

[leftyladyfrommo]

166. We do seem to be going thru a wierd nudity thing

right now.

I think it's kind of "in" to do something "nude and shocking." Miley Cyrus is showing her nipples daily right now. It's really kind of odd.

[davidn3600]

139. Men do pose in sexually-suggestive ways in magazines

It's just not as popular among women buyers...so you don't see it as much.

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=623&q=men+sexy+magazine&oq=men+sexy+magazine&gs_l=img.3...1707.5765.0.6019.17.7.0.10.10.0.78.443.7.7.0.msedr...0...1ac.1.61.img..10.7.440.WvmwK0i1HZw

[DebJ]

142. Good catch! When I clicked on it, the one in the top row far right

is almost the same pose!

On edit: But I doubt there are any quotes about how the model found this to be 'empowering'.

[davidn3600]

146. Because no one cares when a male model does it

No one cares when a man is on the cover of these magazines.

When it's a woman, there is controversy from every angle. To attack that backlash is what's empowering. She's basically saying, "It is my life, and I'm going to do this no matter what you say."

[NaturalHigh]

193. That's a great point. You hit the nail on the head.

I think it's also a way of saying "Hey, I don't have to cover up, and I'm not going to do so just to satisfy anyone's Puritan tendencies."

[ND-Dem]

145. actually, supposedly playgirl was for men more than women -- had more male subscribers.

or so I read at some point.

[treestar]

207. We have been taught from the cradle

that we are the objects, not men. A few poses like that are not something we are used to. Of course they aren't popular. We are taught to respect men as people, more than just their bodies.

[NaturalHigh]

211. We are also taught to respect women as people.

Enjoying physical beauty doesn't change that.

[Catherine Vincent]

135. Of course she'll defend it...she posed for it!

Sex sells. Always.

[prayin4rain]

144. The buyers and sellers will both defend it.

I just wish they'd buy and sell a little less publicly, but alas.

[NaturalHigh]

192. Why?

It's perfectly legal, so why "buy and sell a little less publicly"?

[PeteSelman]

155. It's a nice picture.

I really don't see what the big deal is.

[polly7]

156. Me either.

If I still looked like that, was given the opportunity and could make that kind of money you can bet your sweet patootie I'd be showin' it off a little. If I had a daughter or son that wanted to do the same ........ no problem. Looks like that don't last forever, it's not going to be something she'll regret later, and hopefully, she'll have made enough money to help herself out for a while. People model hands for commercials, faces for cosmetics, feet for pete's sake ......... why not bodies? Also, this isn't just a men's magazine, I used to read it all the time. I don't see what the problem is, other than trying to control what other women do with their own bodies as part of shaming them, for some reason.

[Bettie]

163. Look, it is a magazine

If she feels like it empowers her, fine, that's great. She also probably made a lot of money out of the deal.

But I can still look at it and see both her right to feel that way AND how it demonstrates the lens that our society sees women through.

Why is it threatening to so many to acknowledge that our society at large views women in a highly sexualized and rather distorted way? That no matter what a woman accomplishes, the first thing that is usually commented on is how she looks.

[Orsino]

172. I suppose in some small way it is.

Without some such outlet, the model might have to work for a living.

Objectification, however, is pretty much the opposite of empowerment.

[NaturalHigh]

191. How is it the opposite of empowerment?

I would imagine it's very healthy for this models self esteem at the very least. If she says it's empowering for her, I think we should take her at her word.

[Ninga]

177. Seriously. It is what it is. Her pose clearly invites viewers

to join her in further disrobing. It is not a feminist state,net. It is hers. Just sayin.

[AngryAmish]

187. Her first modeling shoot was done at my buddy's pool

For the always prestigious Dekalb Nite Weekly.

[NaturalHigh]

190. Are you being serious?

Because if you are, that's pretty impressive.

[AngryAmish]

204. Yes. but it wasn't my pool.

On edit, my buddy's son who is my age and CC's age was a photobug and still is. He put the thing together. My buddy just thought this hs girl was real tall and went back to writing his books.

[Ex Lurker]

194. Meanwhile, my fundy SIL went ballistic over the "pornographic" swimsuit issue

and cancelled my 11 year old nephew's subscription.

[NaturalHigh]

196. I know it's a stereotype...

but I really think a large majority of fundamentalists are sexually repressed and don't consider that it's unhealthy to think about perfectly normal sexual desires as sinful. It's the whole "Puritan" thing I keep talking about.

My old professor told us that Puritanism is the absolute terror that somebody, somewhere, might be having fun.