Comments on: 2011 is off and running: Sexism, Comparisons & Nudity http://www.nicolemlavoi.com/happenings-in-sport-related-to-gender Nicole M. LaVoi, Ph.D. Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:20:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: niamh http://www.nicolemlavoi.com/happenings-in-sport-related-to-gender#comment-1107 niamh Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:19:51 +0000 http://www.nicolemlavoi.com/?p=2546#comment-1107 Ref 3 as well - it's a difficult thing. When you're that fit and healthy you want to show off too, it's not all about exploitation. What gets me is that for whatever reason it's usually (not always) the women athletes who get portrayed in this way. Is that the male athletes don't want to be seen that way or is that as consumers we wouldn't react in the same positive manner as we do to a woman's body? Men's Health mag is one of the few I can think of who use the male form to promote and sell their product, GQ etc usually (not always) use clothed-males. But women's magazines like the Shape cover referred to above ( at least I think you are talking about Danica Patrick on Shape?) don't seem to think it's at all problematic to use semi-dressed women. As long as we vote with our dollar, nothing is going to change. And to return to my first point, I wouldn't want to go back to a time when the female body was seen as shameful - posting from Ireland where we have a long history of denigrating the female shape - and would prefer to just see a balance or use of nudity when it's appropriate not simply sexual. Ref 3 as well – it’s a difficult thing. When you’re that fit and healthy you want to show off too, it’s not all about exploitation. What gets me is that for whatever reason it’s usually (not always) the women athletes who get portrayed in this way. Is that the male athletes don’t want to be seen that way or is that as consumers we wouldn’t react in the same positive manner as we do to a woman’s body?
Men’s Health mag is one of the few I can think of who use the male form to promote and sell their product, GQ etc usually (not always) use clothed-males. But women’s magazines like the Shape cover referred to above ( at least I think you are talking about Danica Patrick on Shape?) don’t seem to think it’s at all problematic to use semi-dressed women. As long as we vote with our dollar, nothing is going to change.
And to return to my first point, I wouldn’t want to go back to a time when the female body was seen as shameful – posting from Ireland where we have a long history of denigrating the female shape – and would prefer to just see a balance or use of nudity when it’s appropriate not simply sexual.

]]> By: Erika @ Dr.TriRunner http://www.nicolemlavoi.com/happenings-in-sport-related-to-gender#comment-948 Erika @ Dr.TriRunner Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:11:34 +0000 http://www.nicolemlavoi.com/?p=2546#comment-948 I feel along the same lines as Kim - the human body is an amazing thing, and for serious athletes who are able to manipulate it and train it with such precision, I am in awe of the beauty of that. Likewise agreed that a male athlete in the same position would have been equally impressing. However... I definitely look at that NB add as in a different class than many of the other cover shoos or ads your referencing. I've seen cover photos of women IN clothes (for some reason Danica Patrick's cover stands out to me) that look less tasteful, less to the point of the FEMALE ATHLETE than this one. I feel along the same lines as Kim – the human body is an amazing thing, and for serious athletes who are able to manipulate it and train it with such precision, I am in awe of the beauty of that. Likewise agreed that a male athlete in the same position would have been equally impressing.

However… I definitely look at that NB add as in a different class than many of the other cover shoos or ads your referencing. I’ve seen cover photos of women IN clothes (for some reason Danica Patrick’s cover stands out to me) that look less tasteful, less to the point of the FEMALE ATHLETE than this one.

]]> By: kim http://www.nicolemlavoi.com/happenings-in-sport-related-to-gender#comment-907 kim Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:16:25 +0000 http://www.nicolemlavoi.com/?p=2546#comment-907 P.S. Yes, you can be taken as a serious athlete when portrayed naked. Only serious athletes look that good without clothes on. :) P.S. Yes, you can be taken as a serious athlete when portrayed naked. Only serious athletes look that good without clothes on. :)

]]> By: kim http://www.nicolemlavoi.com/happenings-in-sport-related-to-gender#comment-906 kim Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:13:48 +0000 http://www.nicolemlavoi.com/?p=2546#comment-906 You rock. I'm glad Volkman turned me on to your blog. I do want to comment on #3, though. Personally, I have no problem with the naked body; it's a natural state of being. The image on the New Balance page is beautiful, and I don't find it offensive at all. Thumbs up for artfully done nudity. What irritates me is the scantily clad, trampy, sex object images that are typically used. In this case, NB is selling beauty, not sex. They could balance out the male and female nudity, though. A man in an identical pose would make an equally impressive image. You rock. I’m glad Volkman turned me on to your blog.

I do want to comment on #3, though. Personally, I have no problem with the naked body; it’s a natural state of being. The image on the New Balance page is beautiful, and I don’t find it offensive at all. Thumbs up for artfully done nudity. What irritates me is the scantily clad, trampy, sex object images that are typically used. In this case, NB is selling beauty, not sex.

They could balance out the male and female nudity, though. A man in an identical pose would make an equally impressive image.

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