Comments on: Vonn Watch: Part II

By: CoolKarma

CoolKarma — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:08:42 +0000

I agree with Anna, Vonn (and the other women) who posed for “Sports Illustrated” were consenting adults. It’s their body so it’s their right to prefer to be remembered as just another more- or- less pretty face on a hottt bod than to be remembered for their athletic achievements, right? I also applaud Vonn’s husband’s open-minded attitude for being so proud of his wife inspite of all the rude and crude comments about her on “Youtube”. Mind you, Anna omitted stating the fact that Vonn didn’t do the poses for free, so I suppose it is only natural that he be proud of his wife’s pics after depositing the big fat check in their bank account, eh? But hey, that’s their business too. Vonn’s pictures are just a question of money, there are thousands of women all over the world who agree to pose for sexy pictures for a certain sum of money everyday, it is simply one of the aspects of today’s society….in less than a year Vonn’s pictures will be forgotten because they’re not outstanding in the first place. Talking about being forgotten, the Olympics aren’t even finished yet the majority of males living outside of North America have NO idea which medals Vonn won, nor for which category. I find that to be a shame because here’s a young woman who like all althetes in her category spent years training, underwent hardships and made sacrifices to achieve a dream, and she manages to achieve that dream and for what? To be remembered as, “The Bikini girl”. Wow, well it was Vonn’s choice to do that, however that doesn’t mean I’m obliged to find her choice to be considered as a noble choice……and that’s MY right.

By: Yousf Ojain

Yousf Ojain — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:29:55 +0000

I can never understand why people try to deny human nature, even those whose human nature is just not normal. Most well centered women could care less about what other women do to get ahead. Just think of it from a different view. (if you were a 10, you wouldn’t think the way you do) get it?

Not saying I agree with it, just facing facts so I dont get bogged down…..

By: Anna

Anna — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:45:52 +0000

That’s not entirely true. There IS such a thing as an “ugly” woman sportswoman (myself ) But it’s just that women celebrities have a bad habit of exposing themselves for press or attention.

By: Anna

Anna — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:43:43 +0000

Personally, I don’t think Vonn is being “sexualized.” That would mean she is unwillingly or unknowingly being portrayed as a sex icon. She had to be in the pic when it was taken, so she pretty much “OK’d” both pics – the Sports Illustrated cover, and swimsuit pic. These athletes are ALLOWING themselves to be portrayed this way. If Vonn didn’t like it, she’d probably say something. So if she’s got no problem with it, you shouldn’t either Dr. LaVoi. Lindsey apparently wants to show off her body. People want to see pretty women, and Vonn has the bad taste to give them what they want.

Just A Thought.

By: cbl

cbl — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:23:12 +0000

POV-

I don’t think your example of women’s beach volleyball holds much water. “Meaningful and sustainable” is all together different than men oogling nearly naked elite athletes. Women athletes are generally not considered successful or worth media coverage unless they are heterosexually, normatively attractive. I’m afraid the “success” of women’s beach volleyball is because they are good to look at (and fantasize about), not because they are world class athletes. And, as long as crowds are only there to look at the competitors, women’s sports will never be taken seriously and will not be sustainable or meaningful. They will continue to play second fiddle to men’s sports.

Further, men shouldn’t have to “come around” to respecting women athletes. This idea illustrates long held beliefs that men’s sport is superior to women’s sport (and therefore, women athletes must be attractive in order for them to worthwhile). As long as attractiveness comes first, there is no possibility for respect.

The most astounding aspect of this entire debate that you don’t seem to pick up on is that women are held to different standards than men when it comes to attractiveness and athleticism. It has nothing to do with puritanical beliefs; it has everything to do with the fact that women athletes must be both an expert and attractive, while men need only to be experts.

By: Dylan

Dylan — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:53:00 +0000

Really? You wrote a blog to start controversy. You got it.

By: nmlavoi

nmlavoi — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:33:32 +0000

pov-For being such a critic of my blog posts, you are the most frequent poster I have. If you don’t like or disagree so much with the content, then don’t read the blog.-nml

By: pov

pov — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:29:08 +0000

While your on your campaigning, reflect once in a while that the people who proscribe full veils for their women are as convinced that anything else is immoral and “sexualized” as you are about your positions. And what they say about the results of those transgressions are very much in alignment with what you and others (APA) conjecture. So, if you have the courage to do so please take some time and genuinely ponder whether you are really championing women and their freedom of expression, or if you are driven by other motives that have root in some underlying ideas about morality and virtue.

By: pov

pov — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:21:14 +0000

lol. As soon as I saw the SI pics, I entered your URL sure that you’d have posted an article about it. I mean after all – sexiness? How horrific! I’ll now read what you have to say before continuing.
——-
Okay. I think you’re incorrect. Seeing these pics will likely make more men pay attention to the US women in the Winter Olympics. If you check, you’ll see that woman’s beach volleyball was one of the most watched events in Beijing. And I also think that after that initial hook, most men come to also respect the women for their athletic abilities.

As for the psych report. Psychology will continue to be incorrect about many if not most things. Often because researchers start with their own inherent bias and also because the range of info they’re examining is usually a limited subset. In fact, looking at the report – by their definition only one of their criteria is viable (equating physical attractiveness with being sexy) Now I don’t know what vacuum the authors of the study exist in but yes – of course. Most people used the word sexy to mean a type of physical attractiveness. That’s as true for men as for women.

Ultimately, beyond all the “expert talk,” the studies, the push to brand sexuality with as something dangerous, is an almost puritanical fear and underlying associations with women displaying their sexuality as immoral. A fear and associations very similar to that which leads some cultures to mandate that their women be completely veiled.

By: nmlavoi

nmlavoi — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:05:02 +0000

Alex,
Thank you for re-posting and sharing your thoughts. -nml