Dear progressive media: As much as I like naked ladies, please stop displaying naked ladies.
By Ari | Jul 24, 09 09:55 AM
I try to stay positive when bloging - I used to be more critical, posting more firey activist ramblings, but have learned that that is not so productive. But. I have to post this.
What is with mainstream media and progressive blogs covering Michelle Obama's hairstyle and clothing? Why are they constantly taking polls to see who approves of Hilary Clinton's suits? And when someone in the public eye has a "nip slip" or poses naked in a magazine, or displays cleavage at an event, why does everyone republish those photos and ask for reader opinions?
This kind of objectification is not helpful.
This is sexism, and it perpetuates sexism.
We live in a society in which women's bodies are constantly under observation and evaluation. Yes, men's too, but the reality of our world is that women are under particular scrutiny. Ours is a history of exploitation and domination and systemic violence that has not stopped.
I visit a lot of progressive blogs, and some of them shock me with their seeming ignorance of the harm this objectification does to women and to the cause of feminism. I've started leaving comments and writing letters and speaking out when I see it, instead of fuming silently.
As long as I'm writing about this, I want to call progressive organizations and campaigns on the same fault. Yes, people might use their bodies willingly to draw attention to something they care about, and they may reach new audiences because "sex sells," but that does not make the sexist objectification of women acceptable or productive.
Dr. King said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." He wasn't speaking about this particular issue, but his words are true in every situation. There is no place for the perpetuation of sexism or any other ism in any social justice movement, and we all have a responsibility to root out these stale old tropes from our collective vocabularies so we can move on, together, in equity and in peace.
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