Peggy Dexler, author of a book which celebrates “Raising Boys without Men” …
(future prison guards will appreciate her contribution to their job security)
… writes about the horrible contribution to the scourge of the “male gaze” that is swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated
This year, though, Sports Illustrated has gone too far. In the photo, Davis eager pulls down her bikini bottom and thrusts forward her pelvis in a way that’s clearly meant to draw the eye to that very spot between her legs — far more so than her eyes, or even her breasts. It’s an invitation to picture her naked, and more. And in case there was any ambiguity of what the image is supposed to evoke, there’s the clever cover line that begins: “Hannah Davis Goes Down South. … ”
It is explicitly explicit, and as such impossible not to view it as intending to reduce women to billboards and sex objects. Claiming to portray Davis this way in the name of “celebrating the female form” is a lie balder than her nether region.
Yadda yadda yadda. The usual, and convenient, Rad-feminist prudishness — YAWN.
Hang on, though.
After all, if the point isn’t to objectify women for the pleasure of the male gaze, why has no one created a counterpart magazine featuring a scantily dressed man? Why are men so rarely offered up as objects to behold? Men aren’t the only ones who like to “appreciate the beauty” of the opposite sex.
If the point isn’t to objectify women, and subvert them in some way, then why isn’t there a similar model for men? Instead, most examples of men gracing magazine covers with their bodies on display are for men’s magazines, with a male readership. Why is it normal to “celebrate the female form” but not the male one?
This is what a PhD does to some people – it isolates them from reality.
Women, generally, are not into gazing at anonymous naked, or near naked, men. Period. It isn’t the way most females are sexually wired.
You can get women to snap up pics of actors and other good-looking celebs in all manner of dress or undress. But again, in those situations, these are men they “know”.
It is why magazines like People sell and have a large female readership — while there is only Playgirl magazine, originally launched as the “female gaze” oriented magazine Ms. Peggy pines for, but whose readership is at least 50% gay men.
The “female gaze” is really to be found in the genre of romance novels.
Will someone gift Ms. Peggy a subscription to Harlequin?
Islam has this issue covered.
The Chippendale dancers were too busy getting busy to comment.
Remember way back how SNL had the Church Lady (Maetin Short If memory serves), a stereotypical prudish Christian woman?
That’s from when this was the USA and such nonsense was a joke. Ahh, good times.
Chech Lady ain’t got noth’n on the modern progg woman. And the modern progg women aren’t joking.
“The Male Gaze” is a literary construct. It’s not unusual for a novel (especially 19th century) to depict a man gazing at a woman, thereby “taking possession” of her.
Insofar as you’re studying how the male gaze functions in literature, it’s all well and good. However, lit crit profs cannot resist the temptation to conflate literary conventions with reality, so here we are.
Church Lady is Dana Carvey.
Notice how they used her to mock Christians and then they started using her to mock the behavior of slutty celebs like Madonna.
That’s the usual trajectory of recurring characters who are supposed to be non-lefty caricatures: Frank Burns was supposed to be a smug, Bible-bashing hypocrite but became the comic relief; the Ferengi were supposed to be predatory capitalists but became shrewd comic relief (and not a little Jewish); the Borg were supposed to be “the ultimate consumers” but became the collectivist, Utopian-seeking nightmares.
Hard to keep up a character that’s based on a shallow, null-dimensional caricature in a Hollywood writer’s head.
Yes, Dana Carvey. That was the dude.
I just find it ironic the typical modern feminist type are bigger scolds than a 1970’s SNL skit of a stereotypical Christian scold.
I’m glad I was young 45 years ago; the rules were much simpler.
“Take me buccaneer” she gasped…
For those who want defense from China, Russia, ISIS and other dangers repeat after me, “Our Father who art …”
Raise a boy without a man? You’ll always have a boy.
@DrPeggyDrexler
. ? .
Ooops…that was supposed to be an ‘up arrow’, pointing to the “r” in “Drexler”.
Strange that Twitter formats and accepts ascii characters better than WordPress!
Use ↑ ( ↑ ) or ⇑ ( ⇑ ).
HTML entities are your friends.
I’m confused. Isn’t that intended to be Hannah Davis displaying her raw grrrrrl power for all to celebrate? Are we supposed to slut shame her now? Or are we supposed to scorn the boorish men who gaze upon this latter day Lady Godiva?
What. Do. Women. Really [long pause] Want?
he asked in his best William Shatner cadence.
What. Do. Women. Really [long pause] Want?
just like everybody (right?), having her cake and eating it too
” “female gaze” is really to be found in the genre of romance novels”
The female gaze is a whole different thing from the male gaze.
It’s more of a “I thought you said you were going to mow the lawn today” or ” a few situps every morning wouldn’t kill you, you know” sort of thing. Or ” I told you you wouldn’t ever use that crock pot.”
The female gaze sez: ” Just for men is a shitty hair dye. You look like a mannequin from the eyebrows up you doofus. That’s what $5.99 gets you. Who the hell do you think you’re fooling anyway?”
What. Do. Women. Really [long pause] Want?
Lemme see what the opening weekend box office is for 50 Shades of Grey before I get back to you…
However big that opening is, don’t forget that you aren’t Christian Grey.
’50 Shades Of Grey’?!?…me, I’m curious yellow.
” Six or seven shades of missionary position and spooning with sincere patient mutual affection through thick and thin, strong and weak. And maybe if that doesn’t cut it we can get the thing out and you tell me what to do. “
[…] Protein Wisdom: It takes someone with a PhD in psychology who studies gender to say something so utterly clueless ab… […]
“What. Do. Women. Really [long pause] Want?”
Well if you don’t know I’m not telling you!! </women>
What women really want is to find a man who knows who he is, is comfortable with it, and can be the steady landmark in her tumultuous life — and change him.
McGehee wins a cookie [low-fat].
[…] McGehee: […]
I can’t claim authorship; I also don’t remember whom to credit.
When I read that previous comment back to my wife she informed me that I am her lighthouse.
“Because you’re tall and bright.”
I get the male glaze when women talk about celebrities or clothes.