In a hilarious example of feminist cluelessness, the Sports Illustrated cover photo of skier Lindsey Vonn has provoked feminist outrage. First, because she “represents norm of feminine attractiveness. [sic]” Now one might think it’s a good idea to put a photo of someone who is attractive to normal people on a national magazine’s cover, but I guess feminists aren’t normal. Still, you’d think they’d at least understand the concept of marketability. Well, on second thought, maybe that is asking too much.
Secondly, Lindsey’s pose offends them. According to the feminists, Vonn is portrayed in a sexualized manner. Yes, I suppose one could interpret it that way, as she is bending over with her rear rather high in the air, but one could also say that it looks as though she is doubled over on a toilet seat with stomach cramps. The truth is that a “tuck” is a rather unnatural pose in normal life, but it is exactly what one does when downhill skiing to maximize control while maintaining an aerodynamic profile.
If anything, the SI covershot is actually portraying Vonn as an athlete rather than a sex symbol. The only thing off about the picture is that she is smiling and looking at the camera rather than looking straight ahead with 60mph wind whipping her hair back. It may be a stylized pose, but it’s an athletic pose above all. It’s really the same as a quarterback posing with his arm cocked back for a throw.
One could say that feminists are being prudish about this, but I think it’s actually something different. Although they don’t come right out and say it, women want to be sexy on their terms, and an unglamorous pose such as a tuck bothers them, even when it is the most technically accurate representation of Lindsey Vonn’s sport.
Subscribe to The Spearhead Newsletter for a free copy of the Book of Zed
