Russia's female athletes strip down (Compilation post)

[qara_isuke]

The first official medal event hasn’t even happened yet, but the Winter Olympics have already been pounded with a fair share of controversy. From journalists revealing the ridiculous conditions of their hotel accommodations, to Sochi officials solving the city's "stray dog probem" by killing the innocent animals, to still-incomplete infrastructure

Comments

[maynardsong]

If it were a 50-50 balance of sexy women and sexy men, I wouldn't have a problem with objectification. People are visual - guys and girls. The problem is that it's very heavily Straight Male Gaze, and this idea abounds that men desire and women are there to be desired. It's fucking bullshit. If that didn't exist, I wouldn't bristle at lingerie clad women, but if ifs and buts were candy and nuts...

[qara_isuke]

If it were a 50-50 balance of sexy women and sexy men

This this this. It really does reduce their female athletes to sex objects, as opposed to the incredible athletes that they are. I said it elsewhere, but I would have less issue with this if one of two things happened:

1. Fanservice-y photoset included their male athletes as well.

or!

2. The "sexy" was connected to their ability as athletes. Like, sexy workout gear and messy hair, with poses that showed off the beauty and strength of their bodies.

But instead we got a bunch of women that look like lingerie models, a couple of which are posing with a sports-related prop. If not told they were Olympic athletes, I would never know. It just goes back to reminding us that no matter how talented, how strong, or how amazing a woman is.....the only important thing is whether or not we look good in a thong and guys want to jerk off to our pictures.

Ugh.

[lied_ohne_worte]

If it were a 50-50 balance of sexy women and sexy men, I wouldn't have a problem with objectification.

Exactly. I'm sure I've photo shots of athletes' teams before, including rather nice-looking men, but this is rather one-sided. Also, those photos look... cheap somehow, rather than artistic. Just compare to these - they are nude photos, but they're art as far as I'm concerned. (Sports students at the university Freiburg did them, the money going to leukemia blood typification.)

[qara_isuke]

Wow, those are incredible.

I think you nailed it with what really bothers me about them. Not seeing female athletes be sexy, but that these look so cheap. They've very Maxim, and nothing in them celebrates that these are incredibly accomplished athletes.

[castalianspring]

"Jeans and trainers, casual 'unisex' outfits on women are frowned upon."

If that's the case, then I don't see how the rest of it (dressing "sexy") is something done freely as an empowering thing. It's just social pressure like anywhere else and deserves calling out.

[moonshaz]

Agreed.

Someone can be oppressed without realizing they're being oppressed.

[policraticus]

Pretty sure US Olympians, and other pro athletes have been part of nude spreads for ESPN and SI.

Demeaning is in the eye of the beholder.

[qara_isuke]

Yeah, they have. Though those, from what I have seen, have consistently dealt with them as still being athletes first and foremost. (The third article has comparisons, showing some of those nudes photos.)

[anolinde]

However, those have been fairly equally balanced between men and women, no? And, at least in the SI "Body Issue" or w/e, the point is to show how diverse athletic bodies are. It's not like, "yaaaaaaas sexy athletes yaaaaaas."

[thepikey]

But in the cases you mention they're doing it as individuals, as opposed to Officially Representing the US Olympic Team.

It seems to add an extra layer of skeeziness.

[robintheshrew]

Just popped in to say that they cull stray dogs at nearly all Olympics. This is sadly very common. :(

[ellonwye]

above deleted comment is mine because I replied on the wrong tab heeuugh