http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thehumancondition/archive/2010/02/08/lindsey-vonn-on-sports-illustrated-sexist-or-sporty-two-newsweek-writers-discuss.aspx
The cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2010 issue features Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn. She is featured in the photograph wearing her ski uniform while going down a hill in ski position. Looking at the photo, she looks like a normal skier. However, controversy has arisen over the photograph because of the stance that Vonn portrays in the photo. While she is in a ski move, her buttocks are lifted in the air. Some argue that the position she portrays in the photograph is sexually charged and sexist. However, others argue that the photo is not sexual in nature and that people are arguing over something that does not exist. While there are two different viewpoints reflected on Vonn’s photo, it is clear that raunch culture has played a major role in helping attack or defend it.
In her Newsweek article, Kate Dailey publishes the discussion that she had with fellow Newsweek writer Sarah Ball. Both women seem to have no trouble with the fact that Vonn is on the cover of Sports Illustrated posing a ski move. The issue they have is the pose that was captured seems to suggest a sexual nature. It comes as no surprise to them because women athletes are often displayed in sexual positions.
Is this photo sexist, or is everyone who says it is a hysterical buzzkill who needs to get a grip? You can make the argument—and Lord knows, people have—that this is a stylized image of a very common sports pose. Vonn is a skier, and this is what skiers do. But at the same time, you have to consider that these images don’t exist in vacuums—and when people who question this image raise their voices, they do so taking into account everything else they know about women athletes, women on magazine covers, and the seriousness which is paid to women’s sports. Of all the ski positions, the one that makes the cover is the one in which Vonn’s (super-strong, impressive) glutes are shoved over the masthead? Considering that women are on only 4 percent of SI covers, why does this one, intentionally or otherwise, have to resemble something like this? [Dailey 2010].
Dailey expresses her frustration at the fact that women athletes are always portrayed sexually. While they support the Vonn being on the cover they question the pose as sexual implications and why another pose of her could have been featured.
Many would argue that there is nothing wrong with Vonn’s cover photo and that people are simply taking it out of proportion. Looking at the photo, it does look as if Vonn is skiing downhill. At first thought, there seems to be nothing sexual about it. However, looking at it from an analytical prospective, her buttocks are high in the air and the uniform does display the curves of her body well. The question that then arises is why and how can such an ordinary looking photo carry so much sexual objectification and controversy? How did it get to this point?
Ariel Levy would argue that raunch culture is to blame for Vonn’s pose on the cover. She claims that our culture has become centered on sex and it has become a mainstream phenomenon. Levy claims that sex has become such a part of our culture that any object has potential to be sexually objectified. She refers to this as a “disconnect between sexiness or hotness and sexiness itself” (Levy 2005: 30). Evidence of this is apparent in our vocabulary when we refer to ordinary objects has “sexy” or “hot”. These objects could have no sexual appeal at all, yet they have become sexually objectified under raunch culture. As Levy points out, “sexiness is no longer just about being arousing or alluring, it’s about being worthwhile” (Levy 2005: 31).
Many would argue that Vonn has become a victim of the raunch culture. Raunch culture has become so prevalent that Vonn could be a victim of sexual objectification. Her body is being sexually objectified in a way that is degrading to women. She is viewed as “hot”. When “hot’ refers to women, Levy claims that it means “two things in particular: fuckable and salable” (Levy 2005: 31). Vonn’s position in her pose is viewed has portraying just the meaning “hot”. Those who argue that it is controversial view it as a product of raunch culture that is offensive to women and the feminist movement.
The photo on the cover of Sports Illustrated could be an ordinary photo of a female Olympian skier skiing down a slope. It is true that our media is full of evidence where women are sexual objected. However, the raunch culture can be seen as a means of empowerment for women.
Consider the oeuvre of pop singer Christina Aguilera, who titled her 2003 album stripped, (the tour was sold out and pulled in $32 million), mud-wrestled in a humping fashion in her video Dirrty, and likes to wear assless chaps. “She’s a wonderful role model,” Aguilera’s mother proclaimed on a VH1 special about her daughter, “trying to change society so that women can do whatever men do” [Levy 2005: 31].
The raunch culture could be viewed as gain in power for women because it celebrates their sexuality instead of objectify it. It helps women to achieve the same sexual opportunism that is available to men. In this case, Vonn’s photo is actually an empowerment for women instead of a setback.
When looking at the photo of Vonn, two sides have completely two different viewpoints of it. One side claims it to be degrading while the other claims it to be empowering. Although the issue is not simple and clear, the commonality that exists between them is that raunch culture is ultimately a major factor of the issue. Raunch culture has accumulated power within the past few decades. One cannot ignore the impact, good or bad, that it has had on our society. Both sides of the controversy offer compelling evidence to support their arguments. Both represent different ends of the spectrum. However, within the midst of controversy, the one thing raunch culture can offer is a starting point at which a dialogue can begin to take place on the issues present within our society.
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