Photographer Visualizes Media Hypocrisy Surrounding Women's Bodies

Even before Kim Kardashian “broke the internet” with her nude photos for PAPER magazine, people, particularly young women, started talking about the sexualization of women in the media. Such was the case for photographer Krista Rudolph who decided to use the medium to express the hypocrisy in the portrayal of women’s sexuality. Rudolph designed a series of side-by-side photos with men and women posed in the same outfits and positions (which can be seen here).

On her website Rudolph said “The idea behind this is that women are frequently oversexualized in the media; you rarely see a magazine cover or advertisement containing women where they are not shown in a sexual manner. However, men are not constantly seen that way in the media in the same way that women are….I did this to show how ridiculous it would be if we put men in the same situations as we put women in the media.” The series of photos is a stunning visualization of the hypocrisy often surrounding women's bodies and how they are portrayed and often used in media, particularly in advertising. It represents one of the many great contributions from young women to the conversation surrounding representation of women that's taking place right now. Viral photos of Kim Kardashian may get people talking, but it is work like Rudolph's that will keep up talking about this critical topic.

Take a look at the photos and Rudolph's description of the work. I guarantee it’s worth your time. You can also see more about Rudolph's work on her website.

Good But Not Good Enough: Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel Movies Slated for Production

If you’ve ever taken the time to peruse my writings (like this one or this one or this one), you’ve probably noticed that I’m a big fan of TV and film adaptations of comic books so you might assume that I’ve been excited by recent news of plans for Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel films. And you would be mostly right. I am looking forward to these movies, but I’m left a little disappointed because, in all honesty, this just isn’t enough.

On their own a Wonder Woman movie and a Captain Marvel movie seem like a big move, a long-awaited gesture to acknowledge the many female fans of the DC and Marvel franchises or just the many decent human beings who believe female stars can carry action films. After all, Scarlett Johansson’s Lucy killed at the box office this summer and fans have been begging for a Black Widow movie in droves. As one Tumblr user aptly puts it “I’d rather watch Black Widow file her taxes than an Ant Man movie.” The demand for female-led superhero movies is out there and so are legions of female fans. With women comprising 40% of The Avengers opening weekend audience, no one can deny that women go see superhero movies. With Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel, it seems studios are finally beginning to cater to this audience, but I call bullshit.

It's time to call Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel what they really are: lip service. If Marvel and DC really wanted to acknowledge female fans or the demand for female superheroes, they would offer more than just one film apiece among a slew of movies with the same old male protagonists and newer, absurdly obscure, yet still male, protagonists. I have about as little interest in another Iron Man movie as I have in an Aqua Man movie, that is to say none.  And don’t even get me started on how much more I’d pay to see a female Thor, as she is in the comic books, instead of another movie starring Chris Hemsworth as a dreamy, but somewhat bland Asgardian. Franchises like the Avengers and the Justice League may be solid bets, but I am hard pressed to believe that a Black Widow movie wouldn’t bring in just as much as any Captain America movie.

While it is a commendable step in the right direction for Marvel and DC to even be making the two female-centric movies on the slate, it’s simply not a proportional response to the demand for such movies. Movie watchers are moving forward at an alarming pace, it’s time for movie makers to catch up.

Consulting Feminist's Fall Pilot Roundup

It’s that time of year again! Fall TV season has returned and viewers are awash in new shows. Thankfully, if you don’t have time to watch all of the pilots out there, I’ve tackled a few for you and I’m sharing my thoughts here from a feminist perspective and as a regular TV viewer. Here’s to the 2014 season!

Madam Secretary: I LOVE THIS SHOW. I loved it by the end of the pilot. Madam Secretary combines the intrigue of Scandal and House of Cards with the storytelling and dignity of The Good Wife and The West Wing. In Tea Leoni’s Secretary Elizabeth McCord, we find the oft-missing representation of a woman who manages to do it all, though, not without the realistic struggle. Madam Secretary does not continue to ask if a woman can have it all. Rather, it tells the story of a woman who does successfully balance work and family with grace. This is such a welcome departure from what I’m used to seeing on TV and I absolutely will be back for more. (CBS/ Sundays at 8/7c)

A to Z: A to Z is an interesting concept. Here we have essentially a romantic comedy told as a television series. Within five minutes we know exactly how long the two main characters, Andrew and Zelda, will date. Aside from one plot line that involved Andrew essentially stalking Zelda online to make a point, I had no major problems with the pilot, though only time will tell whether A to Z will be truly original or rely on outdated and sexist tropes. I’m willing to give it another chance and I’m curious about whether the concept will work out. (NBC/Thursdays at 9:30/8:30c)

The Mysteries of Laura: So done with “can she have it all” story lines and that is all that The Mysteries of Laura is. I was tired of it before the pilot was over. (NBC/Wednesday at 8/7c)

The Red Band Society: I have a lot of reservations about the way this show portrays chronic illness, especially one character’s eating disorder. That said, the storytelling is well done and Red Band boasts a relatively diverse cast. I’ll continue to watch and may take time to expand on some of my criticisms in a longer post once I’ve seen more of what The Red Band Society has to offer. (FOX/Wednesdays at 9/8c)

Selfie: Selfie was probably the funniest pilot I’ve watched so far and it’s not getting the viewership or reviews it deserves, but I hate the idea of another Eliza Doolittle. I feel like this has been done and, honestly, I find the whole Pygmalion concept a little bit creepy. The story of Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle is a quintessentially disempowering one for Eliza. She can only win the love of a man and a proper place in society when she ceases to be herself and bends instead to become purely an object of her male counterpart’s desire. If it lasts long enough, I hope Selfie turns this idea on its head and tracks the progression of a relationship in which both parties change and learn from one another. I hope Eliza continues to be Eliza and Henry continues to be Henry, but better together. (ABC/Tuesdays at 8/7c)

NCIS: New Orleans: I’ve genuinely enjoyed the first two episodes of the second NCIS spinoff. I quit watching the original about a year ago, but New Orleans brings back the spunk and charm of the NCIS brand, but with a Southern twist and the police procedural feel of NCIS’s early seasons. I’ve also been pleased that there’s no rush to pair off the characters of Lasalle and Brody as a couple and I hope to see their growing friendship explored more deeply. The cast could do with a little more diversity as the primary characters are 60% male and 80% white, which seems less than representative of the actual city of New Orleans. For now, I’ll say that I’ll be tuning in regularly. (CBS/ Tuesdays at 9/8c)

Forever: Forever presents an interesting twist on the crime procedural. This show could combine the success ABC has seen with fantasy like Once Upon a Time with a traditionally strong genre. It’s reminiscent of another ABC staple, Castle. However, as interesting as it is, the main cast is dismally male and dismally white. I would really like to see some more female regulars and greater diversity. (ABC/Tuesdays at 10/9c)

How to Get Away with Murder: Praise be to Shonda. That is all. (ABC/Thursdays at 10/9c)

Jeopardy! Rewrite: What Women Really Want

Recently Jeopardy! ran a category of clues with the them “What Women Want” and, unsurprisingly for a show with only 2 female producers out of 9, it was completely offensive and relied entirely on outdated stereotypes. I, for one, was surprised that what I want is a pair of Levi’s, a vacuum cleaner, and a cup of Sleepytime tea. I was so surprised (and offended) that I took the time to come up with a list of what women really want for a future “What Women Really Want” category.

   To receive the same rate of compensation for the same tasks as men do

      What is equal pay for equal work?

   The ability to safely obtain birth control for reasonable fees.

      What is access to contraception?

   A 50% ratio of men to women in the United States’ legislative body

      What is equal representation in Congress?

   An occupant of the Oval Office with two x chromosomes

      What is a female president?

   The name of an iconic Aretha Franklin song. Don’t make me spell it out for you.

      What is respect?

Of course, there are only five clues in each Jeopardy! category so I had to leave a few things out like paid family leave, an end to rape culture, equal representation in television and film, and education for all women and girls around the world. But as the producers of Jeopardy! can tell you, sacrifices have to be made and you can't include every good clue in a category. Or, in the case of "What Women Want", you can't include any.

On the Firing of the Ohio State Marching Band Director

For the last three years, I have been proud to call Ohio State my home. This week, as I prepare to enter my senior year at OSU, I have been surrounded by articles and opinions concerning the recent firing of the marching band director Jonathan Waters after a two-month investigation revealed a “culture of sexualization” and sexual harassment in the band. As I have read the report and listened as various students, staff, and alumni shared their opinions, I have, naturally, drawn my own conclusions and formed my own opinion, an opinion that, until now, I have been hesitant to share publicly, but I feel I must say that I believe the university made the right decision in firing Waters.

I am disappointed at the loss of such talent from our university, but I applaud the university administrators and President Michael Drake for taking substantial action to end a culture of sexual harassment in the band. I do not envy President Drake for the task of firing a wildly popular band director in his first weeks as the president of the university, but I support him wholeheartedly in his decision to do so.

I stand 100% behind Ohio State administrators and President Drake. At a time when over 50 colleges and universities, including Ohio State, are under investigation by the Department of Education for compliance with Title IX, it is clear that we live in a culture of complacency regarding sexual harassment and assault on college campuses. By taking action to curb a hostile environment in the marching band, Ohio State has bravely started to fight that culture of complacency on its own campus. Actions (and inactions) must have consequences when it comes to sexual harassment and hostile environments. While it is unfortunate that Waters had only two years to reverse the culture of sexual harassment in the band, his firing was a necessary consequence of both his own lack of appropriate action and the band members’ inappropriate behavior.

I’ve heard or read repeatedly that some or most band members didn’t have a problem with the culture of the band, but this is still not an excuse for band staff ignoring the complaints of those who did have a problem. Title IX was not designed to protect the vocal majority, but rather to protect the silent minority. In this case, the law did just that as it protected the students for whom the behaviors outlined in the report did create a hostile environment. Those students may have been afraid to speak out against band traditions in the face of the many students who perpetuated the traditions. It doesn’t matter if 1 or 100 people had a problem with the behaviors going on in the band; Title IX applies regardless. Even if most members had no problem with the culture of the band that does not make it acceptable. What is popular is not always what is right, and creating a hostile environment simply isn’t right.

After witnessing firsthand the 2011 football season and a devastating loss to That Team Up North, I can confidently tell you that the deep sense of Buckeye pride associated with Ohio State is about so much more than what happens in Ohio Stadium on Saturdays in the fall. Just as we do not live and die by our football record, we will not live and die by the number of walking dinosaurs the band creates. Certainly, I, along with many others, have enjoyed the success of both the band and the football team in the last year, but their successes and failures do not define my own pride in the wonderful community I am so privileged to be a part of. Just as the football team survived the loss of Coach Tressel, the band will survive the loss of Director Waters. If they have a weaker year because of it, then so be it. Fans will cheer just as loudly for TBDBITL as they would any other year. As for me, I am as proud as ever to be a Buckeye.