The 2014 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in Here! Yaaaaaaaaaaa

[Codename Section]

Do you think only men appreciate hot women? Those women chose to be on a bikini cover instead of playing the types of sports that could get them on a different month's cover. I'd say that's their problem.

Some day I'll be on a magazine for MMA or fitness if I'm lucky showing off my body that I worked hard for. But I probably won't be holding my tits.

Can I hold them?

[IzzyB]

Can I hold them?

Did we try that already? I can't remember. Must not have been that great.

[Codename Section]

Did we try that already? I can't remember. Must not have been that great.

[Cigar]

I'd do all of them too. It aint just a man thing.

Stop it ...

[IMPress Polly]

IzzyB wrote:
Do you think only men appreciate hot women? Those women chose to be on a bikini cover instead of playing the types of sports that could get them on a different month's cover. I'd say that's their problem.

Here's why it's NOT simply "their problem". Do you see what I'm getting at? This is about what we as a society value in women and what's expected of women. I'm sure these supermodels are doing just fine. I'm quite sure they've made a fortune off of this. This isn't so much about them as it is about you, me, and every ordinary female on this planet: real women, not models. These kinds of things impact how everyone -- men and women alike -- view women; what we're seen as being useful for. When damn near every magazine cover (whichever sex its made for) looks like that, it sends a definite message that implies specific gender roles. In this case, the message is that sports are for men and women are there for decoration. Maybe YOU don't mind living in that kind of world, but I'd rather not. Personally, I'd like to be thought of as an equal human being with all the potential of my male counterparts, not just as a piece of meat.

[Codename Section]

Evolution is a $#@!. Men like beautiful women who aren't fat. Women are more sexually attracted to alpha males.

[IzzyB]

Here's why it's NOT simply "their problem". Do you see what I'm getting at? This is about what we as a society value in women and what's expected of women. I'm sure these supermodels are doing just fine. I'm quite sure they've made a fortune off of this. This isn't so much about them as it is about you, me, and every ordinary female on this planet: real women, not models. These kinds of things impact how everyone -- men and women alike -- view women; what we're seen as being useful for. When damn near every magazine cover (whichever sex its made for) looks like that, it sends a definite message that implies specific gender roles. In this case, the message is that sports are for men and women are there for decoration. Maybe YOU don't mind living in that kind of world, but I'd rather not. Personally, I'd like to be thought of as an equal human being with all the potential of my male counterparts, not just as a piece of meat.

I've been around mostly men for 8 years. Mostly straight men, but gay males, too. Men are shallow. You won't change that. It's probably like Codename said some feature of evolution. Gay men are twice as shallow as straight men. Look at OUT or the Advocate and you won't see a single ugly male on their covers either.

I don't really worry about what other people search on or want in a child. I doubt my parents wanted a raging lesbian but that's what they got and they learned to love me and my choices anyway.

[Max Rockatansky]

Mysteriously, there don't seem to be any men in half-bikinis on the cover representing "the past", "the present", and "the future". Message: Sports are for men. Stay away ladies.

The message is, "Put your money where your mouth is". Men are more visually oriented than women. Ladies don't buy skin magazines. Even Playgirl is bought primarily by gays and, secretly, late at night, by latently homosexual homophobic Republicans.

If women bought as many magazines of men in bikinis as men bought of women in bikinis, I guarantee you that magazine publishers would be selling them because that's what they do.

It's all about the money, girl, like it or not. Nothing to do with keeping women out of sports or other bull$#@! liberal ideas.

[Max Rockatansky]

It's probably like Codename said some feature of evolution.

It is evolution. Men are visually oriented, women are more touch oriented. It goes with the saying about men will trade a hug for sex and a woman will trade sex for a hug. The porn industry is buoyed primarily on the libidos of men. Men are built for the chase. Women are built for the catch. Women are very discriminatory on who they have sex with because they bear the results of sex which puts them at a survival disadvantage. Men will screw anything they can catch.

In the wild, it is to the male's advantage to spread his seed across as many female's as possible. It's to the women's advantage to pick the best male of the lot in which to mate. This often means men will fight for women. It also explains why, in multiple marriages or harems, it's one male and a several females.

It's just the way we evolved.

[IMPress Polly]

Codename Section wrote:
Evolution is a $#@!. Men like beautiful women who aren't fat. Women are more sexually attracted to alpha males.

So then where are the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues that have men on the cover? In fact, it's pretty hard to find magazines with men on the cover wearing anything less conservative than a suit and tie. It's not the '80s anymore. The days of Rambo-esque portrayals of masculinity are over. Men have largely been de-objectified today. (That's a good thing, by the way! I think everyone deserves to be treated with respect.) I believe this story on the difference between GQ's Men of the Year and Women of the Year illustrates the emergent trend of which I speak pretty well. The visual makes the difference in the treatment men and women get in the media crystal clear, and yes that IS representative of a much larger trend.

I think you can get my point when I highlight that fact. Why does our media and society treat men with respect and dignity and women as little more than sex toys?