Snip from a Hugh Hefner interview to the Daily News (August 1, 2010):
On people who say he objectifies women:
"The notion that Playboy turns women into sex objects is ridiculous. Women are sex objects. If women weren't sex objects, there wouldn't be another generation. It's the attraction between the sexes that makes the world go 'round. That's why women wear lipstick and short skirts."
I think where Hugh Hefner gets his statement very wrong, because he and his entire empire does objectify women, is that women are sexual beings. We were made that way the same as men and yes because we are sexual beings then "another generation" may occur if there is a mutual agreement between adults to have children.
Being a sexual person and a sex object I believe are two totally separate entities all together. Yes, I believe we as women should celebrate that we can be beautiful on the outside and even sexy, but we really truly need to understand what makes us so much more beautiful on the inside. I don't mean to be patronizing in this statement with the old "oh its on the inside that counts," although, I do believe that statement is very true, what I am primarily speaking about is the amazing variables that are women. Beauty should be defined with every spectrum that makes us as women so unique. I am thankful that God made women with all of our characteristics both physical and emotional. I also want to make it very clear that even though our emotions and physical aspects are different that does not make us less, or as Hugh has put it sex objects, but equal.
Different should not define one group as less or stronger. And no I am not naive to understand that "different" has always been the excuse to make one group less then another. It is the easiest way that we as humans can define and group one another. Since we however, now have this deeper knowledge of understanding that we divide based on differences, then why can we not challenge ourselves, society, and this world to shift and celebrate difference and not use them as measurements.
Again, we have another bigger then life figure who is cherished by main stream media and males because of his rouge behavior and idolized worldly life telling us as women what we are and the "title" that we should adhere to as "sex objects." In his one statement he has made women not as equals but as objects to desire, admire, consume, own, keep, control...an object is something you possess not something you feel is your equal, your partner, your confidant, your friend, and/or your lover. Yes, as stated above we are sexual beings but we are not sexual objects...
Sadly the second portion of his statement with regards to lipstick and short skirts, may have some truth to it. I am guilty today of putting on my make up making sure my hair looks nice and I chose to wear a cute green dress. All of these things made me feel better about the way I looked and felt today. Are all of these pieces human (maybe even culturally) made, yes, are the a bit shallow, yes definitely, but am I carrying myself with dignity and confidence? Yes, I am. Is my outfit over sexualized and my hair in its pony tail to flirty? Perhaps, but that would be in the eye of the beholder and we need to continue to challenge men to not listen to the Hugh Hefner's but to see women as equal contributors to this world.
What is our Legacy Women?
“But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”- 1 Samuel 16:7
4 comments:
Comments such as Hugh Hefner's probably reflect the ideas of a portion of our current male culture. But, what angers me more though, is WOMEN who reduce THEMSELVES to merely sexual objects. I believe that the way women are viewed, is OUR responsibility. We have allowed men to objectify us, we have allowed men to see us a merely sexual beings, because we have been afraid to exert our skills, minds, and power in fear of rejection. I wholeheartedly believe that if we as women, would see ourselves as God sees us (as princesses, as creatures of power and beauty, and as a viable contributors to this world) we would not tolerate man's futile way of thinking. I stay at home and raise my children because I WANT TO, not because a man thinks I should. I am so thankful I joined my life to a man who appreciates my independence, and encourages my individuality. You are blessed to have the same partnership with your mate. If women find themselves being objectified, I believe it is our responsibility to change that by not accepting or tolerating those beliefs, and by not conforming to those expectations.
P.S. When you write your book, I want to be first in line to buy it!!!! So proud of you for speaking out!
It mystifies me why women wear make-up at all. It's expensive, most women don't earn as much as men. Why do women fear a face that is real?
As for Hefner, he was one of the early instigators of the modern pornography industry, which is now so out of control, I'd consider it part of a deep human rights violation against all the women of the world.
We could put a stop to all of it by boycotting make-up, beauty industry everything... We could do this. It's pretty easy, and the invested assets saved would build real wealth for women's projects worldwide.
Any time I see teenage girls, I see men preying on them. It's pretty shocking to watch what men do day in and day out in the world.
Sometimes I wonder if they are really fully human at all.
I like the comment that you make that being sex objects and sexual beings are totally different statements entirely.
I think the reality is that the "world acts like the world" and so women believe that in order to feel attractive need to buy into the lie that is perpetuated here.
Heff is only flaunting in our faces what is thrown in our faces way beyond Playboy. It is in every magazine that states that movie star should be a certain size or that the Swim Suit Issue of Sports Illustrated sells more than every other issue combined. It is even on the ads at the "Gap" or "Target" where a size zero woman flaunts her cleavage in our face. We won't even get into Hooters and the other "sports bars" that are not strip joints that flaunt this sexuality. TV- Movies_ Print- we are surrounded minute by minute with the junk that tells us that as women we will only be loved and excepted if our but is tight and our chest size is large.
We are told that men are visual and that it is natural. But- what it does is reduce both of us to this base place. Men think that we can become an object to look at. Women who don't feel they can live up to any airbrushed ad campaign feel inferior. So it becomes a vicious cycle of women thinking they have to make themselves be something they are not.
It is a tapestry that needs to be unraveled. It started in the Garden when we came to see that we were naked and became "ashamed." That is the day we began to distort it all.
But- I think at the same time women long to be captivating. I love the Bethany Dillan song Beautiful. I remember the first time I heard it when she says "I want to be beautiful. I want to stand in awe." I broke down crying. I thought I want to feel like that. I want God to be in awe of me.
But- it is easier to poke and prod the outside than to deal with the insecurities with in. Peeling away fear and anxiety and insecurity and looking God full on in the face and saying I believe it when you say that I am enough- is much harder than putting on make up and feeling ok with the way that I look when I leave the house.
Our legacy needs to be to show the ladies behind us what "Captivating" really is. The most beautiful women are those who are at rest with who they really are. I have a hard time believing that any of Heffs "Girls Next Door" feel that way. They must be exhausted with the facade that they have to put on to make some really old wrinkled man happy to look at them. I wish they could fall in love with Jesus and know we are so much more than that.
Post a Comment