Every year, ESPN Magazine publishes their "Body Issue" in which they display pictures of naked athletes cleverly guarding their "private parts". The point of the issue is to call attention to the muscular builds and biceps of athletes across the sports world. Some may argue that this is simply ESPN's response to Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issues, which is a very plausible explanation, but not the whole story.
The covers for this year's issue are pictures of Hope Solo, US Women's Soccer Goalie, Blake Griffin, NBA player, Jose Reyes, MLB player, and Gretchen Bleiler, US Olympic Snowboarder. These four athletes represent a good mixture of gender, race, and sports. Solo and Bleiler, the two women on the covers, are known for their attractive features with their clothes on, but obviously the general public is interested in seeing them without any jerseys or athletic equipment. The men on the covers, Griffin and Reyes, however, display the rippling muscles and represent sheer power.
As a subscriber to ESPN magazine, I received the issue with Gretchen Bleiler on the cover, much to the dismay of my mother who nearly confiscated it from me. Her reaction made me realize that the gender of the athlete on the cover changed the whole purpose of the cover. The cover with Solo or Bleiler on it is actually seen more as porn than a display of the athletic build of women. Whereas, the covers with Griffin and Reyes are showing off their muscular physique.
Griffin's cover shows him in a large ring, somewhat similar to Da Vinci's Vitruvian man. Reyes's cover shows him swinging a baseball bat, clearly playing his sport. These both present the athletes actually playing a sport or displaying their athletic build. Solo's cover does show her in a running form, but it is taken at such an angle that you cannot see any muscles defined. Bleiler's cover is simply her holding her snowboard while her hair covers her breasts. At first glance you don't even notice the snowboard. The covers with the women on them are not intended to display any athletic ability.
This is an overwhelming representation of Gendered Bodies. The "Female Body" is presented as something to look at and get pleasure from. While the "Male Body" is seen as something to marvel at and live up to.
These covers help sell the magazine on the newsstands because they fulfill two interests, something to gawk at and something to be amazed by. The Body Issue is an example of the difference between gendered bodies and the way they are viewed in society.
It is interesting how the woman's sexualized-ness is somewhat hidden by the sports. These women still look much more muscular and fit than the dainty women displayed in Sports Illustrated. But I'm interested in how a woman would react to the two covers with men. Are those attractive poses for them? And would their eyes skip Jose Reyes' bat like ours did Bleiler's snowboard?
ReplyDeleteI'll admit it: I think the two photos of women are strange. As a girl, whenever there is a woman on the front of a magazine, I expect to see flat but not a muscular stomach, a well made up face, and a high fashion outfit. It just goes to show how underrepresented athletic women are and how we are so trained by society about what to expect on a cover of a magazine
ReplyDeleteEspecially in the pictures of Gretchen this could be mistaken for any other magazine cover. Her hair is blown back her neck tilted and her arms back pushing out her chest. Although she is more muscular then the average dainty female it still looks as though she is a model with a snowboard instead of a snowboarder. In the picture of hope it almost looks as if she is doing yoga, yet again feminizing her body and making it "intelligible" in today's society. I also find it interesting how acceptable it is for a man to be exposed yet when it is a woman it needs to be covered u and is simply related to porn.
ReplyDeleteIn these pictures I find it interesting that although the women are posing as if to show off their muscles, the men are still in a more masculine position. Almost a full body of muscle is visible. I agree with your point in ESPN trying to respond to the Sport's Illustrated cover. It seems as though they are trying to make a point, but it is obvious that they are still focused on marketing and catching the attention of the consumer. The female still has to look elegant and the man still has to look powerful.
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