As a male, I have no issue with women who choose to display their athletic bodies (I don’t have a problem with men doing it either). But, I wonder if I would feel differently if I were a woman.
This is an interesting article from Gene Wojciechowski of ESPN on Amanda Beard’s decision to pose for Playboy and the effect on young girls/women of female athletes posing naked. Interested in hearing comments from others.
http://sports.espn.go.com/...ght&lid=tab3pos1
As a female athlete, this is a non-issue to me. Wouldn’t think twice about it.
BUT (and a big one) as a mother of a three-year old daughter, it makes me feel very conflicted. I only noticed this when I got my copy of Inside Triathlon with Desiree Ficker on the cover and turned it upside down on my night table so that my daughter couldn’t see it and ask, in a way that curious three-year olds do, “What’s that lady doing?”…because I didn’t really know how to answer that question.
-Daneille
If I were a parent I might care, I might not. But I am not a parent and think athletes, or anyone really, should be able to pose nude if they want. I don’t have to look at it if I don’t want to.
But if I were a parent, I dont know
Do kids just instantly start smoking crack and catching aids if they are told that sometimes people like to be naked or look at each other naked?
Is that what happens?
She’s in my top 10.
What does smoking crack and aids have to do with nude pictures? I think the point is introducing sex at a very early age.
Do kids just instantly start smoking crack and catching aids if they are told that sometimes people like to be naked or look at each other naked?
Is that what happens?
I hear ya. But, what about the comment in the article about explaining to the 12 year old girls in the pool why there hero feels it necessary to remove her clothing in a men’s magazine? I think there is merit to that.
I have no young kids to explain these things to, but, I imagine it would be difficult.
Do kids just instantly start smoking crack and catching aids if they are told that sometimes people like to be naked or look at each other naked?
Is that what happens?
Yes, that’s what happens.
Either that, or they get the idea that the only thing people value in women- even women who’ve reached the very pinnacle of their field of endeavor- is sex.
I can’t imagine that such a perception could have any undesirable consequences, of course.
Then maybe the responsibility lies with the parents to teach their children what a “Hero” truly is.
Athlete’s are not Hero’s simply b/c they are athletes. If said athlete is an incredible person that uses his/her position to do things to improve humanity, then maybe they are a Hero.
Amanda Beard should not be a Hero simply because she can swim (incredibly) fast. She should be an example and someone children/people look to to learn how to swim faster, not live their life.
As a female athlete, this is a non-issue to me. Wouldn’t think twice about it.
BUT (and a big one) as a mother of a three-year old daughter, it makes me feel very conflicted. I only noticed this when I got my copy of Inside Triathlon with Desiree Ficker on the cover and turned it upside down on my night table so that my daughter couldn’t see it and ask, in a way that curious three-year olds do, “What’s that lady doing?”…because I didn’t really know how to answer that question.
-Daneille
Ok now you have me wondering(I don’t get tri inside)what was Desiree Ficker doing on the cover?
I tend to think her bathing suit pics were enough.
I also agree there is nothing wrong with it, although I do think it might negatively influence very young female fans.
I’m sure we all hope this “girls gone wild” “it’s like mardi gras!” phase is long over by the time our young daughters grow up.
What does a not even naked girl on a triathlon magazine have to do with sex?
even nakedness does not equal sex
Do kids just instantly start smoking crack and catching aids if they are told that sometimes people like to be naked or look at each other naked?
Is that what happens?
I hear ya. But, what about the comment in the article about explaining to the 12 year old girls in the pool why there hero feels it necessary to remove her clothing in a men’s magazine? I think there is merit to that.
I have no young kids to explain these things to, but, I imagine it would be difficult.
I’ve long been bothered by the “how do we explain it to the kids” argument. Is it really that difficult? Are 12-year olds really that simple that they can’t understand?
**Are 12-year olds really that simple that they can’t understand? **
Nope. They understand just fine, that’s the problem.
A comment like that makes me wish for a parents race category. We obviously live, and train, in two different worlds.
**Are 12-year olds really that simple that they can’t understand? **
Nope. They understand just fine, that’s the problem.
My experience with children is that they’re very capable of being more nuanced than that. I think the problem is that many adults aren’t.
i find it interesting that parents will create such an uproar over something a child isn’t even able to look at/buy themselves, and yet these are the same parents who buy their teens/pre-teens those trashy magazines with Brittney Speears and Paris Hilton dressed like whores and telling the reporter all about their latest escapades from the previous weekend.
In my opinion, Playboy is a tastefull way to show off a woman’s body. Children see a LOT worse turning on the tv, reading magazines and going online nowadays.
Alan, please. Even if 12 year olds were capable of such nuance, there’s no nuance to be discerned her. “Look- tits!” isn’t really that subtle.
I’m replying to the OP only because this is a generic question to all the parents.
I am not a parent, and I don’t get the issue with this, or the Triathlete swimsuit issue for that matter. What is wrong with just saying “Men like looking at naked women. Just like adults like looking at art, or other photography, or cars, or cool bikes. There are just some forms that we like to look at, and for men one of those forms is attractive women. For the womans part, she is proud of her body, doesn’t mind showing it off, and she got paid a lot of money to do it. She chose to show herself, and not all women would do that, which is OK too.”
It doesn’t seem like it has to generate a conversation about the physical act of sex, or when the child is old enough to have sex, or anything else.
So parents, what is the issue… (I am sincere about this, please don’t read this as some form of attack.)
Paul
i dont understand why so many people think that athletes have to be role models. if rothlisberger wants to ride without a helmet, thats his problem, if jordan wants to gamble, so be it, if this chick wants to be naked in a magazine, thats her choice. every person has their own value system and what they do for a living probably has little to do with it. if parents think being nude in a magazine is bad, teach your kids that, dont rely on athletes doing or not doing something to show your kids what is right. if you dont like the magazine, dont buy it or dont display it openly in your house.