Comments on: Athlete or Pin Up Girl

By: Little Mummy

Little Mummy — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 07:30:31 +0000

I can’t see what’s wrong with admiring their atletic abilities without likening them to a ‘pin up girl’, there was no need to sexualise the women involved as they were competing in sporting events and not modelling. Why does it have to come down to such basic instincts as ‘oggling’?

I don’t have a problem wth men admiring these women but this was a commentator on a well respected tv channel, also there would have been impressionable girls and young women watching the program and I don’t think it’s anymore helpful to blur the lines between sporting achievement and aesthetic appeal than it is to promote anorexia, they need to understand that you can be a success whether you fit into the ‘pretty’ category or not.

By: MsC

MsC — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 23:44:47 +0000

Consider that this may be less bad than it seems. Men (and women) will always have idols who embody what they deem most visually appealing. As a girl just getting into fitness, I’ve discovered that the typically “male” activities such as weight lifting are most rewarding to me as opposed to long, body slimming cardio sessions. Trying to keep myself motivated, I look at pictures of women I aspire to look like. In my searches, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find men writers gushing over women athletes- women with biceps- rather than anorexic models and actresses. This is one such site- To me, it feels like men ARE admiring the strength and ability of a woman when they prefer muscles over implants. I understand how it might seem degrading, but it is certainly no worse than oggling any woman who decides to portray herself in a sexual light, which I don’t think Vonn shyed away from. Either way, don’t you think this creates a healthy image of beauty for women?

By: Of bullies, apologies, slogans, and paranoia | News Time

Of bullies, apologies, slogans, and paranoia | News Time — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:21:07 +0000

[...] Little Mummy comments on either of the gripes Olympics gridiron anywhere encompassing gambol sports femininity competitors are condensation to their desirability because “pin-ups”. and Skip hometown Curling offers a guzzle of the dished British ado encompassing the curling within the athletics – figurine having impartially heater calling for Steve Cram’s gridiron than were castoff encompassing my house. [...]

By: Of bullies, apologies, slogans, and paranoia – Scottish Roundup

Of bullies, apologies, slogans, and paranoia – Scottish Roundup — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:48:53 +0000

[...] Little Mummy comments on some of the Winter Olympics commentary where in certain sports female competitors are reduced to their status as “pin-ups”. And Skip Cottage Curling offers a summary of the disappointing British performance in the curling within the Games – while having rather warmer words for Steve Cram’s commentary than were used in my house. [...]

By: Muddling Along Mummy

Muddling Along Mummy — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:14:19 +0000

Totally agree – hate the sexualisation (and implied trivialisation) of these athletes

Great post !

By: Heather

Heather — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:58:04 +0000

i think it’s really out of order to be honest. these women are athletes, they have dedicated their lives to their sport, achieved something that most can only dream of and yet because they are women and gasp pretty they are reduced to being merely scenery. Sorry, but this really irritates me.

By: Little Mummy

Little Mummy — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:10:04 +0000

Ella – I don’t mind feminists I just didn’t want it to seem like I am overly feminist and I’m having a pop, I just think in this particular instance as you say it is completely irrelevant.

By: ella

ella — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:59:48 +0000

I totally agree. I don’t see how it is at all relevant how a competitor looks in a sporting competition.

I’m a feminist (although I align myself more with the doctrine than the movement) because I believe in equal rights. I sometimes bang on about it a bit on my blog, but don’t hate me for it

By: Little Mummy

Little Mummy — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:35:07 +0000

I think thst’s my point Rosie, it *would* sound really strange, it feels like they’re undermining the achievement of the femaile athletes by talking about modelling!

By: Rosie Scribble

Rosie Scribble — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:31:16 +0000

Oh I agree totally, Erica. They wouldn’t be refering to the men as pin ups or gorgeous hunks surely?!!