Did I just degrade women?

I have a question for the Feminists Group. Your feedback will be much appreciated.

This morning I posted an article on my blog called "The Politics of Angelina Jolie."

The point of the essay was to point out that people seem to be more interested in the celebrity than the erosion of our rights.

The last picture is a titalating image of Vida Guerra with the caption:



At first I thought it was funny, but then one of my readers posted this comment:



I don't think it's degrading - but I'm a guy, so maybe I'm missing something here. The purpose of my blog is to attract thoughtful readers, not offend them. This is why I'm taking this comment seriously.

So here is my question:

Is the image degrading to women? Do you think I should remove it?

If you answer yes to either question - do you have any suggestions on what I should replace it with?

Thanks in advance.

Here's the link, the picture is the one at the bottom.

www.brainshrub.com/politics-angelina-jolie

ON EDIT: I Just edited the picture to make it "safe for work." The more I think about it, the more inclined to remove this.

I think the statement you are trying to make is excellent. I also think you could make it with a less sexually objectifying picture. Why not just a picture of her face?

So you are trying to get people to stumble on your site when they google her name for images. They would still do that with a more modest picture.

And to be honest, no one's going to read/care what you have to say when they are jerking off staring at her ass. Sorry to be so blunt but let's be real here. You're really just giving them what they want while slapping them on the wrist for wanting it.

That should take the fun out of it for most people.

:)

It might even make the point more arresting - sort of "in your face" kind of thing.

Thanks for giving it the additional thought. It's really enouraging to see someone "accused" of "sexist" behavior give real consideration to the person making the claim.

That when thoughtful people criticize you, you should make an extra effort to understand where they are coming from. As a white male, sometimes I do things that inadvertently distract people from the message I'm trying to send.

It's not so much that I'm trying to be "PC", it's more of an effort to remove obstacles between myself and the readers so they can enjoy the work I do.

The purpose of my site is to entertain, educate and start life-long conversations. If that means I have to but a blue dot on Guerra's butt - that's a fair trade-off. (And frankly, I think you're right: The dot does add something.)

One of the reasons I think I've been able to keep my site troll-free is that when someone does criticize me, I try to understand where the person is coming from.

and as a longtime veteran of IRC, I can tell you that eventually you're just going to have to use the time honored drop kick. Some are so lost into delusion that any attempt to find out where they're coming from just leads to immediate nausea and later nightmares.

You did a great job with the balloons and the blue dot, though, making sure the message got noticed instead of only the T&A.

the pictures are kind of irritating. I think that one picture would have been enough and it isn't necessary to use such sexualized pictures.

Overall, good points made though!

asking for opinions. I've griped here before about knee-jerk defensiveness on the part of men re: sexist behavior, and the fact that you asked for a ruling on a possibly offensive picture is very encouraging. :thumbsup:

Angelina's boyfriend be more appropriate if you are discussing her politics? Now, that would be different....a picture of Brad Pitt's butt! You could put a blue dot on it, too.

It's so rare that the male is objectified. I would feel the world to be more fair if men had their penises and asses displayed as often as women's body parts are.

And now that I think about it....there seems to be some new trend out there that when men are displayed w/o a shirt or in a speedo, they are either very fat or Jack Sprats.

Why is that? Does our culture just feel it must always protect the male's fragile ego? By showing either a very fat or extremely thin/non-muscular male, does the 'Average Joe' get to feel better about himself...?

Obviously, I'm a little late to this discussion.... ;-)

personally, i thing the foto of angelina makes your point adequately the 2nd foto, blue dot or no, distracts from the message.

again, we're all aware of ms. jolie's politics. maybe i'm clueless, but i have NO idea who the 2nd person is, other than a glammed-up poster-girl.