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Reactions: McCallum's Hot Button Topless Thompson: empowering or engaging?
In this week's Hot Button column Dressed down, Sports Illustrated’s Jack McCallum writes about the controversial picture that accompanied his article on swimmer Jenny Thompson in the August 14th issue of Sports Illustrated. Users have been quick to add their two cents on the subject. Here is a sampling of feedback:
The idea was Thompson's and she is right; an image of a strong female is virtually unseen. Had she worn a top, she would be more easily identified as a woman. I would argue that a lack of top in this picture portrays her more as just a great athlete who is proud of the body she has worked so hard to create. Congratulations.
Isn't it amazing? Anytime Sports Illustrated wants to do a profile on a woman athlete, she is barely clothed (Anna Kournikova and now Jenny Thompson). How about changing the title to Sports Titillated?
Yes, Jack, it would have been better not to use the photo as the lead shot. But part of the story that is Jenny Thompson is the incredible effort she has made to remain in top physical condition. This isn't a fluff-head with just a nice body. She's an intelligent, athletic, adult who has managed to balance a lot of goals in her life. The women's movement would do well to have her as a spokesperson for the fact that you can have it all with the right amount of determination and effort.
I think Jenny looks great. Swimming needs a superstar, and looking good certainly helps her cause. It's all about selling yourself to make the money, and Jenny seems to be no dummy. You always read about the great American male swimmers but never the women. It's about time people take notice of the women. I hope she kicks butt in Sydney and graces a box of Wheaties.
What is the big deal? I would bet that the only women who have a problem with her posing topless are those who are jealous of her world-class athletic body. Furthermore, this picture is no more revealing than if she were wearing a swimsuit top. Simply because her breasts are covered by her hands instead of a small piece of fabric does not make this some sort of hyper-feminist, degrading shot.
Just because the photo was available doesn't mean you had to use it. While I certainly admire the body, I think it detracts from the message of the story.
Not a question as much as an observation: With respect to Ms. Brennan, it seems to me some women want all the freedoms and rights of men, but none of the responsibility (specifically, responsibility for one's own actions) that goes with said freedoms. Touché to Ms. Thompson and her security. It seems, sometimes, if a woman can't or doesn't take her clothes off we are suffocating the feminist movement and when they are allowed to make their own decisions and, perhaps, disrobe, we're exploiting it. I use this context since it is the one of the story. Perhaps I am more sexist than I wish to admit but, again, touché, Ms. Thompson!
I think that people are overreacting to the Jenny Thompson photo as they did with the Brandi Chastain celebration during the World Cup. The photo of Thompson was tastefully done and shows that women can be both worldclass athletes and beautiful at the same time. If Jenny was comfortable with the photo shoot, that is all that matters. What's the difference between this and SI swimsuit models posing in bottoms and strategically crossed arms?
Although I can understand some of the concerns regarding female athletes shedding clothes, I just don't see the problem here. Jenny Thompson's photo celebrates her athleticism and confidence. That is a vivid departure, for example, from SI's Kournikova pics in which a very young woman trades on a fantasy image of female sexuality, albeit, fully clothed. The fact that Jenny is topless does not detract from the overall impression of athleticism, power and determination. There's none of the gratuitous pouting, heavy makeup, or overtly sexual posturing that was present in the Kournikova pics.
As I opened the page to your article on Jenny, I was disappointed. Not disappointed in the photograph itself but I instinctively knew that the message contained in the article would be lost in the furor triggered by the topless pose. It is not remotely pornographic, it just detracts from the very fine story which is worth reading. Too bad, because Jenny's story is compelling.
Controversy = Publicity. Whether Jenny Thompson's "topless" photo is sexist or not doesn't matter. It got more attention (for her and the sport) than if she had been fully clothed. Is it negative attention? Not unless all the swimmers plan to swim nude. Jenny Thompson is no sex symbol, she's not a swimsuit model. She had the swimming gig before she took her top off so it's hard to argue either sexism or exploitation. It's all publicity and it works. If it makes you look, or makes you mad, it did the job. How many people had never heard of Harry Potter before conservative parent groups tried banning it from schools? Kudos to Jenny for playing the system for what she could get out of it.
As a friend and former teammate of Jenny Thompson's, I would just like to say that I support her decision to pose for this picture. Jenny symbolizes a woman's strength and courage. The achievements and the longevity of her swimming career makes her one of the greatest athletes this country has ever seen. I think she is ready to win a gold medal in Sydney.
As a former collegiate swimmer, I am appalled that Jenny Thompson would pose for such a photograph. Jenny is a role model for many swimmers of all ages and as such, she should be more sensitive to the impact that her actions might have on impressionable young athletes. I think Jenny has a right to express her morality, but as an Olympic swimmer in the public eye, she represents not only the sport of swimming, but the USA as well.
Love the picture, think some of my "sisters" out there need to chill out and stop being so sensitive. They're just breasts, and the last time I checked women were still more than the sum of their parts.
It is equally condescending that some women writers feel that she is wrong to pose this way -- merely because her top is off. Why is holding one's hands over one's breasts less demure or more "shameful" than wearing a wet bikini top? Or a sports bra? The USA Today writer states that she's happier with a picture of Jenny's wide lats -- what about those skimpy shorts? Oh my gosh! Some Americans are still so puritanical and uptight about "perceived impropriety" and about the tiniest bit of flesh. Europeans see more at the beach everyday. And why shouldn't Ms. Thompson be proud of her hard work on her body? If a football player in training camp has on tight shorts, are they too immodest? Men are never accused of that, as they stand naked during locker room interviews with women. To all women writers who aren't as proud of their bodies -- give the double standard a rest and get off your soapbox!
I wonder if it had been a story on a male swimmer, would you have considered doing a picture of him without his trunks and his hands discretely covering his privates?
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