Many people think of football as the classic man’s sport. Certainly, the game appeals to some basic masculine desires like physical strength, competition, and bravado. But many women enjoy the sport as well; things like loyalty to a region or player, a sense of community, or even just love for the game are all reasons… Continue Reading →
Dr. Pepper prescribes controversial remedies
Looks can be deceiving (as Reese Witherspoon proves in Legally Blonde). While Dr. Pepper’s new ad campaign seems to be sending a positive message to its viewers (featuring the tagline, “I’m One of a Kind), what message is actually being implied? In the commercials, Mikaela Mayer, who is currently ranked as the number one boxer in… Continue Reading →
ESPN The Magazine: Are the women playing or just posing?
A short paragraph about the physiological wonder of the human body opens ESPN The Magazine’s 2013 body issue. In this paragraph, the magazine calls all bodies spectacular specimens, especially the athletic bodies profiled in the following 36 pages. However, the images of male (10 portrayed) and female (11 pictured) athletes tell a different story. Per… Continue Reading →
Women’s talents: alas, shrugged
I was pleased to learn that the topic this week in my male-dominated political discussion group would be Ayn Rand. If you don’t know, Ayn Rand is a famed female philosopher and author of the novel, Atlas Shrugged. She was no feminist—some would say she was the opposite—but she was strong in her principles, a… Continue Reading →
Why Gabrielle Reece’s retro recipe for marital bliss is, uh, wrong
I’ve never really followed Gabrielle that closely, but she’s always been on my radar as a solid, inspirational role model for young women—someone strong, disciplined, and self-possessed. Someone who hasn’t been seduced by her own her fame and glamour. Given that the archetype of women that’s most often celebrated in the media is often complete… Continue Reading →
Sports Illustrated’s failed attempt to be more “accessible” to women readers
We all know that the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition comes out every year, and with each year, we all groan at the images, growing more and more tired of the airbrushing and scantily clad models. It looks like Sports Illustrated has caught on to our feelings, has decided to switch things up a bit, and… Continue Reading →
Alpha Nail, for a more masculine nail polish option
Alpha Nail, a cosmetics company that claims it is for “Men and Fighters,” is filling the gap in the market for a male-oriented nail polish. What, you didn’t know the market needed male-oriented nail polish? Well, clearly you were mistaken, because men apparently have very specific nail polish needs that cannot be satisfied by mere normal lady polish…. Continue Reading →
Is it a good idea to insult one of the strongest athletes in the world?
I love the Olympics. I mean, LOVE. Every other year I sit poised eagerly on my couch, ready to watch downhill skiers plunge through the snow, gymnasts vault into the air, and swimmers and skaters speed through the water and across the ice, with such talent and skill that it’s literally an art form. I can… Continue Reading →