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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/21/guys-stop-letching-over-scarlett-johansson
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Guys, stop leching over Scarlett Johansson | |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| A | A |
| few years ago, while enjoying the indulgence of the weekend newspaper, I | few years ago, while enjoying the indulgence of the weekend newspaper, I |
| was troubled to discover that Marieke Hardy had, among other fine | was troubled to discover that Marieke Hardy had, among other fine |
| qualities, “nice tits”. This was according to a piece in the Sydney Morning Herald’s supplement Good | qualities, “nice tits”. This was according to a piece in the Sydney Morning Herald’s supplement Good |
| Weekend (not online), written by John van Tiggelen, who even | Weekend (not online), written by John van Tiggelen, who even |
| verified the fact with Hardy’s housemate. | verified the fact with Hardy’s housemate. |
| Now | Now |
| I’m no prude, and Hardy is a self-described “hedonist, raconteur and | I’m no prude, and Hardy is a self-described “hedonist, raconteur and |
| bon vivant”, but the piece, which also made repeated references to | bon vivant”, but the piece, which also made repeated references to |
| Hardy’s seductive consumption of a green-iced vegan cupcake, left me | Hardy’s seductive consumption of a green-iced vegan cupcake, left me |
| with an intensely uncomfortable feeling. There was just something that | with an intensely uncomfortable feeling. There was just something that |
| permeated the writing like the unwelcome attention of a relative who’d | permeated the writing like the unwelcome attention of a relative who’d |
| had one too many. At the time I tweeted my pithy disdain, considered it a | had one too many. At the time I tweeted my pithy disdain, considered it a |
| satisfactory feminist protest on my part, and left it at that. | satisfactory feminist protest on my part, and left it at that. |
| Fast | Fast |
| forward to Wednesday when I’m browsing the New Yorker (online and | forward to Wednesday when I’m browsing the New Yorker (online and |
| during a lunch break, because time for newspaper weekend indulgences are | during a lunch break, because time for newspaper weekend indulgences are |
| long gone). This time I’m reading a profile of Scarlett Johansson by Anthony Lane where she appears as if “made from | long gone). This time I’m reading a profile of Scarlett Johansson by Anthony Lane where she appears as if “made from |
| champagne”, her laugh “dry and dirty, as if this were a drama class and | champagne”, her laugh “dry and dirty, as if this were a drama class and |
| her task was [sic] to play a Martini” and her backside, “barely veiled | her task was [sic] to play a Martini” and her backside, “barely veiled |
| in peach-colored underwear”. As Slate points out | in peach-colored underwear”. As Slate points out |
| this is not the first time Johansson has inspired “culture writers to | this is not the first time Johansson has inspired “culture writers to |
| do horrible things with words”, but that’s not the greatest crime here. | do horrible things with words”, but that’s not the greatest crime here. |
| We’re | We’re |
| all familiar with the concept of the “male gaze”, particularly when it | all familiar with the concept of the “male gaze”, particularly when it |
| comes to Hollywood film – the lens lingering on the curves of leading | comes to Hollywood film – the lens lingering on the curves of leading |
| ladies’ derrieres (Lane talks of Johansson’s “contours” of reputation) – | ladies’ derrieres (Lane talks of Johansson’s “contours” of reputation) – |
| a scopophilic guilty pleasure. And, let’s face it, women’s bodies are | a scopophilic guilty pleasure. And, let’s face it, women’s bodies are |
| delightful things to look at, one of the reasons media executives | delightful things to look at, one of the reasons media executives |
| conveniently argue that the economics of the industry make it impossible | conveniently argue that the economics of the industry make it impossible |
| to avoid stereotypes of women. | to avoid stereotypes of women. |
| But | But |
| when respected male writers profile powerful women, is it | when respected male writers profile powerful women, is it |
| wrong that we should expect more than lengthy, voyeuristic wet dreams? | wrong that we should expect more than lengthy, voyeuristic wet dreams? |
| In the cases of both Hardy and Johansson, the writers of their profiles | In the cases of both Hardy and Johansson, the writers of their profiles |
| are accomplished and well-regarded. Their audiences, a “new | are accomplished and well-regarded. Their audiences, a “new |
| intelligentsia”, are likely to congratulate themselves on their | intelligentsia”, are likely to congratulate themselves on their |
| progressive values. Their subjects are powerful and sexually subversive | progressive values. Their subjects are powerful and sexually subversive |
| women. Yet in both cases the women are reduced to something resembling | women. Yet in both cases the women are reduced to something resembling |
| not much more than titillating, slightly fearsome, but ultimately | not much more than titillating, slightly fearsome, but ultimately |
| decorative objects. | decorative objects. |
| What | What |
| is at play here is a struggle between high profile media men and the | is at play here is a struggle between high profile media men and the |
| threat they feel from their female counterparts. I’m not suggesting that | threat they feel from their female counterparts. I’m not suggesting that |
| van Tiggelen and Lane, and other male writers of their ilk, are | van Tiggelen and Lane, and other male writers of their ilk, are |
| deliberately trying to subvert female power, but their approach to their | deliberately trying to subvert female power, but their approach to their |
| famous female subjects does exactly that. They are both threatened and | famous female subjects does exactly that. They are both threatened and |
| enthralled by their “unknowable” female subjects, on which they | enthralled by their “unknowable” female subjects, on which they |
| publically (and awkwardly) project their male desires. There’s not much of | publically (and awkwardly) project their male desires. There’s not much of |
| an attempt to comprehend them beyond their sex appeal. Quite simply, men | an attempt to comprehend them beyond their sex appeal. Quite simply, men |
| writing about women can all too often make men seem stupid, and it’s | writing about women can all too often make men seem stupid, and it’s |
| not OK – for either sex. | not OK – for either sex. |
| Despite | Despite |
| the gradually increasing number of female journalists on a global | the gradually increasing number of female journalists on a global |
| level, it is largely men who remain in decision-making roles. They also make up the bulk of columnists | level, it is largely men who remain in decision-making roles. They also make up the bulk of columnists |
| (in the US the ratio is one woman to four men). Increasing | (in the US the ratio is one woman to four men). Increasing |
| diversity at senior levels of media organisations would help | diversity at senior levels of media organisations would help |
| introduce more informed perspectives. Though female writers can be as | introduce more informed perspectives. Though female writers can be as |
| guilty of cliches (I’m no exception), they at least are less likely | guilty of cliches (I’m no exception), they at least are less likely |
| to drop in the pervy overtones that pervade so much male writing about | to drop in the pervy overtones that pervade so much male writing about |
| strong and successful women. Commissioning women to write profiles of leading women would solve two problems at once. | strong and successful women. Commissioning women to write profiles of leading women would solve two problems at once. |
| Readers too should expect better and express our disdain when we don’t get it. Male | Readers too should expect better and express our disdain when we don’t get it. Male |
| writers, for their part, need to understand the broader implications of | writers, for their part, need to understand the broader implications of |
| lazy, laddish prose. | lazy, laddish prose. |
| You | You |
| can’t have equality without respect. It pains me that in 2014 I need to | can’t have equality without respect. It pains me that in 2014 I need to |
| point out – to the New Yorker, of all places – that successful women are more than a pair of “nice tits” or | point out – to the New Yorker, of all places – that successful women are more than a pair of “nice tits” or |
| “peach-colored underwear” . Seriously | “peach-colored underwear” . Seriously |
| gentlemen, enough. | gentlemen, enough. |