While reading Douglas's chapter "Sex R Us" I found her view points on the media to be exceptionally interesting. She starts off by talking about clothing lines and their representation for the new sex age. Calvin Klein's ads had to be taken down and investigated for possible child pornography because they were wearing just the brand underwear. She then gets into the biggest clothing line that makes women feel sexy: Victoria's Secret. Stating that "sexual equality goes hand in hand" (157). Music has also come along way from the The Beatles risque song 'Why Don't We Do It in The Street' to Eamon's song 'Fuck It, I Don't Want You Back'. The difference is noticeable. Also, Jamie Lynn Spears at 16 getting pregnant by her 19 year old boyfriend and its plastered all over the news. Times are surely changing. Parents are also contributing to the problem with young 6 year old beauty pageants. Who do these children need to be sexy for? The media then switches over to magazines such as Cosmo and Maxim. These magazines basis is sex. Cosmo for the women's perspective and Maxim for the mens. Each exploit sex even in this journalistic red light precinct. There are two voices in Cosmo "the savvy female one who knows all about how to please him, and the voices of allegedly 'real guys' who also provide the inside skinny on 'his point of view' and tell you how to behave" (163). Either way its all about the guys. Maxim is every guys dreams: half naked chicks, beer and sports all wrapped up into one magazine.
Douglas then switches over to television and the shows starting from The Cosby Show and change to shows like Grey's Anatomy and 90210 which is all about the sex and mixture with drama. PArents were nervous and stopped watching some whos because of the time switching to earlier in the night when the children were around to watch. Who wants to explain to their 6 year old about three-somes? The problem is, that it becomes harder to block television and sex when its on the news. For instance, the Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky scandal. Now you have to monitor the news as well?
Collins take on Black Sexual Politics covers things such Beyonce and her butt to Destiny's Child and their butts. It seems to objectify women and their bodies but also incorporates racial slurs. All the women are back and their main features are their behinds. What about their voices and their acting abilities? Why are they not featured as the front line tag? Sex might sell but there should be less racial slurs to sell them in.
When I read Collins' article I thought of a very interesting point, that is more or less stated in the argument. That is that black females in the media have value based on how well they can sell their bootylicious assets while black men in the media have value based on how well they can lay claim that their package is bigger than the next guys. It is a very understated stereotype that is not always touched on, that is black sexuality. Why is it that these differ from their white counterparts. When we see a white Victoria Secret supermodel, we do not immediately check out her butt and comment on its size. No, most often we look at her face and then her bust size followed by her flawless abs. However, when we see a black women in print ads or television, whether we mean to or not, we jump straight to their behind. I wonder how much the media has influenced this action or whether its a prolonged reflection of history.
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