When University students Whitney Leigh and Terri Lynn Farrow chose to try out for Playboy’s “Girls of the SEC” issue, comments from disapproving readers abounded on The Daily Reveille’s Web site.
This past week, “Girls of the SEC” was released to newsstands.
Before students decide to judge Leigh and Farrow, they should make sure they know the facts about the magazine.
Here are some common misconceptions about Playboy:
1. Playboy is a porno mag.
Playboy features nude photography, not pornography. Unlike magazines such as Hustler and Penthouse, Playboy does not feature models engaging in sexual acts.
Women who have posed for Playboy in recent years include supermodel Cindy Crawford, Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron and the 1996 Miss Universe Alicia Machado – not exactly a list of porn stars.
2. Playboy advocates sexism.
While some may argue Playboy increases sexism through its portrayal of women, the magazine is quick to assert its stance that men and women are equal.
In the past several months the Playboy Advisor received letters debating whether a wife is obligated to have sex with her husband if she is not in the mood. The Advisor’s responses consistently defended a wife’s right to decide when she wants to have sex.
In March, when asked the proper way to shake a woman’s hand, the Advisor insisted a woman deserves the same handshake as a man.
These answers are consistent with the magazine’s insistence that men and women be treated equally in bed, in the workplace and everywhere else.
3. Men never actually read the articles.
“I just buy it for the articles” has long been an excuse from embarrassed Playboy subscribers. What many people don’t know is the magazine actually is renowned for its literary and political content. Playboy’s monthly selection of short fiction has featured such writers as Kurt Vonnegut, Ian Fleming and Shel Silverstein. As a forum for discussion on social and political issues, Playboy has featured world figures such as media scholar Marshall McLuhan, President Jimmy Carter and Microsoft mogul Bill Gates. That lineup seems more fitting for the Wall Street Journal than for a so-called porno mag.
With all of this said, I will be the first to admit Playboy has its faults. In recent years, Playboy has evolved to appeal to as large an audience as possible. As a result, the magazine’s content has suffered. The interviews are less scholarly, the photos are less tasteful and the models are less interesting.
However, certain things have not changed. And before people pass judgment on Playboy or the women who pose for it, they should actually pick up a copy.
—-Contact Michael Mims at mmims@lsureveille.com