The Perfect Body Painting

The 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue has recently been released and it seems more degrading than ever. Yes, this magazine has always objectified women and has sent the message that their soul value lies in their body and their beauty. But it seems that this issue goes one step further. The women typically featured in Sports Illustrated wear next to nothing, but this time some of the women only wore paint. Meaning some had bathing suits painted on them. I have an issue with this. These women are physically not wearing clothes; although they maintain some ‘modesty’ there is nothing other than paint covering them. Is this the kind of women we want portrayed on magazines? Are these the ideas we want to send to young girls? Is this the only way women can be seen as pretty now a day? I know that the magazine covers in the past show women wearing barely-there swimsuits, but the fact that there are some not even wearing bathing suits is a whole other issue. The whole concept behind this addition seems ridiculous, sexist, and disgraceful. It basically suggests that being naked is the only way to get attention and be beautiful. The theme is ‘the perfect body painting’ continues to objectify women and place value on their body. It portrays women in the media as a commodity and a body prop rather than someone with talent and intelligence. What’s next?