I’m going to start by saying I’m not a prude when it comes to other people’s bodies. For my own body, I cover up and shut up. No one wants to see what’s going on under my unstylish clothes.
As a mother to two young girls, I may now be more conscious about how much skin they see on adult bodies than I used to be. But I think I’ve always been a bit less than liberal with what I think should be shown in public.
I think boobs are boobs, butts are butts, and privates are, well, meant to be private.
My own belief that women have choices with how we treat and present our own bodies is kind of a contradiction to how I feel about the 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue featuring 19-year-old Kate Upton.
I don’t think it’s an appropriate cover to be on display in every bookstore, magazine rack, and as a massive billboard in Times Square.
Shocking to read from me, I know.
Girlfriend has a hot body, there’s no doubt. Great boobs, great stomach, great everything.
But I struggle with being OK seeing a bikini bottom so small that it looks to be one millimeter away from seeing Ms. Upton’s Front Butt.
While I don’t feel comfortable with this cover being everywhere for everyone to see, I’m very much OK with David Beckham’s H&M manties ad.
Though the combined fabric coverage of Mr. Beckham’s manties is only slightly more than Ms. Upton’s swimsuit, he is completely covered in the area of his “privates.” There’s no peek of a Happy Trail, no definition of his bulge, no question that if he bent over, we’d be treated to a show of what’s currently covered.
I’m also very much OK with an ad campaign that shows women in their underwear.
I believe in the celebration of our bodies, no matter their size, shape, and purpose.
I don’t want to have to explain to my girls that it’s not OK to wear such an itsy bitsy, teeny weenie bikini in public, no matter their size, shape, and purpose.
If there’s a chance that your Front Butt may be exposed with a sneaked-out fart, the bikini bottom is too small.
My opinions may be contradictory, but I see a difference in the images and the messages they send.
Or maybe I wrote this whole essay as an excuse to look at David Beckham in his underwear. Maybe.
image credits Sports Illustrated, H&M, Dove
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
I found your web site via a Google search for “front butt”. Your ideas intrigue me and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
(Actually, I’ve been saying for years that at the rate SI is going, we can expect to see a model wearing two band-aids and a cork before the year 2015. Gettin’ closer!)
You can only wish.
And the “found your web site” comment made me giggle out loud.
I’m with you!
(And I loved this line, “If there’s a chance that your Front Butt may be exposed with a sneaked-out fart, the bikini bottom is too small.”)
An Awesome post on BakingSuit´s blog … Puppies and Purple
Totally the truth though, right?
I’ve been saying for years that girls dont fart, they whisper in their panties….but this girl would have NO excuse!!!! hehe
I feel like the difference is that the ads are INSIDE the magazine, while the cover is, well, the cover. On display for any young child that walks by, unabled to be filtered by parents.
There’s also the Calvin Klein ads with (then) Marky Mark an the naked one of Kate Moss, neither of which I have issues with even though they were on the same billboards in Times Square.
And she’s 19. 19 for God’s sake. Couldn’t they at least show someone who’s of legal drinking age?
An Awesome post on Karin´s blog … OMG. I’m old
I wasn’t even going to go there, but… yeah.
I agree with you. She’s smokin’ though for sure. As are Mr. Beckham avd the Dove ladies. And you. And me.
An Awesome post on Hamlets mistress´s blog … Alpaca, I think I’ll miss you most of all…
*blush* You flatter.
How are we NOT seeing her front butt? Do you think they photoshopped the top of her front buttcrack?
100% yes.
Gross.
Either they photoshopped the top of her “front buttcrack” or she’s not a real human – those damn bikini model robots again. It’s actually ridicules that they would photoshop something like that and then try to pass it off as normal.
Mmmm… David Beckham.
Wait, sorry. What were we talking about?
An Awesome post on cindy w´s blog … on Valentine’s Day
Yes, please.
No, you’re right. There’s totally a difference. If that poor girl moves from that pose her whole everything will be exposed… and what’s interesting is that she’s wearing a bikini, which is considered “outerwear” when you’re at the beach, whereas the ladies in the other ad are wearing “underwear” and yet nothing shows that shouldn’t show… our society is so f-ing backwards sometimes…
An Awesome post on Classic NYer´s blog … On suits that don’t fit
Totally right.
Explained to her that it IS ok to wear that when she is being paid over six FIGURES, but NOT when she is in clear heels, an integral part of her job is a floor to ceiling pole, and people pay her by stuffing cash in her undies with six FINGERS.
An Awesome post on Amy´s blog … Stopped Reading Your Blog Apology
Such a fine line. A fine, greasy, glittery line.
Especially since I taught my niece to pole dance: http://www.kidfreeliving.com/miss-buttock/ (not that I have any idea…)
An Awesome post on Amy´s blog … Stopped Reading Your Blog Apology
I didn’t know she was just 19. THAT combined with front butt at risk of being seen really makes me uncomfortable.
Yes. Skeevy and uncomfortable.
We appreciate this post. So very much.
In all honesty, leave something to the imagination! You know?
Can I also just say, her bikini is ugly! It’s not even a color!
An Awesome post on Loukia´s blog … Family Day: You’re invited!
And having a bikini that small on the bottom kinda makes me think it’s a pad knowwhatimean?
this girl agrees. cover that shit up.
Right on.
I’m totally getting that swimsuit so that I can flaunt my scrotum* this summer. (*Scrotum refers to how my stomach looks after carrying five babies in my womb.)
An Awesome post on Lori´s blog … Throwback
Oh, do you think Mr. Beckham ever exercises? I once read a quote where his wife compared his package to an exhaust pipe. Yes, let that one marinate for a few.
An Awesome post on Lori´s blog … Throwback
He can lay his pipe for me any day.
Dont say “front butt” you sound like a 5 year old, say vigina its perfercly ok to say that in public. 2. grow up and women up you can teach your daughters different then the media can…I hope
I much prefer “bagina” to vagina because I never got past the 5-year-old mentality.
Woah! I completely agree and I am in my early 20s! The boobs I thought were ridiculous but OK, but then to scroll down and see essentially nothing convering anything. I hope people, especially teen girls, do not think this is acceptable for your average day at the pool or the beach.
Show me more nice looking girls like.the.first pic and not tubby fatties in Grannie panties.