It’s a hard one. When Demi Moore stripped bare for her 91 Vanity Fair Cover at seven months pregnant, some said it was a feminist stance, celebrating her new found form, others felt it a controversial move by an actress in constant need of attention.
Fast forward to Jessica Simpson’s recent Elle cover (identical in pose) and it begs the question: do we really need to see something so intimate and sacred as a heavily pregnant naked woman spread across magazine covers? Would you have your pregnant naked self hanging in your lounge for all to see?
Let’s not forget the subjects are paid huge amounts to be naked in order to sell magazines (millions of magazines) thus using their newly found maternal status to sell.
They’re selling their bodies aren’t they? Or are they?
Some argue that the female form is no more beautiful than when pregnant and I agree, but these pictures are making me a little uncomfortable. They feel exploitative. I felt the same when I saw Myleene Klass mimicking the pose on Glamour Magazine pregnant with her first child. That “Oh another celebrity cashing in on their pregnancy” vibe.
That “Oh another celebrity cashing in on their pregnancy” vibe. Yes, we need to celebrate the female form and the larger form especially in light of the size 0 culture but is this the only way?
Yes, we need to celebrate the female form and the larger form especially in light of the size 0 culture but is this the only way?
As a female filmmaker (one of only 7% of women directors) I’m fully committed to the positive representation of women and rejoicing in women.
I believe women should feel free to breastfeed openly if they choose to and have made a film for Breastfeeding charity Best Beginnings as well as pregnancy related films raising awareness on pregnancy conditions and other docs for the NHS- I just wonder if it’s necessary these pregnant stars are naked.
What would be so wrong in having a female star, pregnant (heavily or not) and fully clothed on a cover of a magazine? Wouldn’t that truly naturalise pregnancy in a more effective way?
It’s just those dewy eyes posed to the camera, all come to bed and appealing makes what could have been a natural Henry Moore inspired pose, sexual. I’m not for one minute saying pregnant women are not or should not appear attractive and sexy-but there is no counterpoint/no point of difference to these images.
Sex seems to sell, pregnant or not.
But what do you think?
Above pictures Demi Moore cover ©Vanity Fair. Jessica Simpson cover ©Elle.
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