I am writing in regards to an article entitled, Taking off my clothes: will it buy me success? in the Oct. 12, 2005 issue.I would like to begin by saying that I did indeed read this article in its entirety and understood the point the writer was trying to make.
However, I did not agree with the insulting way she went about it.
First, I am appalled at the fact the writer would use this as her title. Taking off my clothes? She was making reference to pageants and an after hours school function where she witnessed models strolling down the runway in bikinis. She goes on to say that the models thought their outfits were being admired. By saying this, she suggests that these models were promoting sexual exploitation.
I also attended said event and witnessed this display, however, anyone who may have also been at this particular event saw that the outfits were sexy yet tasteful. There is a big difference between trashy and tasteful. This writer makes it sound as if these young ladies had their butts and boobs practically busting out of the seams; as if they were putting on some kind of skanky strip tease!
This was not so. The models made an elegant, classy presentation and carried themselves professionally. In fact male and female students and faculty spoke of the presentation positively.
Secondly, the writer of this offensive article goes on to talk about pageants, models and modeling and has the nerve to compare it to slavery and prostitution. By this, the writer said that the coordinators who produce these types of events are the pimps, and the slaves or the whores are the models and pageant contestants. They are then sent out to go and sell themselves for the good of being sold or pimped. Their compensation is a college scholarship or simply nothing at all. This is absurd! Since when did models or pageant contestants become something of a whore? Since when did the coordinators of such events become the pimps?
Let’s back this up and define exactly what a whore and a pimp is shall we? Whore, according to Webster’s Dictionary, is a woman who engages in sexual acts for money, a promiscuous or immoral woman. What is the writer really saying? Because a guy or girl models or participates in pageants, he or she has no morals, standards or decency? Are any of these people actually having sex for money? What is a pimp? Also according to Webster’s Dictionary, a pimp is a man who solicits clients for prostitution.
If everyone used these types of analogies the way this writer does, then I could easily say that the editor of The Panther (who is the head of the paper) is the pimp who sends the remaining Panther staff or whores out into the field to capture stories for the good of producing a school paper week after week right? I could also say that people who have jobs are whores and their pimp is their boss. They had to first sell themselves to their boss in order to receive the job. The employer then tells the employee what to do in regards to selling or promoting the good or service and is then compensated sparingly. Thus, making money for their boss, or pimp. However, I choose not to think that way.
Anyone who read this particular article, Taking off my clothes: will it Buy me success? should have been highly offended and insulted to be referred or compared to a whore, a slave, or a pimp. I think that this writer’s main issue is with the clothes that may be worn for these functions. However, the way it is written, it sounds as if the students, particularly female students of PV are being highly insulted for modeling or participating in pageants.
Dang, can more credit be given than that?
-Uniquka Johnson