Posing Nude: An expression of women's liberation?

(A Case study)

Setting the tone:

There are numerous adult magazines, in the free world, who routinely publish nude photos and Playboy is just one of the representative names. The artists who agree to pose nude- whether male or female- are paid well. Over the period of time it has come to be recognized as an industry, which has evolved and here to stay. This industry’s reach is spreading into other virgin areas- both virtual and real. The industry’s dominance is best demonstrated through internet traffic, where it is claimed that more than half of the internet traffic is for this purpose!

…An offering in the religion of sport?

Traditional religions- across the globe- were built around the rituals of human and animal sacrifices. In fact Jesus’ crucification is also has same allusion.  Perhaps taking aleaf from their precursors, the modern day religions, popular sports, have also demanded some sacrifice!in stead of the blood here the sacrifice seems to be clothes! What else proves the following fad, where did hard fan declare that they’d bare their body if their favorite team wins? Here are a few such representative examples:

Larissa, Maradona and Poonam:

As Paraguay advanced to the quarterfinals of 2010 soccer world cup, Larissa Riquelme- a 24-year Paraguayan lingerie model- declared that she would run naked through the streets "her body painted with the colors of Paraguay", if Paraguay Won the soccer World Cup.

Just before that the legendary maverick soccer icon and coach of Argentina - Diego Maradona - had also made a similar declaration. Unlike Paraguay, Argentina was among the favorites. Both- Diego Maradona’s and Riquelme's- pledges to bare their bodies ended in heartbreaks, as none of their countries lifted the coveted trophy. If any one of their countries had won, there was a real possibility that the victorious team’s fan would have honored their pledge. It goes without saying that such acts are routine in the west, which is labeled as a more permissive culture.

On the eve of 2011 Cricket World Cup Poonam Pandey- a lesser known Indian model- wrote to BCCI- Board of cricket controllers of India- and sought their permission to pose in nude before the Indian team- if they won the trophy. When India actually became victirous she repeated her offer and wanted to go nude before the players so as to keep her promise and also to boost their morale! It’s a different story that she was neither permitted nor should ever be in the present scenario. She continues to draw attention to here through such stunts- till date.

Now, let us see some more extreme cases, especially concerning women, and try to understand what goes behind such desire to bare the body.

Case-1: LaToya Jackson (sister of deceased Mega star Michael Jackson)

After Posing nude In March 1989 issue of Playboy LaToya Jackson said: “(I posed nude) to show my parents they couldn't dictate to me any more—that I control my life.”

Then subsequently it turned out that the steamy phase of her life was due to Jack Gordon - another man who came in as a manager for her and then forced her to marry him. Then under his influence she posed nude for Palyboy and spew venom against her own family including against his darling brother Michael . When LaToya came to know about Jack Gordon’s plan of filming a pornographic film on her, she managed to run back to the security of the family and became a changed person. Then she admitted that her parents did the best that they could to raise them and their conservatism started having meaning to her.

Case-2: Sila Sahin- a 25year old moderately successful actress and a Turkish German Muslim model (in 2011)

In April 2011, - Sila Sahin- shocked her family and fans by posing nude for the German Playboy magazine. Her response was:  'I wanted to be free' (As reported in Mail online on 19 April 2011).

Source:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1378455/Sila-Sahin-poses-Playboy-Muslim-model-upsets-family-nude-cover.html#ixzz1uvSR3Q7d

It not only angered her family it enraged the entire Muslim community. Even death threats were issued to her.

Whether Sila Sahin really became free or not and whether the decision to pose nude was taken in a calm and calculated manner or in anguish would not be known to us for quite some time. However, it is quite possible that her actions and outbursts may have been due to the same reason, as is attributable to in case of La Toya. And what is more worrisome is: such instances are on the rise.

Looking into the rising number of such incidents, we can conclude that this form of dissent, where a woman challenges the male supremacy through such bizarre acts, constitutes a new phase in the progress of humanity.

A few trends that we can discern from the above two case studies are:

1.      The modern woman is quite different from her earlier versions, she wants to assert herself.

2.      The modern woman feels for the perceived wrongs suffered by the women- through the generations and dissents such wrong doings.

3.      With economic independence the modern woman also craves for other forms of independence- be it artistic or voyeuristic.

4.      At times she becomes vindictive and then there comes a desire to shock the perceived wrong doers- the male patriarchs- and the manifestation is: such extreme acts of defiance!

5    Here it is also points at another dangerous portent! What it means is: with rising living standard the number of visits to the shrinks will also increase!

Last words:

There is little to worry if a woman wants to show her dissent by baring her body. For generations women wore very little owing to practical difficulties and we'd not get too excited if the primordial desire to be one with the nature comes hunting once while. Besides that, I humbly belive that everyone has the inherent right over their body and at times if they exercise that right which appears as an extreme step then the others also should tread cautiously. The best way to deal with that would be to just ignore and give enough time to the disturbed souls to settle down on her own- as it happened with La Toya. Alas, instead the culture vultures get peeved and start another cycle of violence and wrong doings.  When will we grow up?

"How poor are they that have not patience!
What wound did ever heal but by degrees?
Thou know'st we work by wit, and not by witchcraft;
And wit depends on dilatory time." : - Shakespeare (in Othello)