Is the Huffington Post branching out into sexist upskirt shots?

Wimbledon is supposed to be about decorum and propriety. And yet it seems that much of the respect that is automatically conferred upon the male tennis fraternity does not extend to women.

Wimbledon is supposed to be about decorum and propriety. And yet it seems that much of the respect that is automatically conferred upon the male tennis fraternity does not extend to women.

First there was the disgraceful abuse directed at Wimbledon women’s champion Marion Bartoli, who was labeled an “undeserving ugly fat slut” by Twitter sexists for having the temerity to not be a tall blonde tennis champion.

Now the Huffington Post appears to be branching out into upskirt shots of women on court, following in the footsteps of that other high brow publication the Daily Sport.

One Show presenter Alex Jones interviewed Andy Murray the other day, and whilst on the Wimbledon courts she engaged in a quick knockabout.

Alex Jones

For the Huffington Post, however, the most interesting thing to come out of the interview appears to be the fact that a photographer managed to get a pervy shot of Ms Jones’s backside as she smashed a forehand over the net (so you know to stay on the page HP make sure they let you know there are “PICS”).

Huffington Post

Upskirt huff

It’s hard to know where to start with this.

Firstly the Huffington Post appears to believe that the only reason a woman could possibly be news worthy at Wimbledon is if she exposes a certain amount of flesh.

Secondly it looks like a pretty egregious violation of privacy.

Is it ok to photograph a woman’s bum – without (I assume) her consent – to give readers a “cheeky glimpse”?

Apparently so.

Not that the idea of leering at unsuspecting women who are unknowingly exposing flesh has anything to do with the perpetuation of sexism, of course.

8 Responses to “Is the Huffington Post branching out into sexist upskirt shots?”

  1. GO

    “It’s hard to know where to start with this.”

    How about re-posting the picture in a prominent position on your own blog so that everyone can see what the ugly face of sexism really looks like? After all, posting photographs of women’s bums, taken without their consent, is only “an egregious violation of privacy” when other people do it.

    And why stop here? This is such a serious issue, I propose that a permanent sidebar be added to LFF exposing all the latest photographic examples of this appalling sexism under headings such as “Anne Hathaway sexist upskirt”, “Kate Middleton privacy violated – topless snaps”, and “BB star flesh unknowingly exposed – the sensational pics that perpetuate sexism!”.

  2. leftfootfwd

    Bizarre comment.

  3. GO

    *sigh*

    I was suggesting, in a satirical fashion, that the point you are trying to make is diminished by the fact that you have chosen to publish – prominently and uncensored – the very picture you are saying the Huffington Post should not have published.

    If the Huffington Post are violating Alex Jones’s privacy by publishing this picture without her consent, then so are you – aren’t you? (I assume you didn’t get her consent?)

    The other satirical suggestion, and maybe I over-egged this one, is that a story like this presents liberal lefties with an opportunity to do their own bit of ‘leering at unsuspecting women’ while tutting at one another about how awful it is that people – other, less progressive people – are looking at pictures as appallingly sexist as *this*.

  4. Jacko

    It’s not bizarre. It’s highlighting your hypocrisy.

    You know, it’s not left wing policies I despise, it’s this kind of self-serving, sanctimonious, right-on highlighting of ‘issues’ that are designed purely to show what a tolerant, modern, cool guy you are -‘look everyone, I’m so outraged, it proves I understand women’s issues’. Pass the sick bag.

  5. leftfootfwd

    Yes. Men caring about women’s issues – sigh – pass the sick bag.

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