Why women choose to pose naked for Playboy magazines?

[LittleMissAnonymous]

I recently read a question here asking why women choose to pose naked for playboy magazines, I thought this was quite an interesting topic, the original question asker is no longer discussing this topic. When we see images of women posing naked in such magazines, most see her as an individual, she is in control, proud of her body, happy to show it off and so she is said to be empowered by her sexuality. She is also making a living out of what she is doing and is using her body to her advantage. The key thing here I believe is the fact that when we look at these images of women we see an individual and not women as a mass. We don’t tend to think of how this image represents women as a whole but instead we choose to assess the individual. I am interested to know what your opinion is of women posing naked for such magazines, do you see her as an individual or as a mass representation of women, this is a question for both guys and girls.

[hisangel]

Well, I think posing nude and being in Playboy are two different things. I can't say that I am for or against the practice as a rule but I am curious about the route.

If the woman is seeking empowerment through revealing her naked body why is she choosing a masturbatory tool to do it? Cause that's all Playboy, Penthouse, or porn is. It's a tool for masturbation. No matter what the magazine is going to tell you. Their purpose is not art but commerce through pornography.

There are many tasteful, beautiful, classy artistic representations of naked women in paintings, photography, and sculpture. It is done in a manner to show the beauty of the human form. Like it would show the beauty of a mountain or the ocean. Most people do not criticize women who choose this route. Whether that's right or not, I can't say but it is something to consider.

Like the question arises, if the women who pose for pornography are in fact proud of their bodies, why have most of them gone through extensive plastic surgery to alter their bodies to get in Playboy? Most women in Playboy do not have their own natural breasts. Few probably have their natural noses, hair color, or lip size. So it leaves most people wondering what the motive is.

I think it can be comparable to something like dance. There are erotic dances. Bellydance can be immensely sensual and requires years and years of dedication from the woman doing it. I think most people can see why that is an empowering thing. But does that mean strippers deserve the same sense of empowerment simply because they are willing to take their clothes off when they dance?

I think sometimes people misinterpret exhibitionism for empowerment.

[armyant]

It is empowering to those women individually because desirability directly translates to power, but it sure as hell isn't empowering for women in a general sense, rather it is akin to one woman ascending at the cost of every other.

[LittleMissAnonymous]

I think you raised some great points there, thanks for your input ^^

[hisangel]

Oh I see your point armyant. Honestly, I don't think I will ever be able to say it is OK, not because of the nudity, but because a lot of these women who once feel empowered do begin to feel very used. As if they are good for nothing more than their body. I don't care if the feelings are right or wrong. They happen. No one talks about how many of these women walk away with emotional scars cause of this. Cause they don't feel like they earned the empowerment, they feel like they were used and

[hisangel]

Discarded. Which in reality, they are. It is too heartbreaking for me to support it wholeheartedly. Even if there is an element of empowerment for the woman. That element seems so temporary and the scars so permanent.

[hisangel]

Sorry if it sounds harsh but knowing some former strippers, I think people who talk of it being empowering are romanticizing something that shouldn't be. There is a lot more heartache then people understand.

[LittleMissAnonymous]

Thats really interesting, how do these women feel after they finish with this kind of career, are they proud of it or not and does it leaves scars? These are some good questions (If anyone has any experience in this please share)

[hisangel]

I don't know if all have scars. I can't say that all looked back and hated it. I just know some girls who will say that they feel empowered by it when people ask but to their close friends, they have all the thoughts of feeling dirty, like a slut, like they were used. They suffer with depression and frequently feel like men want nothing more than sex and just want to use women for their pleasure. Women or men weren't meant to do sexual things for money. We just aren't. It can leave wounds.

[JennieF]

I was offered a million dollars to be the "cover girl" for a well-known men's magazine. I did do a swimsuit issue.

It was flattering, and I admit that I was tempted. I thought about it, but my brother said, "Jennie, I think you need to rethink that.’ I asked why, and he said, ‘If a little girl goes to the grocery store and sees that magazine and says ‘Daddy, there’s Jennie. Can I get that magazine?’ And then the dad has to say, ‘No, that’s not appropriate.’ How would that make you feel?’"

That hit me like a ton of bricks, and I was like forget it, there’s no way. I accept being a role model and I love the fact that I have the opportunity to be the best role model I can be for the youth of today and tomorrow.

I'll admit that I think about it sometimes, though.

[Anonymous]

What I don't understand is why more men won't pose naked and why women don't express an interest in seeing men naked. The male body is just as aesthetically pleasing, especially when photographed well and under good lighting... look at these pictures (links below). Why don't we get more photos and websites like targeted at straight women... and why don't men find it empowering to be photographed naked and sexy and have women drool over them?

link

link

link

[armyant]

Of course it would be empowering for men to be appreciated by women, but women don't want to empower men.

[icecub3]

I wish my boyfriend had a butt like that.

[Opinion Owner]

Interesting point. I've actually gotten the impression that for guys, posing nude is considered gay and not empowering, but that women are quite willing to appreciate and empower when given the opportunity. The internet was flooded when the Harry Potter star was nude in a play; women freaked out when Daniel Craig was chosen for James Bond because they thought he wasn't attractive, but then were appeased by shots of his hot body on the beach in the movie. So why can't we get more hot male nudity?

[Opinion Owner]

And another example - the Armani underwear ads featuring David Beckham were raved about by women. I remember some women or celeb claiming seeing those ads changed her life - I remember thinking the same thing, as I had never seen such a hot body photographed that way... and after that I went looking for more/similar images, but only wound up frustrated that there's just not much more to find.

[avksx]

If only David Beckham didn't have such a nasally voice.

[Opinion Owner]

Who cares about his voice when you're looking at his picture, I don't even know that because I never bothered to hear him speak - I just look at him :)

[l-hedoniste]

"When we see images of women posing naked in such magazines, most see her as an individual, she is in control, proud of her body, happy to show it off and so she is said to be empowered by her sexuality."

No, we don't.

While I would call this the correct, accurate, decent view, I would NOT call it the predominant view. The predominant view, I think, is wildly misogynist, even (especially?) among women.

Glance at the discussions on this site regarding such women. You'll hear a lot of words to describe these women. "Empowered" is rarely one of them. Men, oddly, are rarely discussed at all.

I think your view *ought* to be the majority view, but you're mistaken if you think we're there already. We still have some fighting to do.

[LittleMissAnonymous]

By the way I'm not expressing my own views on the subject here but the views of those in my class when it was discussed at a lecture at college, a majority of girls said they felt it was empowering (and the other things I mentioned above) others found it offensive. I wanted to further anaylse peoples views on the subject and that's why I posted it here. Not many guys wanted to express there views openly infront of everyone and I believe I will get more honest answers here. Thanks for the input ^^

[avksx]

My brother-in-law's cousin was a playboy model for a few issues and she said the same thing when I asked her about it. She did it because it made her feel sexy and confident in her self. She said it was a big turning point in her life.

I'm a bit fuzzy on what you're asking when you say "representation of women as a whole", so I can't answer that...

Personally, I don't see a problem with it. Its your body. Do whatever you want with it.

[lelebear]

I know I would pose if I got the chance. I think these women are very confident and empowered. What I do disagree with is them altering their bodies with plastic surgery just to appeal to men. Its one thing to do it for yourself but quite another to do it for someone else. People should be proud of what god gave them.

[armyant]

Empowerment, independence, pride, empowerment, being in control, empowerment...

Oh, and they get paid to.

[EddyMetal]

Money.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely Nothing Wrong With Women Posing In Non Sexual, Non Hardcore Photos Naked… The Human Naked Body Is Beautiful, It Is Meant To Be Seen, Not Covered Or Shamed… I Have Posed Naked In Many Photoshoots, My Photos Have Been Featured In International Magazines And Websites… I See Her As An Individual, Not A Sex Object, She Is Proud Of Her Body, Nothing Wrong With Showing It Off…