Esquire

Feminist forums have been abuzz recently about the editor of Esquire UK’s comments regarding the objectification of women in magazines.  More than the content of these discussions, however, what is most notable to me is how  mainstream conversation about sexuality uses a black-and-white framework: women's bodies can only be a sex object or a not a sex object.  Thanks to the term “objectification,” bodies are seen as either objects or non-objects—it feels like there's no wiggle room. As someone who works as a model, I think we should instead focus rather than the conversation around women possessing their own sexuality.

Men’s magazines are dubious during the best of times, but so far 2013 is bringing out their worst. Last week, eyebrows were raised by this flimsy GQ profile of Beyoncé Knowles, where author Amy Wallace says Bey's “as hot as fish grease.” This week, the same eyebrows are hitting the ceiling over Esquire’s bizarre, condescending profile of Megan Fox, in which Stephen “Victim of Feminine Contempt” Marche simultaneously exalts and pities Fox for her “bombshell” good looks.

Charles P. Pierce's already obnoxious "36 Reasons it's (Still) Good to be an American Man" slide show for Esquire (Steak! Highways! Football! The word "self-evident"! These things are for men!) crosses the line into offensive territory by listing George Wallace as reason #34.

So, Tina Fey is on the cover of the April 2010 Esquire:

Few people embody the tough questions raised by the advertising industry like George Lois. A brilliant innovator who is responsible for countless iconic (and offensive) ad campaigns and Esquire covers, Lois is both frustrating and inspiring. Which makes him perfect, of course, for this week's Mad World discussion.
Yep, Lois did this.