So I have a day off tomorrow and it's going to be 75. Can I wear my swim suit?

[KitSileya]

120. The magazine isn't the cause, it's the symptom, and a reinforcement.

Challenging the magazine, or rather the posting of it here, where it is inappropriate, is an opportunity to educate people on the effects of these pictures, on both men and women. SI has had 66 covers with female athletes, and 50 of models in bikinis in the last 50 years. You think that supports the idea that women are awesome athletes? When every other picture you see of women (and that is a serious under-estimation) are of them sub-dressed, showing cleavage or in sexy poses -in many cases all three - what does that do to our view of women? You don't think that has any effect on equality?

The example you bring up of figure skating I don't find very effective, simply because female figure skaters are agents, subjects, not things to be ogled. They go out on the ice and do stuff, and their costumes aren't skimpy as much as aerodynamic, even if they do simulate showing skin by using flesh-colored parts of their costume. No one can deny that these women are awesome athletes - but then they do much more than stick their butt out, look over their shoulders with a come-hither look, and stand stock still while everyone looks at them.