I recently received an email from RESOLVE about spokesperson Cindy Margolis's decision to model for the December issue of Playboy (my husband's response: "see...I told you Playboy has great articles"). I'm assuming that there has been a backlash from RESOLVE members and they put out an official statement explaining their position that Margolis's professional decisions are her own. Without supporting or condemning her photoshoot, they addressed it as well as the fact that Margolis will continue to be a spokesperson for RESOLVE.
And while I'm normally not a fan of magazines that objectify women and if I catch my husband with this issue he will be an extremely sad man, but...
I think it rocks.
I think a sexy woman, lounging about in almost no clothing, talking about infertility is bold. Frankly, infertility made me feel extremely unattractive. Profoundly unsexy. Grabbing the fat on my stomach to do an injection while Victoria Secret models paraded around the television whispering about their skintimately fantastic bras made me feel like Ursula in the Little Mermaid. A fat, dried up sea-creature-of-a-woman with a messy ponytail and tear streaks on my face.
So I'm all for Cindy Margolis showing off her breasts and taut tummy (her post-IVF, post-motherhood body). I'm all for men who see her as a sex symbol reading about her infertility experience (one son via IVF and twins via a surrogate). Do I think it's going to change the way people think? Not exactly. Do I think that Playboy is "good" for women everywhere. Not exactly. But am I insanely proud that the Playmate of the Month is talking about infertility and "posing for a purpose"? Definitely. Because she's donating proceeds from the sale of the magazine to RESOLVE. And she's putting out the idea that even sexy supermodels suffer from infertility. And she's making that man who's donating his sample in the sperm palace and perusing a certain issue of Playboy think about why he's there and what he's doing. And that's huge. Did she pose for the good of womankind? Doubtful--I'm sure she's being well-paid and it was a career move. But can I see the silver lining in being able to reach a demographic that isn't necessarily tuning into infertility blogs and the RESOLVE web site?
If it gets one secretly-subscribing lawmaker to rethink mandatory funding after seeing his wet dream discussing PIO shots, then I'm all for it.
Monday, October 30, 2006
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8 comments:
Ya, I would have to agree with you on this one.
Ok, I've tried posting twice and it keeps eating my post. I'll try to remember what I said...
I think it rocks!! If it helps one guy come terms with what they are going through then I think it is a good thing. I don't know if it will work with lawmakers, but it certainly could help somebody's husband! Hey, it may even help some women, too!
I think this issue should be manadatory in ALL sperm palace sample rooms.
Good for her. DH subscribes to Playboy; I read it before he does. I'll be looking forward to the issue.
I agree with you that it's good to bring some degree of sexiness to infertility. There are so many ignorant jokes linking sexual prowess with infertility... both from men and women. From women, often these jokes are veiled criticisms of the infertile woman's attractiveness... "All he has to do is look at me and I get pregnant!" "You just need to get some new lingerie and it will happen." etc. From men, the jokes are "Need some help with that?" "What's the matter, did you lose the instructions?" The overall implication is that fertility, potency, and desire go hand in hand. Anything that deconstructs that idea is good.
Commenting on your posts can sometimes be difficult. I always find my responses short..."I agree," "Couldn't have said it better," or simply "Amen."
I too think it's good for the cause, and love she's donating some proceeds. You go girl!
I just saw something about this on CNN -- and I am thrilled. On several levels. She's 40, beautiful and talking about infertility. In a magazine aimed at men. Not only does that get men to think about infertility (or realize they're not alone), but it also absolutely deconstructs the potency and fertility myth.
I agree with all the PP , I think it's a wonderful thing, a great thing. It helps to bring a real (and let's be honest) beautiful face to this disease. I am glad that a men's magazine is letting her talk about this and has the courage to discuss it in a place where IF would not normally be talked about.
I will look for the issue when it hits our house and Mr Kir (having been told about this) is looking forward to it too, let's hope he actually *reads* the article. :)
I found an article about this on abcnews.com and was thrilled that a big portion of it was dedicated to infertility.
(part of Cindy Margolis's response to the interviewer...)
"I struggled for many years trying to have children. My beautiful son was born through in vitro fertilization. I had my beautiful twins via a surrogate. So I wanted to give back.
That is very important to me, to make fertility mainstream so everyone understands it. If you want to have your miracle child, there are options: adoption, surrogacy, fertility procedures. It is also sadly very expensive, and not all insurance companies cover it."
It's certainly spreading the word around, and I'm all for it. It certainly doesn't hurt to have a pretty face behind the cause, especially since infertility has a tendency to chip away at our perceived womanhood.
Too bad she couldn't pose with nothing but her pomegranate string around her wrist, huh?
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