| I had no idea that I was such worthless scum! |
I was beginning to wonder exactly what sort of woman would feel threatened by pictures of young, attractive models posing with hand tools when in walked the BIG Boss’s secretary. She’d overheard a portion of our conversation, so she naturally felt obligated enlighten us.
"Well, it’s about time!" she began, and went off into a diatribe about the extortion of women and how it’s a violation of their rights to be viewed as objects and not to be accepted as the thinking, feeling human beings that they really are. I must admit that I began to feel a bit guilty, I had no idea that I was such worthless scum!
"But, wait a minute," I asked as she paused for breath, "these pictures aren’t filthy or obscene, in fact they’re quite tastefully done. The photographer was obviously a professional, and the young ladies in the pictures are professional models. This is simply the result of all these professionals doing what they do for a living. This is how they pay their bills! Isn’t it a violation of their rights to not be allowed to be gainfully employed in the vocation of their choosing?"
"Well, I guess they’ll just have to go out and find REAL jobs, won’t they?" she snorted as she turned on her heel and walked out of the room before I could ask her my next two questions which were:
| How do you think I would feel if I was told I could no longer be a mechanic because my wrenching skills made the mechanically challenged look incompetent when their vehicles broke down? |
First, I want to understand this "hostile threat" thing, and how is it manifested in a picture of an attractive young woman. In the past, I have worked under female supervisors, so rest assured that I have seen my share of "Beef-cake" posters. While I did not find them to be of any particular interest, none of them were angrily brandishing a 2x4, so I perceived no hostile threat from them. Could it be that ordinary women are afraid that posters of pretty models might make ordinary women look...well,...ordinary? How do you think I would feel if I was told I could no longer be a mechanic because my wrenching skills made the mechanically challenged look incompetent when their vehicles broke down?
Next, let’s look at this issue of vocational choice. As children, we are told that it is our God-given RIGHT to be whatever we want to be when we grow up. As students, weren’t we encouraged to pursue our interests, cultivate our natural talents, and evolve them into careers? Wouldn’t someone interested in photography strive to become a photographer? Shouldn’t someone with a talent to be attractive become a model? Having a natural mechanical ability (along with a fascination for motorcycles) is exactly the reason that I became a mechanic. Having good organizational skills is exactly the reason that the aforementioned woman accepted her position when it was vacated voluntarily by the previous secretary who found she could earn a lot more money by dancing in a NUDIE BAR (I am NOT making this up).
Need I point out that there wouldn’t be many naked dancers if they had to work for straight minimum wage?
Now, a final thought that really puts me on spin cycle. There’s been a lot said about how women earn only about $0.73 for every $1.00 a man earns. Personally, I see this as a problem that needs to be looked into, and dealt with. I just don’t think the answer to it is to force the women -- who CHOOSE to do so -- out of relatively well-paying positions such as modeling, or even erotic dancing. I absolutely believe that no woman should be forced into these occupations, however. They should always be free to become janitors, trash collectors, or even motorcycle mechanics if that’s how they want to make their livings, although it might be a step backwards,...am I right, guys?