A man wearing a suit lays underneath a similarly dressed woman who’s straddling him and taking his picture while holding onto his tie as though it were a leash.
To me, this photograph feels like walking a very fine line between showing a woman-as-object and woman-as-subject, but what makes it acceptable to put on this site—and what makes it sexy to me—is the fact that I feel the exact same way about the man. Although both of these models amplify stereotypical gender divides and the gaze of the viewer is only arguably on the man, there’s enough activity on the woman’s part along with enough passivity on the man’s to throw one’s assumptions into question. I like that.
To debate whether or not sexual objectification is a “good” thing is to misunderstand its uses and misuses, just like debating whether or not same-sex marriages amount to equal rights for gay people (hint: they don’t). Moreover, take too narrow an approach on objectification and you risk conflating its impact with its victims: people of any gender in any culture that places strong value on physical appearance suffer the same consequences.
enthusiastic photography session … I like her way of taking pictures