SI Swimsuit: A phony version of Playboy

By: American Decency Staff

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition is a misnomer if there ever was one. The magazine has nothing to do with sports and, considering numbers of the models are topless and sometimes bottomless as well, very little to do with swimsuits. What the SI Swimsuit Edition is, though, is outright pornography. SI doesn’t even give the illusion of this being a legitimate magazine – there’s not an article in sight. Starting with the cover, SI gets to the real purpose of the issue – the pornographic exhibition of women for the pleasure of men. Page after page after page reveals erotically displayed young women in, at the most, barely there bikinis. Each lust-producing pornographic pose reinforces the message to the ogling men and boys who pick up this smut mag, that women are nothing more than sexual objects to be used. And wives and young girls, whose husbands or fathers bring home this issue, are given the message that to be loved they must degrade themselves and are taught that their worth is dependent upon their body and bust size. In addition to the nearly bare models, are well over a dozen photos of topless or completely nude women wearing nothing more than a well placed hand or a bit of beach sand. The first SI photo in the magazine is of a completely nude woman lying on her back in the sand with only a small Ipod covering her privates. How is this not pornographic! There are also a number of pullout pinups for men and boys to proudly display. I’m sure many of them are already hanging in dorm rooms, locker rooms, and work shops across America. This outrageous display of pornography is no different than a Playboy, yet, to some in America, the name Sports Illustrated seems to give it a semblance of ‘acceptability’. Men who would not dream of buying a Playboy, without a thought have the SI Swimsuit Edition in their home or on their coffee table. However, there is nothing acceptable about pornography and that is exactly what the SI Swimsuit issue is – material produced for the purposes of eliciting a sexual response. There is nothing acceptable about the degrading display of women as sex objects. There is nothing acceptable about luring susceptible young boys and men into a pattern of lust and escalating pornography use. And there is nothing acceptable about looking the other way when local grocery stores, gas stations, or other shopping establishments, such as Target, display this filth in their magazine racks. Also revolting are the numbers of American companies that have debased their corporate name by aligning with this smut. Many of the corporations stoop to the same level as Sports Illustrated by using very sexual, erotic imagery and innuendo in their ads. In some cases there is little difference between the erotic advertisements and the SI photo displays. How disturbing that far too many – even Christians – have come to accept the SI Swimsuit issue and are desensitized to its destructive impact. That this collection of pornographic images is produced in the guise of a ‘legitimate’ sports magazine should outrage you. The fact that this too easily accessible magazine has the potential of starting many young boys down the path to a life-destroying addiction to pornography should anger you. These reasons and many others should drive you to speak to store managers at stores that carry this magazine. And the fact that mainline companies such as McDonald’s, Subway, Wolverine Boots, Skechers, General Motors, and Dodge, choose to advertise in, and thus condone, this smut – as well as produce sexually explicit ads themselves – should cause you to exercise your calling to be “salt and light”. We urge you to contact the corporations who align their name with pornography. Wolverine ad – features a bikini-clad model covered in mud as the ad urges readers to go online “for more hot images of Pilar. Also check out our exclusive behind-the-scenes video and build your own free custom 2007 calendar.” Subway ad – features a promotion for persons to come into Subway for a special code to enter online and receive “free downloads of exclusive photos” of SI Swimsuit models. Sketchers shoe ad – an image of a topless woman whose bare breasts are only partially covered by a hand saw. Dodge ad – shows a bikini-clad woman in the process of removing her bikini top. Her breasts are nearly completely bare. McDonald’s ad – advertising two of their products, states: “It’s like asking you to choose between a french cut one-piece or a bikini.” GMC ads – GMC has several pages of ads, all of which include a bikini-clad model draped over a vehicle. The GMC ads are in 3-D and attached to the ad are 3-D glasses with which to view the women. Below is a link to a listing of the major advertisers from the SI Swimsuit issue, and their contact information. Included are the companies listed above. Please let these advertisers know that you, as a potential customer, are outraged at their promotion of pornographic material and the degradation of women. Sample letter included. https://americandecency.org/main.php?f=updates_new/2007/february/2.22a.07 Just moments ago I received an email from a friend who asked the question “Is SI Swimsuit required to be mailed with a cover?” He reported that SI mailed an uninvited, uncovered free subscription of Sports Illustrated with the SI Swimsuit edition being the entree. I told my friend that he needs to take the magazine to the post office with the free subscription ad and ask for an SOA form (Sexuality Oriented Advertisement). Fill it out and follow the postal directives. If SI advertises again to them, they are prosecutable. (Make sure you make and keep a copy of the form for your records.) ==================================== Let’s encourage one another and strengthen one another to be more like our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 PH: 231-924-4050 www.americandecency.org

---