Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site gt-cmmsr.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!gatech!gt-cmmsr!stein From: stein@gt-cmmsr.UUCP (Carolyn P. Steinhaus) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: IEEE cover containing nude Message-ID: <118@gt-cmmsr.UUCP> Date: Fri, 25-Oct-85 11:32:40 EDT Article-I.D.: gt-cmmsr.118 Posted: Fri Oct 25 11:32:40 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 26-Oct-85 04:36:57 EDT Distribution: net Organization: Center for Man-Machine Systems Research -Ga Tech Lines: 36 Sigh. It does seem like some people catch on slowly. First, let me say that, as a piece of art, the IEEE cover was nicely done. To my eyes it was sensuous, but not pornographic. However, that alone does not make it non- objectionable. We are in a field where women are underrepresented and have been so historically. I think it unlikely that a male nude or even a couple would have ever been so used on a cover of a technical publication. So. What does it mean that they did use a female figure that way. That everyone in the intended audience would appreciate a subtle erotic message? That no one would identify with the nude? To me it is a subtle message that I as a women am related to IEEE as a subject for erotica rather than a buyer of books. I suspect that actually some "naughty boys" somewhere did this just to see if they could get a rise out of nearby feminists, and *prove* how unreasonable they are. Sigh. There are plenty of feminists who love sex (yes, even hetrosexual sex) and still think feminist issues are not ludicrous or trivial. Frankly, I think most men would recognized the inappropriateness of erotica in this context if it were not so onesided. How about a nice graphic of a penis? Or a couple appraoching copulation? Perhaps an improved future would allow for casual references to sexuality, but the point here is that females are exposed while men are not. Think of what it would be like to be the only naked person in a group where everyone else was wearing clothes. While not taking things that far, the IEEE cover was in that direction. Its the context in which it appears that makes it objectionable, not the art itself. -- Carolyn P. Steinhaus School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Tech, Atlanta GA 30332 uucp: ...!{akgua,allegra,hplabs,ihnp4,seismo,ulysses}!gatech!gt-cmmsr!stein