SALT LAKE CITY — The National Center on Sexual Exploitationcondemned the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, which was released on Tuesday, saying it negatively impacts the #MeToo movement.
The annual magazine issue portrays athletes in scantily clad pieces of swimwear, and this year’s edition, which features a topless photo of Danielle Herrington, also embraced the #MeToo movement with women wearing words and captions that define them rather than clothes. The magazine, which included an all-female crew, labeled that section “In Her Own Words,” according to NBC News.
Dawn Hawkins, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation’s executive director, said in a statement that the issue contributes to the culture of sexual objectification and entitlement.
“For decades, women in our culture have been drowning in the message from mainstream media, Hollywood and ‘women’s magazines’ that their self-worth lies in their sexual appeal,” Hawkins said in a statement. “The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition tells women and girls of all ages that no matter how many years, or how much blood, sweat and tears you put into reaching the pinnacle of athleticism, your value as a human being still ultimately hinges on your sex appeal.
