If you ask me, nobody is forcing these young women to pose. As a male, I would gladly pose for the same posters. I would do this wearing the same jersey, in exactly the same fashion, if it meant selling a few tickets for an underfunded, underappreciated team.

I pick up what you’re laying down, but I’d respect your argument more if you were writing angry letters about the thousands of ads that contain men in sexually provocative roles as well.

Are you opposed to scenes that exploit people of both genders?

None of this, of course, says anything about the fact that these people all pose for such pictures voluntarily.

And who are you to make an assumption that these people aren’t smart?

Each of us are born with some God-given (if you believe in such things) talents. Some are artists while others are rocket scientists. Who are you to say that these people shouldn’t be allowed to use what they have to make a buck?

well miss bauerle, i am actually on the emu hockey team. for one these girls dont even go to school here they responded to an add posted on craigslist. two they are not nude, or even scantley clad, they are just wearing shorts and a hockey jersey. and three the emu hockey team is a club sport, which means that the participants like myself pay the bills to allow it to run, not emu. so to bring the school into this when only there name is on the front of our jersey seems out of touch here. not to say that i am not proud to wear an eastern hockey jersey, or that im not proud to play for the school, but if i and others are paying the bills and i and others want these girls on our posters, and if these girls are willing participants to be on these posters, then we will have our posters.

maybe you should take a look at the calendars made for the football team, and then we’ll talk about some real problems.

you should either move to a muslim country or an amish area of Pa. to wear the custom and mandatory apparel, otherwise you are a hippocrite. Check your closet for heels, skirts or a bathing suit and discard them.Your bathing suit exposes 200 percent more skin than the poster. Also, its in your mind concerning “naughty parts” that were not depicted. US woman buy womens clothes that are made for guess who… women. Those clothes are very often tight fitting which the EMU jersey was not and womens clothes often expose their legs which is the only skin showing in the poster.Your attack on the Hockey team and insinuating exploiting women, an explicit photo in provocative and sexual situations is completely unjust.

Does any one know where I can see this poster? I kind of want to see it for myself so I can come up with my own conclusion.

I was also offended by these posters, as were many of my friends. I am by no means a prude. If people were to walk around naked day to day I wouldn’t mind. However, in all situations what I find to be the most important is the motivation and context of an action. These women are being blatantly used to sell something. Most importantly, they are being used as sexual objects to sell something. Images such as these contribute to reducing women to instruments of sexual pleasure and not a lot else. As a result, many women are consumed by an unhealthy and often dangerous-to-one’s-health kind of desire to be attractive, to be “nice” (submissive and passive), and to, in other ways, appeal to what they think men want (have you seen a women’s magazine lately?). I know a slightly risque ad might not seem like a huge deal but we need to call halt to anything perpetuating harm to our fellow human beings.

Additionally, addressing some comments stating that the ads are alright because the women posing did so voluntarily, since when does an act being voluntary make it just or harmless? I could pay homeless people to let me punch them in the face and they would be making a (sort of) voluntary choice to accept but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be a jerk or that I shouldn’t stop it. I know this seems like an over the top analogy but it really isn’t. The harms being done to women through objectification might seem more abstract and the cause and negative affects might not be as immediate or transparent, but if one glances closer objectification directly leads to (sometimes dangerously) low self esteem, the view that women are somehow less capable or intelligent (in Michigan, women, due to this and other influences of the patriarchy, make around 64 cents to the man’s dollar), and unhappiness. Objectification can be linked to assault and rape. It is all tied together, and we shouldn’t participate or tolerate this sort of thing, no matter how small, no matter how “normal” or superficially benign. Sexism harms us all, not just women.

Also, there is a lot to be said on the topic of “voluntary” actions, namely, are they always completely voluntary? Maybe that homeless guy I spoke of earlier really needed the money, maybe he was starving and needed to buy food, maybe he didn’t have good mental health, maybe he doesn’t know how hard I punch.

I think it’s good to have a dialogue. So often people just shut down or get defensive. Aggressively attacking an argument from a woman, your fellow student, in which she is critical of a systemic problem she sees being perpetuated in our community, is not respectful. Telling someone expressing their opposition to oppression to shut up and move to Amish country? Nice, man.

I understand oppressing women was not what the team or whoever approved/designed the posters had in mind. No way! I’m sure they love women, are friends with women, and do not wish any harm. This kind of advertising is everywhere and many people (men and women) seem to think it’s just fine. But just because it is normal or the negative affects are unintentional and hidden, however, does not make it right. We all should examine the affects of our actions everyday and not be scared of new input.

Well said, Lisa. I don’t necessarily agree with your entire argument, but I think you’re blind if you don’t see the negative consequences of the inherent sexism in many facets of our society.

That said, I think it can go both ways. Rather than trying to change the baser instincts that live in all of us related to sexual desire, wouldn’t a better tact be to help women empower themselves to take advantage of these situations and institutions?

Attractive women shouldn’t be discouraged from using their beauty to help themselves any more than an attractive man should. Instead, if we had more women in places of power in publishing, advertising, etc., couldn’t we spin the message in a way that would help empower all women?

I guess I’m just of the opinion that it’s easier to affect change from inside. Standing outside a castle throwing stones really won’t get you anywhere, you know?

I unfortunately was on the team during the “hazing” incident in 03. Guys that are on the team now owe to the program, not the school, to represent the hockey team appropriately. With that being said, if the girls on the poster are over 18 years of age, then this whole issue holds no water. I can assume that no one forced these girls into posing. The hockey brand, Warrior, should be put into question as well with their new ad in Michigan hockey magazine with two girls with their midsections showing holding up their phone number. This just sounds like a disgruntled individual who needs to go see counseling.

I am a girl who saw this poster and I was not offended at all. What those girls were wearing was nothing less then what you see on an everyday basis. It is practically the same length and actually bigger then dresses I see girls in class wearing. Look at all other sports; volleyball: those girls are wearing tight fitting spandex shorts that show more then any hockey jersey, or maybe cheerleaders all over. Their uniforms are shorter and more form fitting then hockey jerserys. The hockey team followed school rules and did not hang them up in any building on campus and used all of their own funds. I would really like to see your wardrobe and determine if some of your clothes aren’t showing off your sexuality. I would gladly pose just like those girls did if it meant the hockey team sold a few tickets. Those boys work hard to pay, on their own, for that team to function. The least I could do would be pose in, what looks like, a dress.

i snagged atleast 5 schedules cause of the girlies on them, atleast now i know when easterns hockey team plays, and have some good decorations for the bedroom.

It sounds to me like the original author of this is a tad bit jealous. Lets get real sister—we aren’t in the 1970’s anymore, and we aren’t all bra burning hippies. I know both of these girls very well, and they are both respectable, smart and extremely nice women. For you to assume that they are “stupid” just because they pose for a poster and look better than you do, I am assuming… is just obscene. Maybe you should focus on more important things, and stop worrying about what these poor girls are doing. I say that they are doing something right if they are creating such a discussion about this. Obviously people are looking at the posters, and that is good for the hockey team. This is what they wanted right? So if you are so frustrated with the poster maybe you shouldn’t be drawing so much attention to it and promoting it even more… I by no means am offended by this poster and think both of these girls look amazing!! :)

Obviously this is not the worse example of sexuality being used in advertisement. I’m sure Ms. Bauerle would agree. Clearly though, sex is being used to sell tickets in these posters. Women wearing over-sized, men’s hockey jerseys that obscure from view the fact she is wearing anything on her bottom-half only brings to mind the image of a woman just out of bed. It is not just the clothes that these women are wearing but the situation one would be in to wear such an outfit.

Ms. Bauerle is clearly condemning all advertising for their use of sex, but she more focuses on the use of women because that was the example she was presented. Is there really a need to call her out as jealous for a point of view? Specialized comments toward her are unnecessary when she only makes generalized comments herself.

How can you use the arguement of “sex” to sell. Sorry I don’t think any guy that saw this advertisement is going to the game thinking they are going to get sex. The advertisement is just eye candy, and it raises the awareness that we have a hockey team on this campus.
If you are a girl offended by this odds are you are just insecure and have a low-self esteem. Sometimes the truth hurts.

It’s one thing if it were women dressed in skates, helmets and jerseys. Then they would look like, well, hockey players. But these women are in high heels and jerseys, looking like the quintessential fantasy of a girl wearing nothing but her boyfriend’s shirt. I’m sure these women were wearing more than that, but this is the allusion being provided.

Sex is indeed being use to “sell” here. It doesn’t matter if people assume they’ll get laid at the hockey game or not. The advertisement suggests the idea of sex. “Hot girls like hockey.” “Hot girls will be the hockey game.” “Hot girls wear nothing but EMU hockey jerseys.” It doesn’t matter if its true or not, it is what is inferred.

To say that women who protest to these kind of advertisements have “low self esteem” or are not attractive is wrong. Women and men have been fighting for years against sexism, and advertisements like this reflect poorly on the progress made. If the women’s volleyball team were to send out advertisements with ripped, half-naked men carrying volleyballs, I’m sure most men would feel awkward or uncomfortable about it.

Actually I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable at all. If I felt the slightest bit of discomfort, I would not go out of the way to write an article about it.
I don’t know what to say other than – an advertisements purpose is to cause attention. This one looks like it’s doing a pretty good job, so I would call it a successful advertisement.

Oh and I want to start a movement about stereotypes, you just stereotyped those girls as to be “hot.” Who are you to say that?
Be right back let me go write a letter to the editor about this.

You are a joke for even thinking you have a valid argument. Gender Roles? Equality? Feminist Movement? You need to take a look at the world and get out of your little box your in.

I just have to say that after reading through the article that the columnist must have never seen an ad that objectifies men just as equally as the objectification that is on said poster. How is an ad for men’s Jockey underwear, where the man’s “package” is front and center of the ad, any different in scope according to your article? The door swings both ways. Of course, the case can be made that it is more so for women than men. No one can argue the fact that sex indeed does sell a product, if Coke could get away with a 30 sec commercial of a naked women on screen for 29 sec and flashing the Coke brand for 1 sec they would.

And I quote, “for one these girls dont even go to school here they responded to an add posted on craigslist.”

If I’m not mistaken, the model on the left in the poster is, to my knowledge, still an Eastern student.

Maybe you should check you facts, Mr. Hockey Player.

yeah buddy theres more then one poster. that girl happens to be friends with the hockey team. the other ones are off CRAIGSLIST so why dont u get YOUR facts straight. hater

They both go to eastern, none of them have anything to do with the Hockey team. There goes both of your arguments.

Isn’t it great when people resort to childish tendencies such as offensive name calling because they aren’t intelligent enough to come up with a thoughtful, well-written response?

Furthermore, I would like to state that I am in my no means offended by the poster in question, or any poster for that matter. Heck, I even go to admit that I buy what sex sells, because that’s what we do in America. To relate it to something more common, I ask this: What does the swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated have to do whit sports?

But, I must admit that I am offended that I was called a “retard” by someone on the defense. And to be honest, I bet there are a lot more educated people out there, like myself, that would be much more offended by such a comment than they would by a poster with not-so-scantily clad woman on it.

-
Joseph Stromski II

Post Script: Oh, and by the way, by saying that “for one these girls dont even go to school here they responded to an add posted on craigslist,” makes it seem that you are encompassing all of your posters. For clarification purposes, I was referring to the schedule, on which Marisha Krok, an EMU student, is posing on the left side. Regardless of what other models you have used on any posters, the mere fact that there is at least one EMU student modeling for the hockey club, nullifies your argument.

I would like to ad this the “Girl’s” comment. When she said that volleyball players wear tight spandex, which is true, our uniforms actually serve a purpose. We dont wear them to show off our bodies, we need them because if any part of your clothing, hair, or anything touches the net then its a turn-over and a point for the other team. So dont group us in with a debate about inapropriate clothing.

If I was a betting man Id bet the girl that wrote this was fat and unattractive, in fact I happen to know she is. Dont judge!

Yeah…this is Ray Ray Robson. Former EMU Hockey great. I stabbed cat all over campus. Girls used to beg me to be on my calender. I say…nip as nazoots!

Beautiful women (Nissan and Marisha if im correct) are interesting to look at because…guess what ..they are beautiful women

either do some sit-ups and stop hatin or keep hatin it would make them any uglier or less interesting to look at

-420blazer :)have nice day ..i know i will