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Comment by Erin C on March 11, 2008 at 6:02pm

"I am not into women playing hard physical sports. I do not like strong physical contact. Even though, I love to watch football with my husband, and I like a certain amount of sports, it's just not my thing. I don't exactly see why society puts so much stress on making women physcially strong, but that is todays times."

While you are certainly welcome to your opinion, I think it is a dangerous one. Yes, in general, the average woman is not as strong as the average man. However, the average man is not strong enough to play in the NFL. Why should the law of averages limit what individuals do?

My husband, for instance, is an artist and a writer. He will be a professor of critical literature. He has no interest in sports or other hard contact activities. This does not make him any less masculine or heterosexual.

I played rugby in college until an old shoulder injury was made worse by a bad fall down some university steps. I loved it - I was in shape and made lots of great friends. In good health, should I have been prevented from playing? Did playing rugby make me less feminine? Less attractive?

Being physically strong is a personal choice that can be very empowering. When I walked home from work late at night, I knew that I could defend myself if that was needed. It brought me a lot of peace.

As far as Victoria's Secret and the like are concerned, I think it has just as much to do with sexuality as it does with the obsession with youth in our society. In many countries, stretch marks, sagging breasts(!), and a growing waistline are symbols of pride. It means you've borne children, fed them, and lived prosperously.

Whatever is least available in a society seems to be what become the most attractive - which means that, in our land of abundance, those who look the closest to starvation are deemed desirable.

- Erin C.

Comment by Gloria on March 10, 2008 at 11:09am

How cool is that? I remember when my kids were growing up, Ms.Pack-Man was everywhere. Yep women are crusading for their selves, since it really is easy to be the softer sex. I still get antsy when I see girls playing basketball, but that is just who I am. I am not into women playing hard physical sports. I do not like strong physical contact. Even though, I love to watch football with my husband, and I like a certain amount of sports, it's just not my thing. I don't exactly see why society puts so much stress on making women physcially strong, but that is todays times. It is strange, isn't it? When I was growing up, we were lucky girls were playing softball, I don't exactly know why they call it softball? Does anybody else, a softball feels and acts everybit as a baseball. But, I would prefer in my girly world, to be like Sandy in "Grease" even though I look nothing like Olivia Newton John, I love femininty. It should never die, that is the best part of being a women.
As a matter of fact Victoria's Secret third quarter sales was down. Some of that was contributed to the slugish I almost wrote slutish economy, oops. But, that is not where I was going. They are trying to change the image of Victoria's Secret to being more femine, but another big ad executive disagreed and thought it was a huge mistake. Because "sex sells" that is exactly what I am talking about. Even if I was a women, at the height of my sexual peak, is that all I should be known for? Well, agian in looking at the audience of Victoria's Secret it is really a big deal, sexuality, but that is a huge problem. Because women need to be seen as women not just as sexual beings. And just imangine the let down as women age, and begin to gain weight or just start looking older. What should those women do? Keep buying size 34 B bras? Come on ladies, we need to get informed on what really matters here. From the point of view of Victoria's Secret it is their life blood to be viewed by as many young teens and what ever other ages appeal to their Pink line. Which of course I am a fan of , can I afford it, no. So Pink line or not, I am not falling for the whole sexuality thing. Sex happens when people are truly able and in the mood for the right reasons and unfortunately for the wrong as well. But as women go, we need to be mindful of the pitfalls of being victim to "sexuality" type of advertisement. We are always women first and need to know that we are active in the role of our own self development. Since many men view women as secondary, it is that much harder to get a grip and keep stance on how people in general are really being viewed.

Comment by Heidi on March 6, 2008 at 1:41pm

I find it a little odd that a video game character is the official spokesperson for the National Alliance of Breat Cancer Organizations -- they couldn't find an actual woman for that job? -- but other than that little nit-pick, I love this video! So much I never knew about Ms. Pac-man! :)