My collection of wise, and not so wise, postings

Tuesday, 3 July 2012

Bodily Moneymachine

I am not an activist, I hardly ever raise my voice to argue, I never participate in demonstrations, but I just feel I need to get something off my chest.
Here in Norway we have this outrageously beautiful artist called Tone Damli Aaberge. Since she came second on the show Idol, she has really established herself as a singer/artist to be reckoned with.
However, lately there has come across quite a bit of criticism towards her , as she has released musicvideos of a rather sensual nature.
Now, the use of body to escalate sales of a product is nothing new. In fact; it is an undisputed fact that sex sells.
 I am not going to be a prude or anything, but I do have to say that it is hard to listen to her, and her fiancè, as they try to prove the criticism wrong.
The arguments they stated was that: “I think it is a great way to bring focus to my music. In fact I would like to see more artists undress! I just think it is an expression of envy to my success!”  He, as he pulled up his t-shirt, stated that “If I do this, noone will react to it. Besides: The ones critisising the videos are women, it is women only who have a problem with her videos!”
So, she feels she needs to display her body in order to draw attention to her music? In my world what really is the case is that she produces her own backgroundmusic to her appearance. I am not so sure they would be quite as confident if they could hear what teenagers say about her... and I mean her, not her music, which is hardly ever commented upon.
Of course only women object: I work with men and among teenage boys. I dress down every day at work trying to avoid being measured and commented upon. If I get a compliment it is not because I have done a good job, but because something in my appearance has changed. And by the short time it takes, from I enter untill I get the comment, I know that is the first thing they do as I arrive.
Women must do better and achieve more to get the same credit men get. We often have jobs far more challenging, but get paid less. We face prejudices every day, which men and other women  unconsiously (I hope) expose us to. And it is hard to come to terms with a lot of it, as a lot of it is personal. People think that it is socially accepted to comment on a person’s body.
I simply hate comments like: oh, you have lost weight, that cut really makes your waist look slim, your legs look like a mile long in those boots... how dare they!
The comments the couple made on the criticism of the musicvideo just adds to the general approval of judging women, and their achievements, based on appearance. I wish they had stepped out of their own comfortzone, listened to people outside their own circle, it would be like a realitycheck on what is going on.
If she wants to make money on her music, and finds semi-nudity does the trick: by all means. Do so! Heaven knows many others do. But be honest about it. Say that is the case, just tell the world: Yes, I sell more music undressed than I do when dressed, I don’t care as long as I make money, so that is just great!

I think that if you use your skills and stay true to your personality to create the best version of yourself, then you will turn into a great person and you will achieve great results.
I believe that people pick up immediately when you are not confident in your appearance or attitude. When you are not honest about what you do, well you just don’t win in the long run.
 
It is not the right thing to do, for everybody, to support women's fight to be taken seriously out there. Still, there is no reason to stigmatize those who do by making fun or ascribe them petty motivations... like envy.

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Showing Their True Colours?

For several years I have been a member of the board at our Athlets’ School in our town.
Now, voluntary work. like that, may be a source of irritation to many, because it represents a guilt trip: If you do not participate; somebody else will invest their time, energy and whatever skill they possess, in both their own and your kids. Been there, done that. And if you say no (because you have 104 very good reasons to do so) you feel guilty for not stepping up and you are, for some irrational reason, annoyed at those “saints” who do.
My two oldest sons have participated at the Athlets’ School from they were 6 untill the age of 10, which is the range of age we adress, and in the course of those four years they have tried out all the sports which are active here: orienteering, freediving, swimming, water polo, field-hockey, badminton, mountain climbing, trial, skating, marshal arts, soccer, handball, basketball, bmx, kayaking and a few more. We aim to introduce them to the many active sports available in the local environment and give them the opportunity to choose a sport they enjoy later on.
My boys picked association football rather early on, and though they continued participating at the athletes’ school they joined football teams as well.
We have enjoyed following up by driving the teams to their away matches, watching them play in all kinds of weather (I still remember the cup when it started to snow and I had a tiny baby who lay in a pram and who I nursed... in the snow) and we have cheered them on and comforted when things went bad.
Now I have started to wonder if it was smart to encourage them to take an interest in football. They watch games on TV, they have heroes they study, they play football videogames and computergames and I have been rather content they have had such an healthy interest.
BUT, and there is a major BUT...
Lately UEFA has shown their true colors, I think. I have known for years and years that the money run the game to a large extent, but I never suspected it would take the turn it has now:
“After the Croatian football federation were fined 80,000 euros (just over £64,500) for their fans racially abusing Mario Balotelli during their match against Italy at Euro 2012, we take a look at some previous fines handed out by Uefa.
·         Bendtner, 24, was found guilty of improper conduct by European football's governing body after he revealed the logo of the betting company on his underpants as he celebrated his goal against Portugal on June 13th. 
  • The Serbian FA were fined £16,500 for racist chanting from their fans during an under-21 game against England in 2007.
  • The Russian football association was fined 120,000 euros (nearly £97,000) and handed a suspended six point deduction for the Euro 2016 qualifiers for fan violence before and after the Poland game at Euro 2012.
  • Monkey chants were directed at England's black players during a match against Spain in 2004. The Spanish FA were fined £45,000”.
Display: Nicklas Bendtner pulled up his shirt to reveal Paddy Power pantsThe bookmaker, whose logo Bendtner showed, has agreed to pay the €100 000 fine that UEFA dished out for Niklas Bendtner’s “ pantsgate” , inspired by Twitter feedback.

Still, sport is fun, a game, to play, to show skills of an individual or a team in a specific environment. At top level they now show that fair play, to show respect and to measure skills regardless of religion, politics or race (like in the Olympics oath) are in retreat. Now money talks a lot louder than taking human beings, highly esteemed values and honourable conduct in consideration.
When organized racist chants are 80 000 fine and a commercial stunt gets a 100 000 fine + 1 match ban... I am not convinced anymore I want my children to take part in it. Or... yes I do, but what I really wish for is that UEFA review their order of priorities, and bring soccer into a sport to be proud of  once again.

http://www.kickitout.org/597.php CNN series on Racism in sports
http://uk.askmen.com/sports/news_100/106_racism-in-sports.html Askmen on Racism in Sports