Jeff Wasserstein makes a number of compelling points in his article, “There’s Nothing Immodest About This Proposal,” with which we strongly agree. We would like to follow up with some clarification about our article that inspired it, “A Modest (B’Dieved) Proposal: Take the Men Out, Too.”
Our piece, like Mr. Wasserstein’s, argues against ads and other media that show men but not women, and advocates for inclusion of women’s photos by all publications, companies, and institutions.
Our piece, like Mr. Wasserstein’s, argues against ads and other media that show men but not women, and advocates for inclusion of women’s photos by all publications, companies, and institutions.
We also share Mr. Wasserstein’s concern that “erasing the men along with the women… is an implicit acknowledgment that women must be hidden.”
At the same time, precisely because we are so deeply opposed to the idea that women must be hidden, we are further concerned that, as we wrote, “the implicit messages in the erasure of women come across all the more loudly when the absence of pictures of women is highlighted by the presence of pictures of men.”
We have all seen that currently, the unfortunate reality on the ground is that some feel they must exclude women’s photos from various types of media. Within the context of that harmful reality, as much as it pains us, we reiterate the suggestion we made in our original piece: At least don’t make it so obvious. If you won’t include photographs of women, then don’t highlight their absence by including photographs of men.
If you won’t acknowledge the value in showing pictures of women as well as those of men, then design your publications as if you simply don’t see value in including photographs at all.
If you won’t acknowledge the value in showing pictures of women as well as those of men, then design your publications as if you simply don’t see value in including photographs at all.
In short, we ask that those who do support this damaging exclusion at least not scream it so loudly.
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