Some Jerk At The Sun-Times Wants To Tell Serena Williams How To Dress

By Mae Rice in News on Dec 15, 2015 12:04AM

Today, Chicago has the dubious honor of being home to a middle-aged man paid actual American currency to opine about Serena Williams wearing a leotard.

Williams, one of the best athletes in the world, was named Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsperson of the Year” for 2015. She appears on the magazine’s December cover, looking regal and beautiful:

Or, as Rick Morrissey interprets it in the Sun-Times, “[T]he magazine put her on its cover looking like she wants one thing, and it’s not a chat with the line judge.”

(Is this how she looks? Has Morrissey ever seen an authentically horny woman? To me, she looks like she is thinking, “Damn right I am Sportsperson of the Year. I knew it in January.”)

Morrissey goes on to trot out an argument so old, it predates his own long-ago birth:

Williams, who won three majors this year, said she agreed to pose in the way she did to reflect female power, which is a noble idea. But I’m afraid it accomplishes exactly the opposite. It objectifies women. Her intent won’t line up with the reception, which will be a bunch of men leering at her the way they do at every SI swimsuit model. She might be selling power, but they’re buying sex.

In what world is this Serena’s problem? Here’s something Morrissey would know, if he were a thoughtful opinion columnist: Regardless of what women intend or achieve, some men are always going to look at them as sex objects. Those men’s ogling perspective—which Morrissey tries to distance himself from but ultimately shares—isn’t the definitive one, though.

Serena’s perspective, that she’s embodying female power, is just as valid. I see it. I think a lot of people—especially female athletes—will see it, too, and feel inspired.

For Morrissey and his ilk, though, some key information: Sometimes, when a woman shows her legs in a leotard, she’s showing off how strong she is, and making the point that strength and power can still be feminine. She’s not asking you or anyone for sex, or for anything. She has everything, including a Sportsperson of the Year award and a literal throne.