Are you tired of sex, nudity, and exhibitionism? It's everywhere - in advertising, fashion pages, entertainment, politics, and everywhere else. You'd think people in the United States were obsessed with sex. Are we really no more sophisticated than a randy bunch of male teenagers?The new Gucci Guilty advertisement? Sex. The pages of W, Vogue, and other popular fashion magazines? Nudity (not fashion). I want look at clothing, not naked women. I can buy Playboy if that's my thing. The red carpet? The girls have become a bit too exposed. Clearly, Hollywood Fashion Tape can't hold on to a dress bulging with silicone or saline. I got so tired of Dolce & Gabbana's tasteless advertisements, I stopped buying their clothing. And I like my leopard print, silk-lined suit jackets. Even politics is now impregnated with sex bombs, as the indiscretions of political leaders have become big money and front-page news. Can you even imagine meeting a presidential candidate and the first thing out of your mouth is, "You're hot"?
Since when did it become OK to run to the mall wearing little more than a bra from the waist up? Why do parents let their young girls go to school looking like street-walking tramps? Are we shocked by nothing? Have sex and nudity become the norm? No wonder other cultures regard us with disdain.
I've had it with sex - and I don't mean what you think. I'm tired of the relentless pressure on women, especially young women. The message is, "You need to look sexy to look beautiful." Grace Kelly was beautiful. Women wanted to look like her; men wanted her. She didn't project sex - she projected "gorgeous." The mind can make the leap without help! Do they think we're all stupid?
Did Madonna start this trend? No, she's just a wickedly savvy entertainer who recognized a good thing and used it to her advantage. Same with Lady Gaga, who continues the exhibitionism for the latest generation of wannabes. Apparently, sex sells.
The next time you read a women's magazine, take note of the advertisements and editorial pages that scream sex. If I had a daughter, I wouldn't want her to think that her value to the world - and attractiveness - is inextricably linked to sex.
I think it's time for a sea change. What do you think? Have I gone round the bend?
Photos courtesy of Maybelline, Dolce & Gabbana, and Madonna, only a few I could have selected for this rant