23rd January
latest news: Anna's sweet and sticky pork buns

Comments by...

Latest Comment Articles...

Feminist Suffrage Parade in New York City, May 6, 1912.

Coming out

Thursday, 19th January 2012

Kate Bull is a feminist and proud.

Good Manners

Not my place to say, but…

Monday, 16th January 2012

Harriet Jean Evans takes a look at the social commentary of the past, and explains why she believes it just doesn't matter.

christmas

Advent Calendar Day 23

Friday, 23rd December 2011

Our anonymous blogger reflects on her attempts to have a student Christmas... and how she came to the conclusion that home-made is always best.

yusu logo

Save our Women's Officers

Wednesday, 30th November 2011

Gillian Love urges you to vote 'No' to the motion to replace Women's Committee with a 'Gender Equality Committee'.

More Comment Articles

york minster
Occupy Wall Street banner
Food Aid in Africa
Cenotaph
Latin Cross
morterboard and degree
Storming of Milbank
Facebook News Feed
Small not found

Facebook takes objectification to a new level

Pippa Middleton
Ms Middleton in "that" dress.
Wednesday, 11th May 2011
She was educated at one of the best universities in Britain, she works in a highly successful party planning business, and she is an accomplished skier. Three things I guarantee you will not have known about Philippa Middleton.

Pippa – as her friends and the media dub her – is probably known to you for two rather different reasons. She is sister to, and was bridesmaid to, Catherine Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge. She also has a Facebook fan page dedicated to her arse.

Once a woman such as Pippa Middleton becomes embroiled in the media circus that surrounds a family such as hers, certain things become the subject of intense public attention. Pippa may wish for the media to scrutinise her outfits, from the cut of her bridesmaid’s dress to the way she does her mascara; but if she doesn’t, there’s not much she can do about it. She may revel gloriously in the lustful attention her backside has garnered from the British population; or she may be offended by it. We have no idea; but it did not stop the media from circulating photographs of her in her underwear, sold to American photographic agencies by unscrupulous friends.

To put the tarnished cherry on the proverbial cake, Pippa has been singled out for a potential career in the pornography industry. Co-Chairman of Vivid Entertainment Steve Hirsch has reportedly sent a letter to Ms Middleton saying:

"As far as I was concerned, you were the star of the recent Royal Wedding. As I watched a broadcast of the event I couldn't help but think that with your beauty and attitude you could be an enormously successful adult star. For just one explicit scene I would be pleased to offer you $5 million USD and, of course, you would have a choice of partners. If you would like to bring your brother James along, he could appear in a separate scene for $1 million USD.”

Without uttering a word, and merely by appearing in a flattering outfit on her sister’s wedding day, Pippa Middleton has managed to solicit a job offer from a porn king and the leering attention of the nation. A quick perusal of comments on the aforementioned Facebook fan page of ‘Pippa Middleton’s Arse’ include:

“I'd love to have a go on that! Sweet momma I'd eat it for hours!” “id defo smash her back door in.” “Nice arse... shame about the face! Lolz.”

This is not coy affection for a nation’s sweetheart, but a masturbatory, undignified and humiliating appropriation of a woman’s body that bypasses any moral objections because she happens to be in the public eye.

This outrageous objectification is not confined to Pippa, of course; we all remember Huw Edwards’ comment on what a ‘splendid view’ we all had of Kate Middleton’s breasts as she climbed into her car on the day of the Royal Wedding. Nor is it confined to those who find these women merely sexually attractive; the endless speculation and affirmation of opinion of ‘fashion experts’ around the wedding, seemed to ignore the individuals walking down the aisle, instead imbuing their clothing and make-up with the most value. Yes, it was a beautiful dress; but it says nothing about the woman who wore it.

I am not Pippa Middleton, and I would never presume to speak for her. However, no one has any clue as to how she feels about her arse being idolatrised as an almost separate entity to the rest of her body; all we know is that ‘the Middleton family’ were very angry that the press circulated pictures of her in her bra. Pippa herself has no voice. I suggest that until she has one, we should end the public displays of lustful desire her body is at the centre of, and recall that in that body is a woman who may not feel flattered but saddened by her objectification. Shame on those who forget that.

Check out The Yorker's Twitter account for all the latest news Go to The Yorker's Fan Page on Facebook
#1 Michael Tansini
Wed, 11th May 2011 11:38am

To be fair, Facebook did this with megan fox a year back; it's not exclusive to Pippa. It does follow Penny Arcade's principle though that normal person + internet anonymity = dickhead

#2 James Hodgson
Wed, 11th May 2011 5:35pm

The difference between Pippa Middleton and someone like Megan Fox is that she hasn't sought celebrity of any kind and didn't invite all this lecherous attention in any way. The only thing she did was appear as bridesmaid at her sister's wedding. That's what makes the whole thing pretty horrifying, imo.

#3 Michael Tansini
Wed, 11th May 2011 5:44pm

Fair point

#4 Anonymous
Wed, 11th May 2011 7:34pm

Posh bird without a voice? That'd be a first...

#5 Anonymous
Wed, 11th May 2011 8:25pm

Actually, I think pretty much everyone here will know she's a party planner who attended Edinburgh (it's not exactly biography research material) and what person above a certain social class ISN'T an accomplished skier. To be honest, I doubt that Pippa is very worried that a load of people she's never met and never will meet are judging her entirely on her looks, and I doubt her family are concerned with any "objectification" - "worried their friends will think they raised the kind of slut who takes her top off at parties" is probably nearer the mark.

#6 Anonymous
Thu, 12th May 2011 12:39am

I agree with 5. Not sure why you think noone but you will know those basic facts about her!
She's probably not losing sleep over the fact that people think she's sexy. She doesn't strike me as a raging feminist. If there was a facebook group praising my arse I'd be well chuffed. Bet she has fewer fat days now!

Add Comment

You must log in to submit a comment.