At 91 he finally died. That may be cold on my part, but let’s face it, it was a long life, and what seemed, an easy, wealthy life.
In the coming days, we’re going to hear how he lived on his own terms, and yes, he sure did. We’re going to hear about how he was a philanthropist and believed in equal rights. That i’m sure he did. You’re even going to hear how he believed he was empowering women. I’m sure he believed that also.
It’s the last part that is a stickler. Hugh Hefner started a men’s magazine, notice a men’s magazine, not a women’s empowerment magazine. To some, Playboy was a detriment to the women’s movement. Hugh was basically saying to men, and young women, the only way women could achieve equality was with their vaginas exposed for all to see, albeit, in supposedly good taste.
Playboy launched the careers of many women, that is true, it also gave the men of America an unrealistic ideal and expectation of women’s bodies and what the average man believed he was entitled too. Let’s face it, it’s an expectation that most women can’t live up too. Nature loves diversity, it’s funny that way.
That legacy of expectation is still prevalent today, with Hollywood and the like, still dictating body preferences for men to believe they want, and should expect. One that many women strive in vain to achieve. In that respect, yes, Hugh Hefner, did contribute to a long lasting legacy of American cultural idealism.
The women who posed did so freely, many being paid very handsomely to do so. In interviews I read of these women, the reverberating theme seemed to be how stripping down, spreading their legs and exposing their womanhood, was freeing and empowering. I’m sure there were a few who believed this, but I wonder how many more of these young women actually believed their own hype, using the well worn mantra to justify the action. How many really walked away feeling free and empowered when having to face their family, friends, employers, and their community, all that are quick to judge.
I personally believe it was an illusion of empowerment a lot of women bought into. Hef told us that the best way for a woman to get ahead in the 70’s and 80’s and even until today, no matter what her education, is to be flirtatious and sexy, and willing to bare it all, body and soul. To live and dress a certain way, and if you’re not drop dead gorgeous, or fat, or wear a size larger than a 2, well, sorry, you don’t deserve it, no matter how smart you are.
Don’t believe me? Just look at the comparisons of Michelle Obama, a highly educated lawyer, and Milania Trump, smart in her own right, but someone who was a model, posed nude, and is famous for being arm candy and trophy wife to a now sitting president. Would she be getting all the positive press if she also had strong, muscular arms, and even stronger opinions? Would all eyes be on her if she looked like Barbara Bush or Eleanor Roosevelt, or black, instead of a skinny white, somewhat exotic model from a foreign country? Maybe it’s the accent that attracts people…..yeah, surely that’s it.
Michelle Obama was called incredibly derogatory and racist names, even by so called Christians, who decidedly overlooked Milania’s soft porn past. Praise Jesus! Even a highly Christian relative of mine praised the fact that this suggestively posed, pussy baring for all the world to see, woman, was finally bringing “class” to the White House.
Baring all and exposing one’s self is something we don’t ever ask a man to do to get ahead. Can you imagine male businessmen having to parade nude in provacative poses, just to be able to get a spot in the boardroom? If the men of Wall Street or male congressmen were solely judged by women on their ability to lead by the size of their penises and looks alone?
On the other hand, Hefner did have alot of women working for him in his empire. Many in higher positions and eventually his own daughter ran the magazine. Do I believe that Hugh loved women and believed he was liberating and empowering women? Yes, of course he did, he, after all, wrote the narrative. I also believe many of the women who posed and worked for him, also bought into his well crafted narrative. What Hefner, in his closed world, failed to grasp, was the farther reaching affects of this narrative.
Impossible beauty standards aside, he failed to realise that objectifying women in a magazine, that was geared specifically to men, did not ultimately raise women to higher heights. That was the everyday women of every shape, color, and creed, standing up and fighting for their rights. A fight still being fought all over the world today. It did not create a culture of accepting that a woman could be a smart business woman, to be worthy enough on her own merits to run a company, to do a supposed man’s job, to deserve equal pay, be a president, or even be an equal in her own home.
It did, however, bring awareness to many subjects of the day, with interviews and editorials that tackled many controversial issues, even women’s issues. It brought to light injustices and mostly created a positive narrative and opinion many men, and young boys, (let’s face it, they all stole looks at dad’s magazines hidden in garages) would have never even been exposed to before. It’s just a shame it had to shove a naked women in their faces to spank to, to do it.
In truth, I’m neither for or against Hugh Hefner, his magazine, or even the life he led. It was all his choice and He had many players to help him buy into, and live that lifestyle with him.
I do believe on some level, He helped women accept their sexuality, that it was okay to be sexual and sensual, that they too, can enjoy sex and be proud of being a woman, and not just a toy and a maid for men.
His strongest legacy he left for women is that he taught them is that,
they, through their bodies, are ultimately in control of their lives, that is, if they are willing to bare all and expose themselves for judgement. Some literally, some figuratively, some both.
He left an undeniable and impressive legacy, that is for sure. and if there’s an afterlife for him, I hope he is able to rest in peace in the grotto of his dreams.
Crazy Cat Lady Rantings 