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It was only a matter of time before the younger half-sister of the Kardashian clan, Kendall Jenner, joined in on the money making fun and modeled for a bikini photo shoot. Kim posted the photos on her blog this past week and praised Kendall’s ability to do what the Kardashians do best: looking “pretty” (and reaping mega profits).
They turned out sooo gorgeous!! I am so proud of Kendall. She’s going to take over the modeling world… you just watch!
Now, where shall I begin? I am beyond bored with the one-dimensionality of the Kardashian claim to fame. The issue here is not necessarily that Kendall is wearing a bikini at age 14 or really even the fact that she has decided to pursue a modeling career.  The issue here in my mind is the fact that this is not surprising at all. But then again, the Kardashian legacy is looking ‘pretty.’ The incessant downplay from the entire family and her mother’s orchestration of the shoot doesn’t leave Kendall much room for growth outside of posing in a bikini and reiterates that the only component of self that she can have will be reduced to her looks. I feel the same way when looking at these photos that I did when I found out the mom, Kris Jenner, was the one who convinced Kim to pose for Playboy– saddened and confused. I was pretty surprised at the amount of acceptance this photo shoot received and am even more surprised as to why this is considered to be “typical” 14 year old behavior. Shouldn’t her mother be trying to shield her from the inevitable dangers of the modeling world which is notorious for sexualizing girls at an earlier age and essentially chewing them up and spitting them out?
Julie BowenofModern Family recently shared a picture with George Lopez of her breastfeeding her twins in a move called the “double football hold.” Unsurprisingly, that photo, seen below, created a public outcry and claimed that the picture was offensive and shocking.
The squeamish response is unsurprising given previous outcries in recent years. In 2006, Babytalk, a free parenting magazine consumed mostly by mothers, received a backlash from offended parties when they featured a cover of a nursing baby in profile. The magazine received over 700 letters, comments included:
I was SHOCKED to see a giant breast on the cover of your magazine,” one person wrote. “I immediately turned the magazine face down,” wrote another. “Gross,” said a third.
One mother who didn’t like the cover explains she was concerned about her 13-year-old son seeing it.
“I shredded it,” said Gayle Ash, of Belton, Texas, in a telephone interview. “A breast is a breast, it’s a sexual thing. He didn’t need to see that.”
“Gross, I am sick of seeing a baby attached to a boob,” wrote Lauren, a mother of a 4-month-old.
Here is the “controversial” cover:
Angelina Jolie created a similar uproar in November, 2008 when she appeared on the cover of W Magazine nursing one of her newborn twins. Along with general discomfort, people responded to the breastfeeding image as something inherently sexual and claimed that the cover photo “sexualized” the act of nursing.
Despite taking a trained and critical eye at pop culture, it is no big secret that I also consume aspects of pop culture with relish and delight. With that said, I try to make somewhat healthy choices off the pop culture menu, or at least consume the more toxic choices consciously and in moderation. So, I want to come clean about something: yes, when Kim Kardashian left Paris Hilton’s side and “launched” out on her own after her infamous sex tape was “leaked” I was slightly intrigued to see how her brush with fame would play out. As the years went on I became a sort of pop culture lookie-loo, peering at the expanding Kardashian empire, an empire that came to include her entire family, in the form of clothing lines, diet pills, perfume, nude photos and, of course, their various realityshows. It was horrifying to watch unfold on so many levels but I continued to peek with a bizarre fascination.
But, I can’t take much more. I am force fed so much Kardashian that I am ready to vomit. You practically can’t escape; billboards, commercials, tabloid and magazine covers at the checkout stands, television shows and advertisements. And, they’re usually in bikinis and stilettos talking about their bodies or their boyfriend (baby daddy or husband, as the case may be these days). Haven’t they ever heard the term “over-exposure?”
My online content analysis continues this week. So, what the tabloids focus on this time?
The same themes featured last week: weight and body image, heterosexual relationships, feuding women and a pathetic Kate Gosselin.
As always, there’s plenty of Kardashian coverage (in print, not clothing). The Kardashians appear a total of 3 times, twice the focus is on Kim’s new relationship and (surprise!), Kourtney appears in a post-baby bikini.
Kate Gosselin returns this week fighting rumors that she’s a monster mommy.
Three stories of feudingwomen: Angeline and Brad’s mom, Sandra and Bombshell McGee and the girls from The Hills.
Two more “relationship stories:” sex freak Larry King and the possible reunion between Sandra and Jesse.
Not only am I frustrated and annoyed by the persistent focus on baby bumps and post-baby bodies that increases unnecessary pressure on everyday women, I am bored with Kardashian.