Isn’t There a Better Way to Generate Interest in Women’s Soccer?

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If you’re following the Women’s World Cup, you may know that three members (L-R Elodie Thomas, Gaetane Thiney, and Corine Franco) of the French  team posed for some for the German tabloid Bild under the heading, “Is this how we should show up before you come to our games?”

I wish that women’s athletic performances, not images of nude bodies, drew viewers.  At the same time, I appreciate the headline.  It has a tongue-in-cheek quality that makes me think that the copy editor or creative director understood the complexity (ok, maybe just the irony?) of the photo.  Note, though, how the photo airbrushes all three players.  Elodie Thomis’s skin has been lightened.  Is her natural color not “sexy” enough?

The same three players are shown in soccer action  below.  These are the images that I hope inspire my soccer-loving daughter.

-Bridget Crawford

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3 Responses to Isn’t There a Better Way to Generate Interest in Women’s Soccer?

  1. Jennifer Hendricks says:

    … and France was amazing today, even though I’m glad the US won.

  2. Jennifer Hendricks says:

    Also ironic to see that picture, especially the skin-lightening, on FIFA’s official “Say No to Racism and All Forms of Discrimination” day.

  3. Pingback: Some news about women’s “progress” here and around the world « Uppity Woman

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