There’s an old fable from indigenous culture that tells the story of an old man advising a young one about choice and intention. It warns of two wolves living inside us, one representing despair, and the other representing hope. The fable reminds us that we have a choice of which wolf thrives by deciding which one we feed.
As people, we are currently facing a similar choice in how we view ourselves in our later years and how we influence how others perceive us. I find myself frustrated by the media frenzy surrounding Martha Stewart’s photo in Sports Illustrated.
Don’t get me wrong, having a mature model on the cover of a magazine is a step in the right direction, but I believe this may not be the best example to celebrate.
For decades, Sports Illustrated has been known for sexualizing women on their cover to sell subscriptions. In the past 11 years, only 35 female athletes have been featured on the cover, with only 18 featuring a female as the primary or sole image. It’s clear that SI is not featuring women for their athletic ability, and that is where the problem starts.
The current situation is further complicated by the controversy of photo editing and cosmetic enhancements, distorting the image into something that is not an honest representation of the beauty of a mature face and body. It also ignores intellectual, professional, and personal accomplishments as a reason for selection.
However, my frustration doesn’t end there. What really fuels my outrage is the lack of recognition for U.S. astronaut, Peggy Whitson. At 63 years old, Whitson is heading to the International Space Station for a record-breaking time, yet her accomplishment has been overshadowed by the media’s focus on someone who posed in a bathing suit.
Peggy Whitson has spent a cumulative 665 days in space over her career, giving her the NASA record. She is a biochemistry researcher, a retired NASA astronaut, and colloquially known as “the space ninja.” Additionally, she was the first female commander of the International Space Station and has spent more time spacewalking than any other woman.
These are significant accomplishments, yet they are being overshadowed by someone who has been front-page news for posing in a bathing suit.
My outrage is not based in pettiness, but in a genuine concern for the progress, or the lack thereof, in the advancement of women as equal and worthy contributors in all aspects of modern life. If we want more women astronauts, equal hiring practices for mature women, and equal representation in government, then we must give women the media attention they deserve, to inspire the next generation of women. If we want to continue the second-rate treatment and inequality, then we should keep the camera on Martha and keep feeding that wolf.
