Came across this while looking through my caption blogs this morning. It has really upset me. I guess mostly because even a wonderfully successful and funny and level-headed women liks Kari Byron can get roped into the male-gaze performance. And this really hurts and saddens me because I've always looked up to her. If I had to pick a television role-model it would be Kari, since she always seems a lot like me on the show personality wise (and we dress pretty similiar, just kinda ecclectic and whatever seems cool at the moment. I love her style on the show.).
But apparently my world will be full of dissapointments this week. Any thoughts on the picture for anyone out there who's a Mythbusters fan?
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Uh, that is not actually Kari. That is a photoshopped picture that has been circling the internet for a while. She's never done a photoshoot like that.
Plus, she's not quite that... busty. She's actually fairly flatchested and slightly muscular. Though that undoubtedly changed from recently giving birth to her first child.
So anyway, have faith in her!
Lol, now I feel silly. :x
Thanks for letting me know! My day is feeling a little better now. :P
Actually, that IS her... she did a photoshoot and interview for FHM magazine a couple years ago, which is where this picture came from. Sure, it's photoshopped to all hell, but it's definitely her. There was even a little blurb about it on Mythbusters right after the article was published.
I was bummed too. :(
Aw man, I'm just on an emotional roller coaster today. :(
I guess the thing that upsets me most is my boyfriend will probably not really understand why I'm so upset about this picture. Dunno if he'll mention it or not but he visits the same caption blogs I do. Would have been better if I could have gone "It's fake! Doesn't make it okay but at least it's not really her." *sigh* Well poo sticks.
Its like society doesnt recognize a womans achievements unless shes made into a sex object. Take for example Danica Patrick, I see her featured in mens magazines and its in the same light. Forget that shes a race car driver, whats more 'important' is that shes really like, you know, hot! I saw her on tv (I think it was an axe commercial) in which she was objectified and selling some sort of mens body wash. Does anyone remember if they did this to Mia Hamm in the 90's? Its like in order for a woman to be a woman she has to sexually objectify herself, otherwise she's invisible.
The FHM photo-shoot happened a few years ago, I should note... back when Mythbusters wasn't such a wide success and a guaranteed paycheck.
Personally, I'm not going to knock Kari Byron of my "awesome women on TV" list for this photo shoot. Call it a bad choice on her part (hell, maybe she was pressured into it... we don't know), it doesn't negate her contribution to getting young girls interested in science.
I still love her, but it still upsets me to see this. Bad choice or no, any young girl who gets interested in science using her as an example and then sees this is gonna have questions. A sexy photo shoot does not negate what you have done, not at all and that's not what I'm saying. It's just... upsetting to me. I wish I could really figure out why, I guess. :\
I'm not going to knock Kari personally either but it still upsets me. She has done a great job as a female lead and presence in science. However, I do have a problem with the greater societal expectation that as successful as you are a woman for your intellect you're still going to be judged and valued for your looks by men. Kari may have been pressured into it, and that's not her fault. But it does send a negative message to young girls.
Why is it that every decent female celebrity that women can look up to end up selling out? :/