Letter to the editor: Western Herald shouldn’t objectify women

I have been reading the Western Herald since I started attending WMU in 2005.  As I near the completion of my second degree from WMU, I still read the Herald as often as I am on campus.  Upon completing Thursday’s issue, I closed the paper and set it down, looking at the back of the newspaper.  To my surprise, I saw a half‑naked female.  Upon closer examination, I found the ad to be for Trident Realty.

Many could attack Trident Realty for objectifying women in their advertisements, and I will say that the ad made me think twice about ever looking to rent properties from Trident Realty.  However, the ad really made me wonder about the values of the Western Herald.  The ad (which depicts a woman in lingerie asking: Looking for a place to live?  How about with me?  It won’t hurt to look…) is using the female body to rent their properties and I find it inappropriate.

For the 2008 – 2009 school year, Western Michigan University had 24,576 students, 51 percent of whom were female.  As the newspaper that represents Western Michigan University and its STUDENTS, I wonder why this ad was printed.  Apparently, the Western Herald found this material appropriate to be printed, and this makes me question the integrity of such a paper.  I had hoped that the Western Herald would not promote the degradation of women, as this ad has done.  One can only hope that it will not be printed in future editions.

Alex Garrett
WMU Master’s Student

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=14317

Posted by HeraldAdmin on Jan 31 2010. Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
Web Manager: I'm a Communication Student at WMU, a SCUBA Diver, Boater, Ordained Minister, Notary Public, Web Designer, Film Maker, DJ, and of course a Journalist. Born and raised in Port Huron, MI and a graduate of SC4. http://www.codykimball.com