The Swimsuit Edition

It's that time of year again -- men are rushing to the mailboxes, gingerly looking through the annual swimsuit edition of sports illustrated. Eyes lingering at the bronzed beauties, slowly flipping the pages, admiring the beauty of females.

Or as some women look at it, casually observing some soft porn.

A hot topic in some marriages has become a controversy nationwide as sports illustrated officially released the swimsuit edition not with bronzed models that men everywhere were expecting, but barbie dolls.

The outcry can be heard across the nation. Barbie, who has taken various hits regarding body proportions and the promotion of low self esteem within young girls everywhere. It seems like a double hit to feminists everywhere that sports illustrated would promote their most controversial issue with a doll that has links to eating disorders in young girls.

Sports Illustrated has often claimed the swimsuit edition provides an outlet for men to admire the natural beauty of women, rather than the objectify them and set them on a stage for wondering eyes.

This ill conceived publicity stunt has brought body image problems to the forefront, detracting from the brand as well as the magazine. The Swimsuit Edition is often anticipated every year, pairing with a controversial brand seems like a mistake of epic proportions. It seems the best way to deal with this one might just to be to sit it out.