
The era of the hot, helpless woman

Athleisure, Barre and Kale: The Tyranny of the Ideal Woman | News | the Guardian
Jia Tolentinotheguardian.comThese women have thoroughly internalized the male gaze, their to-be-looked-at-ness, and arrived at a place of incredible power — as objects. Their struggle, as evidenced by the ample time we spend with those who’ve “retired,” is figuring a sense of self outside of that objecthood.
Culture Study Meets 'America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders'

Analyzing sexism through female celebrities is a catnip pedagogical method: it takes a beloved cultural pastime (calculating the exact worth of a woman) and lends it progressive political import.