Peer Response #2

Today in the world of SSST’s Blog: a response to Kat Saltarelli’s blog about celebrity endorsements.

Saltarelli opens her post by making a statement concerning the ridiculous appearance of models – being too skinny, too made-up, etc – and how those models create an unrealistic image for young women across the country. She uses this opening to explain why Serena Williams endorsement with Nike goes against the mainstream of celebrity role models.

She says that Williams is confident, powerful and uncaring of criticism, and is thus a role model to be looked up to for young women. Her achievements and “cool” make her a wholesome athlete that little girls can aspire to be like when they grow up. And for this reason, Nike made the right decision to endorse her and her image.

I don’t know much about Williams’ character; if she’s as calm and confident as Saltarelli proposes, so I’ll just have to take her word for it. The only thing that still bothers me is that Serena still has the “looks” that all those little girls envy. I’m not attacking Serena for looking good and being a good person, I’m just making the point that little girls will still be in envy of her “beautiful athletic body” (see picture above - a little more modesty would be appreciated Ms Williams). Saltarelli even says in the post that unlike many other women tennis players, Williams has a body that she can and does “flaunt”. I think its almost a cop-out to picture her as a perfect role-model, just for the reason that she still fits the description of what a model should have: a glamorous body. This still creates an unrealistic view of how a female body should look for little girls, despite the fact that Williams is a nice person.

In the future, I’d like to see Nike endorse a “normal” looking athlete, so that girls can see that they don’t have to be an hour-glass to be beautiful and successful.