Check out the tits on that dead girl!
A human being, who also happened to be a woman (so, not actually a human being), who also happened to be a sex worker (so REALLY not a human being) was tortured and murdered on September 11th, 2009. Naturally, CBS decided that the most appropriate way to commemorate her life and pontificate on the epidemic of violence against women that is the direct result of our international policy of lady-dehumanization, would be a photo slide show demonstrating how fuckable she is (or, er, was…you know, back when she was alive and useful and shit):
That link to the “Porn Star Felicia Lee Murdered” photo gallery (catchy title, no?) appears within the article FOUR FUCKING TIMES:
(This piece, which is about half the written length of the previously-mentioned one, also manages to squeeze in 3 links to the photo gallery, as well as two titty-fantastic pics of the victim.)
In the aforementioned photo slideshow, CBS has happily chopped up their article into easy-to-digest single sentences and placed them next to photos of Felicia in various states of pornification, for those who find reading news without accompanying pics of scantily-clad murder victims just too boring.
(I know what you’re thinking. “But Kendall, you unreasonable feminist, they always post pictures of murder victims! She just happened to be a porn star, so she obviously only ever took slutty photos! They were just using what was available!” Well, actually, they could have used her driver’s license pic, like the slightly-more-respectful San Gabriel Valley Tribute did. Kudos to the editor who made that call.)
In case you were worried that the article would overlook important aspects of Felicia’s life, fear not. They don’t fail to mention that “Felicia Lee’s official Web site, where she was known as “Felicia Tang,” allows fans to purchase DVDs and posters featuring the model/actress. Lee even created a wish-list for fans to purchase lingerie which she would then wear during web-cam sessions.” They’re also careful to list the titles of her adult films, so you can honor her memory with a bottle of lotion and your favorite sock.
So if you’ve been thinking “men may act like little entitled, dehumanizing fucks now, but when I’m dead, I’ll finally get the respect and freedom from objectification that I’ve been thirsting for all these years like so many fountain Diet Cokes,” I have some bad news for you…it just ain’t happening, yo. Women exist primarily to provide sexual satisfaction for men, and we’ll be taking that shit to the grave.
Felicia, I’m sorry someone did this to you, and I’m even sorrier to say that he’ll, most likely, not receive anything close to an appropriate punishment. We’re all assholes, and you deserved better – both in life, and in death.
(For those wondering why I made no mention of the fact that her suspected killer is a Christian pastor, I offer this probably unsatisfactory response: I find it less than surprising when a man belonging to and promoting a religion – the entire foundation of which is predicated on the “merits” of female subjugation – is misogynistic to a degree that he is able to beat and murder a woman. I mean, the hypocrisy is delicious in a schadenfreude kind of way, but it happens so often that there’s really nothing left to say about it or analyze. It just…is. Sad but true.)
Update – Holy Fuck:
6 Comments
September 21. 2009 at 10:36 pm
“For those wondering why I made no mention of the fact that her suspected killer is a Christian pastor, I offer this probably unsatisfactory response: I find it less than surprising when a man belonging to and promoting a religion – the entire foundation of which is predicated on the merits of female subjugation – is misogynistic to a degree that he is able to beat and murder a woman. I mean, the hypocrisy is delicious, but it happens so often that there’s really nothing left to say about it. Sad but true.”
Says it all really.
That poor woman
September 25. 2009 at 6:41 pm
Ugh, just ugh. That poor woman, indeed.
I did not know about this until I noticed it on your blog (blogs like yours are how I know what happens in the world
) but the fact that she was killed by a Christian Pastor… that just takes the cake. And at the same time it’s not surprising AT ALL. :/
October 5. 2009 at 11:21 am
Do you not like porn or something? Geez!
October 5. 2009 at 11:52 am
Hahah – the guy who posted that comment is from Kentucky. ‘Nuff said.
(And no, I’m not a huge fan of porn, but my basic, bottom of the barrel standards require that, you know, the women who are objectified, dehumanized, and sexualized are, at the very least, not victims of violent crimes . I know, I’m, like, weird and shit.)
October 12. 2009 at 7:37 am
I want to expect so much more from CBS. I want to expect dignity and respect and responsible coverage.
Too bad we can’t.
October 28. 2009 at 4:49 am
That makes me feel sick to my stomach. God Almighty. That poor woman.
I’m glad there are people out there who would treat her with dignity. Too bad they don’t seem to be the ones who write newspaper articles.