Actress Ashley Judd (Full Disclosure: I am a long-time fan) finally has had it with snarky and degrading public speculation about her face, her weight, her appearance, and whether the star of TV’s “Missing” has “had work done,” and properly slams the celebrity media and those journalists who either write about her like she’s a competitor in a dog show or question her conduct and character based on their assessment of what she “should” look like. Her verdict: it’s misogyny. The acting member of the Judd family has written a passionate, perceptive, articulate (if you forgive occasional lapses into feminist jargon, like objectification otheration, and (yuck) heteronormative) and courageous essay over at the Daily Beast. If you have a daughter, have her read it. If you have a son, have him read it too. Heck, everybody should read it….here.
I wonder if the Daily Beast editors read it. Here is Ashley Judd, eloquently pleading that women should be assessed base on how they do their job rather than on their perceived sex appeal, and where does the website post it?
On the page called “The Sexy Beast.”
You have a lot of work to do, Ashley, but you’re fighting the right fight.
Brava.
Ethics Alarms 
The links wrong. It’s http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/09/ashley-judd-slaps-media-in-the-face-for-speculation-over-her-puffy-appearance.html
I’d also add in a comment about the title the editors decided to go with.
Yes, thanks—fixed the link.
Good call on the headline, tgt: “Ashley Judd Slaps Media in the Face for Speculation Over Her ‘Puffy’ Appearance.” That’s what she gets for picking a celebrity rag to make a valid critique on celebrity journalism.
I should have mentioned that it wasn’t my call, though I agree with it. I saw it on Skepchick yesterday.
If we give them the benefit of doubt, we could think they think her speaking out is what is sexy. Still sucks but there you go…. it is what she is saying after all so her point is proven again.
Oh, and I am with you, Jack. Ashley is awesome. Double Jeopardy was the first time I saw her and it made me go looking for other stuff she was in. I am a big fan.
I like “otheration.” Think I’ll use it.
My Ph.D. daughter is brilliiant, accomplished, and, incidentally, quite lovely, I can say without bias. And, from what she tells me, there are those who judge her day-to-day on how “pretty” she looks. And she testifies to the truth of a cynical old jape:
“Behind every great man is a woman. Behind every great woman is a guy, checking her out.”