You don't have to take your clothes off. No, Really.

Gratuitous Buffy references too. Love it.

But seriously, Jennifer Aniston? I had more respect for her when she wasn't courting the press quite so much. It's just smelling of desperation now.

Eta: I just wanted to add, how much it bothers me that so many young women don't see anything wrong in this objectification. Sure, there are those who are obsessed with their looks and attracting men...so that shouldn't surprise me. However, I have intelligent friends who do more than parade around for the pleasure of either sex, and yet they look at me as if I'm some 'crazed feminist' when I say how much it stinks.

Oh and since when did 'feminist' become such a dirty word in polite society? Only in the last month I've had it used against me twice as an insult.

I don't mind pictures of women. I don't mind pictures of not very fully clothed women. But for God's sake, I don't want to see "Rachel Green" in just a tie! Same goes for Emma Watson, who I will never, ever look at without at least underwear, pants and a T-shirt (or dress) on.

I do think you're right about almost everything. Sex does sell, and some form of sexual objectification is just plain human. And yet, wearing just some skimpy pieces of cloth doesn't make you sexy, to me. I don't think the Keri Russell pics are attractive, the Jessica Biel ones are just disturbing, and from all the Jen Aniston pics, is the one where she's wearing the red dress the one I consider the most sexy.

Some people should just keep their clothes on, no matter how beautiful they are.  

You didn't even take your clothes of, yet you've never looked more naked.

Jennifer is maybe finally letting her true self come out. She played Rachel for so long that maybe we identify the two as one too much. The photos on the link provided with the wet t-shirt were from several years ago, so apparently this isn't new territory for her. She has lovely breasts, and if she wants to show them in a cool looking photo, then I am happy to admire them for a moment.

I'm not for the objectifying of females ever, but they can certainly decide when and if they want to show what to whom. I hate it when I see young girls making out simply to impress the boys in the room...that makes me sick. I wasn't thrilled to see Miley in a bedsheet looking freshly f'ed with smeared lipstick...that was outrageous! My 11 yr old niece loves her, and that pisses me off to see that influence.

Couldn't agree more.

Yes, sex sells, and it's very nice to look at beautiful women who are wearing fewer clothes than necessary. But there's a line. It's a very fine line but it's obvious when it gets crossed. It's like being hit by a giant inflatable, naked banana - smack! Too much. 

Some 'sexy' shoots are really nice, but then you get the ones you've just highlighted. They feel desperate and sad to me, like a puppy jumping up and down for attention. Sure, it's kinda cute, but you don't want it all the time 'cause it gets irritating. 

And is it me, but do some of the pictures these photogs take attempt to make the women look...I dunno, abused or mistreated, or degraded? Like the drowned rat look for example. She doesn't look healthy and attractive there, she looks like she's been dumped in a bath and forced to like it. She looks like she wants to run away from the pervy photog at any moment. Is that sexy? I guess maybe for some. 

Anyhow, sometimes subtlety is better than outright obvious, but I guess if people are buying into this then we'll keep seeing pointless pics of girls tied up, or girls wet, or girls on their hands and knees, or girls looking pleadingly at the camera, or girls only being allowed to wear one article of clothing...that just happens to be (traditionally) male clothing. Ownership much?

Putting women in their 'place' never looked so...unappealing. 

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It's something I've been noticing alot more of.  I'm not sure if I just have been paying more attention to this stuff or if more women celebs are going naked.  It does remind me of this article I read about how advertising is taking its cues from porn now and it's gross at how many c*m shot ads there are!  It's an interesting read.

I really have no problem with nudity for the sake of your art - if it calls for it and is tasteful.   The human body can be a beautiful thing. There are some beautiful nude paintings/photos/etc.  But to be naked for the sake of being naked to sell more movie tickets or magazines?  Not interested.  I find it degrading and unappealing.

I do also find a double standard in the lesbian community.  I always hear talk about how men and the straight community always objectify lesbians and our lifestyle.  I swear I read more posts from lesbians who's only arguement is.. 'I don't care - she is sooo hot!'  Or why is it ok for there to be sweeps lesbians if you like the women (old christine) but not ok if you don't like them? 

Jennifer Aniston is plain and simply just desperate. From all the interviews she's done, you'd think Brad dumped her yesterday. It's been like 3 years! Get over it!

She's boring, irrelevant, and is the mastermind behind her own gossip spin. No one is interested in her anymore so she thinks she's got to take her clothes off to get some attention.

I have no problem with women posing nude. They could say no if they want to. No one is putting a gun to their head. The problem lies in WHY they're doing it. Keri Russell's pics looks artsy and resemble editorial fashion shots while Jennifer Aniston's look like a desperate plea for attention. It's so patheitc that she feels like she's gotta get naked to get some love. I guess her "John Mayer/Am I Pregnant?" Publicity Tour wasn't the success she hoped it would be.

i love that you are such a huge buffy fan sarah, it makes me feel ok with my obsession.

i was just starting to enjoy keri russell movies then she does something this shallow. i dont think i will be supporting her in the near future. i could hardly ever stand jennifer aniston. something about her acting that bugs me. jessica biel is just a pretty face. i dont think there is substance there.

I think there are a lot of very good points being made on this thread and I am certainly being given a lot to think about.

I agree that not all nudity is bad, some of it is quite beautiful in the right context.  But I am sad to see women resorting to nudity to increase their celebrity.  It just sends the wrong message and it perpetuates the cycle of women being objectified in the media.  Some of these pictures to me do look desperate.  Besides I think that it's a lot sexier to give 'em just enough and leave 'em wanting more, rather than just showing EVERYTHING.  (For example someone commented on J. Aniston's cover with the red dress...just the peek of her cleavage in the dress is much sexier to me than her GQ cover)  To me an element of mystery is very sexy. Maybe that's just me...

And is it just me or are the Kerri Russell pictures distrubing? I saw these on another gossip blog a few days ago and I felt weirded out looking at those pictures and upset for her.  She doesn't look sexy she looks like a crime victim.  Why would that turn anyone on?  She looked like she had been tortured and is way too thin, skeletal even.  She's much sexier just being her self.  A person's individual traits is what makes them sexy or attractive to different people.  Not just the size of their chest or butt.  Think about all the people you've met who you thought were good looking and then you get to know them and their personalities are so nasty you just think they are ugly after that.  And the opposite is true as well.

I also wonder, do people really think this blatant nudity is sexy, or are we just brainwashed into believing nude=sexy, no matter the context? 

'Sometimes less is more' is a good mantra. Something tells me Hollywood is following the "sex sells" motto a bit more closely.  Just like Jessica Biel, Marissa Tomei is also bearing all as a stripper in her new movie, 'The Wrestler'. Maybe the Oscars will have a new category next year. 'Best Brunette in a Stripping Role'!

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I really am a little taken aback by this topic when it comes to Jennifer Aniston. She has never been one to be shy about taking her clothes off, on magazine covers or elsewhere.

Why is this suddenly an issue? She's 40...she looks amazing..good for her. Why is there such a need to tear her apart as desperate and looking for attention. Personally, I think her latest outspokeness is fresh new side of her that I am thoroughly enjoying.

Remember, companies are trying to sell magazines and are not above creating conflict where none, or at least not much, exists.

Earlier today, on some celeb news segment, they were talking about Aniston's tie only mag cover and the interview inside.  They said something along the lines of how it has an unprovoked attack on Pitt and Jolie by Aniston.  Then, they say how it was in response to her being asked about Jolie said.  Well, that's not the definition of unprovoked to me.  She keeps being asked about them and, as far as I remember, she took the high road for a long time.  In fact, she didn't talk much about it at all until Jolie made that comment about her kids being able to watch Mommy and Daddy fall in love when they watch 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith', the movie where Daddy was actually cheating and Mommy was marriage wrecking.  That was a slap in the face from the whore in the little cad/whore/wife scenario. 

I don't particularly follow these people but you can't avoid it if you follow anything celebrity but it seems clear what roles were played by whom in this one. 

And, what the fuck is wrong with Keri Russell?  Is she dying?  Eww.  You forgot to mention the part where, beyond looking like she's a drowned rat, she looks like a drowned rat who just escaped a concentration camp.  I kind of hope one of these really famous twig women does die soon just in order to save the rest.  It seems like that is what it is going to take.

I have no issue with nudity in general, so long as it is consenting and photos of adults. I don't like how it is geared to make women out as sex objects. It is degrading. However, looking at nude photos of women and finding attraction, or nudity for the sake of attraction isn't bad to me, as long as it doesn't degrade a woman down to a disposal unit for bodily fluids. 

I don't care if these actresses are posing nude. They are a symptom of a much larger societal problem. However, it is important that AE brings these issue up as they come a long...it is good to know.

Why is it the more I read on AfterEllen the more it feels like a bunch of mice being led by a flute.

Instead of having your own minds and thinking on your own you're being led by what someone else says.

I LOVED Jennifer Aniston on the front of that mag cover. God she's hot! She makes me melt just looking into those beautiful eyes of hers.

These bloggers like to speak for everyone but stand up for what you really think. Just about every lesbian I know would just drool over those pictures of Jenn not tear the woman apart for doing nudity.

If you got it flaunt it so lesbians like me can appreciate it !!

I will admit I subscribe to a few female porno magazines, ok Barely Legal and Just 18.  I do this because there are only women in them.  Nevertheless, I prefer to see women with their clothes on, really.   Anyhow, I always told myself that the one reason I respect Jodie Foster is for her acting abilities and the fact that she never takes her clothes off.  Well to my dismay I was watching HBO the other night and the movie The Accused which was filmed in 1988 came on so I watched it again.  And Jodie showed her boobies for like 20 seconds! I was like what; I had to pause TiVo to take a gander. 

On one hand, yes I totally agree with you Sarah...on the other, im totally buying Vanity Fair with Kate Winslet on the cover...nakidish...when it arrives here in Aus.

But if its any consolation, i will definitely feel some feminist guilt with the purchase :/