I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
We're all familiar with the iconic Alfred Eisenstaedt photo of a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square on Aug. 14, 1945, during the celebration to mark V-J Day, the end of World War II.
Well, the perpetually affronted ladies of the blog Feministing just realized something you probably figured out in 4th grade: The duo may not have been an actual couple prior to the sailor laying a kiss on the nurse.
And you know what that means: They're trying to find the guy to charge him with sexual assault. I'm only slightly exaggerating:
As it turns out, rather than a romantic moment between lovers, the image actually and unambiguously depicts an act of sexual assault.
A London-based feminist has been causing a huge stir on Facebook and in the blogosphere with this very observation. The blogger known as “Leopard” writes:
“Most of us are familiar with this picture. Captured in Times Square on V-J Day, 1945, it has become one of the most iconic photographs of American history, symbolizing the jubilation and exuberance felt throughout the country at the end of World War II.”
“Do you get the feeling that something is not quite right?
…Far from being a kiss between a loving couple, we learn that George and Greta were perfect strangers. We learn that George was drunk, and that Greta had no idea of his presence, until she was in his arms, with his lips on hers… It seems pretty clear, then, what George had committed was sexual assault.”
A closer look at the image in question shows corroborating details that become stomach-turning when properly viewed: the smirks on the faces of the sailors in the background; the firm grasp around the physically smaller woman in his arms such that she could not escape if she tried; the woman’s clenched fist and limp body.
If there is a better symbol for how messed up our ideas about sex and romance are, I can’t think of one.
What is wrong with these people? Stomach-turning? Like most women, I imagine, I've been subject to boorish behavior from men. But not every surprise kiss is a sexual assault.
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May '11
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
Look at the poor woman here. Tragic.
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
Oh how horrible.
May '10
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
I'm comfortable with keeping surprise kisses from strangers illegal. Call me prudish.
Apr '12
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
I'm thinking it's nothing more than attention seeking sensationalism.
Jul '10
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
I foolishly waded into arguing about this on Facebook earlier with some people who I knew were humorless feminists of the Andrea Dworkin mold, but I couldn't resist asking if anyone has consulted Greta about whether she defines this as sexual assault. No one has. I seem to recall a television interview where she even seemed pleased to be a part of history, even though she was startled in the moment and it wasn't her idea. It damages the word "rape" to use it in this context far more than it could ever damage an iconic American image.
Nov '10
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
Her take on it?
One of the hottest 90 year olds I've seen. I imagine she was pretty kissable at 27.
Aug '10
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
Her arm would be pushing against him, and she wouldn't be leaning back that way, if she felt threatened by the kiss. And he wouldn't be kissing her in broad day light, in front of all those witnesses, if the kiss was the beginning of a sexual assault. A person who sees sexual assault in this picture hasn't any idea what it meant at that time to know the war was over, to see young men who made it back alive, to be a returning American soldier or sailor looking at an American girl. Leopard should shut up long enough to listen to some old people.
Mar '11
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
The writer Robert Heinlein and his wife are said to have been co-workers on VJ day. They shared their first kiss without destroying their friendly relationship. Three years later they married and remained so for 40 years. Just think what they would have missed except for some unexpected smooching.
Sep '12
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
I think what this demonstrates is how pathological feminist thought can be. Everyone can imagine that a surprise intimate embrace and kiss might be objectionable. These particular women apparently are unable to imagine that it might not be objectionable under certain circumstances.
Feb '12
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
I have always adored that photo. It represented such joy and celebration of life. And 1945 is reaching too far back for things to label as "sexual assault" in 2012. In 1945 it simply was not an assault. Not for the drunk sailor or the nurse who was kissed by a stranger.
Apr '11
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
"Feminism Ruins Everything"
Amen.
It started out being positive and ended up being narrow and mean and intrusive and not liberating. Instead of teaching women to be independent and in control of their lives, they denigrated the married and non working, the mothers of traditional families, and 1/2 the population who happen to be male.
They became the "patriachy" in every sense except the physical. Guess they can correct that now as well.....
Dec '10
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
I believe that this photo, like the flag raising on Iwo Jima, was restaged after the original candid shot to get a better composition. There are probably at least two couples and maybe more that were photographed in this pose.
Jun '10
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
If you are a member of the armed forces, on the day you win a war, you are allowed to kiss one total stranger.
I'm pretty sure that's in the Constitution somewhere.
Mar '11
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
Scarred for life, clearly.
Joseph Stanko: If you are a member of the armed forces, on the day you win a war, you are allowed to kiss one total stranger.
I'm pretty sure that's in the Constitution somewhere.
Seconded.
Oct '10
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
Only radical feminists would find this so deeply sexual. I'm pretty sure exuberance is a different emotional phenomena.
Oct '10
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
Looking at the blog post, is the author trying to draw attention to street harassment? That's certainly a legitimate, modern problem, but I'm not sure why it's necessary to scapegoat a popular image from 1945 to do so.
Mar '11
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
CBS News reunited the pair a few months back.
Well, actually, the trio.
Apr '11
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
Has anyone high-fived a stranger in a pub when your favorite team wins a championship game? Maybe even shared a hug in your younger wilder days? Exponentially increase that feeling to the power of 10 or more on V-J day and viola - the kiss! I'm wouldn't be surprised there wasn't a lot more of that going on than the was captured by the photographer.
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
You are a conspiracy theorist after my own heart.
Jul '10
Re: I'm Filing This Under "Feminism Ruins Everything"
Would they be claiming "sexual assault" today if the picture were of two male Sailors?
Doubt it.