Editorial Response to Glee Actresses Posing for GQ Magazine

This past week GQ magazine printed photos of Lea Michelle and Dianna Argon of the very popular FOX television series, Glee. These photos are part of the latest issue of GQ. The photos depicted Lea and Dianna as high school students in various states of undress or exposure. In most of the photos they were wearing parts of cheerleader uniforms (though I have never seen a cheerleader in pink spiked heels). In a couple of the photos, they pose with Corey Monteith, another actor on the television show, draped over him in sexualized positions. Corey is fully clothed in all photos and appears to be depicted as the character he plays on the television show.


I have searched and have yet to find a response to the photo shoot from anyone in the feminist or child abuse community. A statement by the Parents Television Council responded to the photos by stating "It is disturbing that GQ, which is explicitly written for adult men, is sexualizing the actresses who play high school-aged characters on 'Glee' in this way. It borders on pedophilia. By authorizing this kind of near-pornographic display, the creators of the program have established their intentions on the show's direction. And it isn't good for families.” GQ responded with "The Parents Television Council must not be watching much TV these days and should learn to divide reality from fantasy," Jim Nelson, editor-in-chief of GQ, said. "As often happens in Hollywood, these 'kids' are in their twenties. Cory Montieth's almost 30! I think they're old enough to do what they want."

I think that GQ is missing the point. I have few objections to Lea and Dianna posing for GQ or any other magazine if they are portraying adult women. The irresponsibility occurs when the photos depict them as high school students and, as in this case, very sexualized high school students.

Looking at GQ demographics we quickly find the age group, 25 to 34, makes up

38% of the readership while 29% of the readership belongs to the 35 to 49 years old

group. The 18 to 24 year olds make up 24% of the readership while the 50 to 64 year

old males make up only 8% and the 65+ age group makes up only 1%. 91% of the

readers are under 50 years of age. Over 36% of the male readers graduated college

while another 37% attended college. 64% of the males have an income of $50,000 or

more, 11% have an income of $40,000 or more, 8% at $30,000 or more and the

balance are the $20,000 or more at 7% and the $10,000 or more and the less than

$10,000 having 10% of the male readership between them. Clearly, the worldview of

GQ is through the eyes of a young, educated, and wealthy American male. (Media and Culture as Manifest in Male Individualism, Bozark, 2003)

My concern is how these American males are viewing adolescent girls. What Lea and Dianna and GQ magazine have done is to set up our teenage daughters and granddaughters up for continuing to be seen as objects of sexual desire for males over the age of 25. It doesn’t matter that Lea and Dianna are in their twenties, they were explicitly depicting adolescent girls in these photos.

Lea Michelle stated in an interview that she had been dealing with body issues and that she enjoyed being able to pose for these photos. She also stated she was surprised at what the photographers were able to talk her into doing. Her statement suggests that she was manipulated into some of the poses. I think that Lea could have taken a more responsible approach and 1) thought about how media had contributed to her issues regarding her body 2) been more pro-active and responsible for what was happening in the photo shoot. I would not be as concerned if she had been responsibly posing as the adult woman that she is, though I would still be concerned with how media presents women as objects and demands perfect bodies.

GQ’s response shows the ongoing irresponsibility of the media in regards to what it sells to its readers. By saying that the PTC is unable to separate fantasy from reality, it is showing that it does not understand that what it is selling to adult males is a fantasy of American teenage girls that sets them up for victimization in a number of ways.
I am an avid watcher of Glee. I find that its portrayal of the struggles of adolescence is spot on and it is willing to take on a number of controversial issues including teen pregnancy and homosexuality. The cast is talented and the musical numbers are entertaining and often inspiring. This recent incident with GQ, however, will now make me think even more about how media depicts teenagers. I will also use this as a teachable moment with my teenage granddaughters. If it is out there, it needs to be discussed.