'Russian women are notoriously sexual. Stop judging us'

[Larry1]

I came across this article in Britain's Telegraph:

Sochi 2014: 'Russian women are notoriously sexual. Stop judging us'

As pictures of Team Russia's female Olympians in racy underwear go viral – and raise many an eyebrow – Russian-born women living in the UK plead with the world not to judge. Stripping off just isn't the taboo we think it is, discovers Louisa Peacock

No sooner did AdMe.ru publish racy pictures of Russia's female athletes competing at Sochi wearing next to nothing, did the shots go viral online. And then came the judgment. Column inches spoke of the 'demeaning' way Russia is marketing its female Olympians. Others said the photos were controversial, adding that it brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'checking out the competition'.
True, the photos are racy. True, these girls look like gorgeous pin-up models fit for a Pirelli calendar (well they are Olympic athletes; all those hours down the gym is bound to pay off). But what, really, is going on here? Have these women been exploited – used by Russia to soften the blow of all the other bad news so far surrounding Russia and Sochi (the anti-gay sentiment, the Winter Olympic Village still looking like a construction site)? Or are they 'free' – expressing their sexual freedom and just having a bit of fun?

So why are the Russian Olympic female team stripping off? Is it because they feel pressure to do so, that they've been pushed into 'selling' Russia in the only way they know how, that they've succumb to Russia's traditional patriarchal ways – or, just OR – could it be that they wanted to do this?

Yulia Ivanova, a Russian-born 31 year-old now living and working in England, tells me Russian girls are very "sex confident". They enjoy showing off their bodies. "Russian women are notoriously sexual. In Russian culture, women constantly strive to look sexy, hot, want-able. Skirts and heels are standard. Mini skirts at that. Jeans and trainers, casual 'unisex' outfits on women are frowned upon. Women take great pride in their clothes, and always dress to the T's," she says.

"Russians are very sex confident. It is a topic that is always open to discussion, it is not taboo and shameful like it is in many Western countries. Many many women have lingerie photoshoots for fun, for themselves – to feel confident and celebrate their body. It is not seen as prostitution or degradation – it is seen as strength and confidence."

Ivanova points out that the Oxford rowing team stripped off naked for charity last year. Elsewhere Warwick University's rowers stripped off for charity. Both of these still attracted some controversy, but do people generally think that because it's for charity, it's more acceptable?

Either way, Ivanova adds: "I strongly feel that the Sochi Olympics is a giant feast for the Western media to rip Russia to pieces. And as such, any detail, any mistake, anything negative at all no matter how small will be the centre of attention – and all the positive things will go unnoticed."
Elsewhere, Russian-born Vicky Ryzhykh, 30, who also lives in the UK, says other athletes have stripped off for photoshoots in the past. "It's nothing we haven’t seen before. A few years ago a number of international female curlers posed for a naked calendar “Fire on Ice”. If I recall correctly one of the athletes said that if naked photos of her made a few more people watch curling then that was a good thing."

She adds: "I think they are doing it for fun, in order to generate interest in the games. I think that's why all other athletes do it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10622670/Winter-Olympics-Sochi-2014-Russian-women-are-notoriously-sexual.-Stop-judging-us.html

I have attached one of the photos in the article. She is not named but she is Russian ski jumper Irina Avvakumova who is competing at Sochi.

Here is another article describing this.  The article has lots of photos:

There are claims Russia will offer a cold welcome to the world at the Winter Olympics, but these images of some of the country's leading competitors suggests otherwise.
Until now, disputes about homophobia, world leaders refusing to attend, and mega-security at Sochi have overshadowed the preparations for the £31 billion Games.
The pictures showing the host team dressed to impress are going wild on the Moscow web with one site boasting: 'Russian sportswomen are the best campaigners for our team in Sochi.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2550897/Off-piste-Russias-female-Olympians-Russia-goes-Sochi-charm-offensive-scantily-clad-photo-call-athletes-youve-never-seen-before.html#ixzz2t1fGB5Ju

What are your thoughts about this?

[ML]

I think it is all very disgusting.

Who on earth wants to see such pictures?

[Slumba]

Which side of the Atlantic has the Puritanical strain, again? 

Seems that as usual, feminists only want men to lust after old, used up clapped out fatties... like themselves.

[Larry1]

I think it is all very disgusting.

I quite agree. This is rank objectification of womyn and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms, as do you I'm sure, along with all other right-thinking people. 

[Muzh]

Which side of the Atlantic has the Puritanical strain, again? 

Seems that as usual, feminists only want men to lust after old, used up clapped out fatties... like themselves.

Projecting yourself there a little bit, eh?
 
Where did you get this fact?
 
I would venture a guess and that would be that feminists dislike when some "men" behave extremely rude towards women or only think that women are good for only one thing (three guesses and the first two don't count) while prompting statements like "all feminists are dykes," etc., etc.
 
But I can also venture a guess that feminists can be as horny as your everyday neighbor and have the same lust and desire for a man the same way a man can lust after a woman.

[Slumba]

Projecting yourself there a little bit, eh?
 
Where did you get this fact?
 
I would venture a guess and that would be that feminists dislike when some "men" behave extremely rude towards women or only think that women are good for only one thing (three guesses and the first two don't count) while prompting statements like "all feminists are dykes," etc., etc.
 
But I can also venture a guess that feminists can be as horny as your everyday neighbor and have the same lust and desire for a man the same way a man can lust after a woman.

No projection, it is not trying to deny fundamental truths about men and women...

An old photo with me in it, I am the one of the chubby ones...

[Muzh]

Here's some fundamental truths...
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=V4UWxlVvT1A

[Jumper]

 It seems odd the general reaction seems only aimed to the photos of Russian athletes,as there are numerous similar web articles on *sexy Olympians* that cross nationality and gender, the photos equally revealing or suggestive.

[Larry1]

It seems odd the general reaction seems only aimed to the photos of Russian athletes,as there are numerous similar web articles on *sexy Olympians* that cross nationality and gender, the photos equally revealing or suggestive.

Purely in the interest of analyzing this disparity, could you post some links to these other articles on sexy Olympians of other nations? 

[Anotherkiwi]

I came across this article in Britain's Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10622670/Winter-Olympics-Sochi-2014-Russian-women-are-notoriously-sexual.-Stop-judging-us.html

Here is another article describing this.  The article has lots of photos:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2550897/Off-piste-Russias-female-Olympians-Russia-goes-Sochi-charm-offensive-scantily-clad-photo-call-athletes-youve-never-seen-before.html#ixzz2t1fGB5Ju

What are your thoughts about this?

Lovely photos - shame about some of the proof-reading!  I nearly fell off my chair when I saw that there's one who is quoted as being "from Leningrad near St Petersburg!"  Luckily it's clarified in the text by saying "Leningrad region."

[Slumba]

2012 Beach Volleyball team from Great Britain:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/olympics-2012-meet-the-british-womens-1152853

A variety of Olympics-bound women:

http://www.totalprosports.com/2014/02/06/hottest-athletes-of-the-2014-winter-olympics/

Women showing more than average:

#36 - Bulgaria
#32 - Australia
Hanna Teter
#19 Lolo Jones, USA
#15 Switzerland
#6 Austria
#1 USA, Julia Mancuso
Some cognitive dissonance:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/women-mobilise-for-first-british-slutwalk-rally-2281611.html