General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: 2014 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Revealed. [View all]Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)yes, there is objectification of men - but men are the dominant and more powerful sex in our society as well, and objectification of us does not encourage and reinforce a second-class status.
Further objectification of men is most often based on their abilities - "he can throw a ball," as you put it. Russel Wilson is not on the Superbowl SI cover because he has a nice ass, but because of his ability at playing football.
On the other hand, objectification of women is based on their physical appearance. Kate Upton is not showcased because of her skill at a sport (my mistake earlier; she's an accomplished equestrian who's competed at a national level) nor due to her talent as an actress, or even at being able to stand the stress of modeling. She's on the cover because she has very nice breasts.