Sigh. Call him the idiot of the week: Eliot Spitzer.
Of course we've all spent a lot of time this week thinking about Eliot Spitzer's amazing acts of hubris; perhaps the temporary definition of "hypocrisy" in Wikipedia might include a picture of Governor Spitzer as the word embodied?
In a few short days, he and his wife went from this:
(photo via 02138 )
to this:
(photo via nj.com)
There's a lot of fodder for discussion in the Spitzer case: the amazing rise and fall of a visionary leader; debates over the illegality of prostitution, here, here, here, here & here; the mirth (and sadly bad frat boy ways) of the Wall Street boys (yes, I did knowingly link to the NY Post...); the ways in which the public reacted bizarrely to the news by attacking Spitzer's wife (More disgusting Dr. Laura coverage here; see also Body Impolitic's response, and mine!); all of this and more will continue to be debated in the blogosphere over the coming weeks.
For me, however, what stands out is the interminable stupidity and unconscious misogyny of the American male politician. In education--and in our legislation of things like No Child Left Behind & standardized testing--our political, social, and cultural mores have determined that there are essential skills necessary for participation in society. A well educated citizen is articulate in basic, shared knowledge like math, literature, writing, science, civics, and history (to name a few). I'd like to suggest that the repeated incidents of public infidelity on the part of the American male politician argue for something even more basic: mandatory courses in remedial feminism. To truly move to a society where men and women are considered equal, gender equality needs to be a central tenant of social, political, cultural, and academic discourse.
In an election cycle that explicitly condones sexism against a female candidate for president, in the midst of a legislative war over reproductive rights, in the continuing ideological fight for access to birth control & abortion, in the hypocrisy of a culture that mandates motherhood but refuses to fund and legislate access to quality daycare and schools, just to name a few issues, is it any surprise that one of the leading liberal politicians is busted for participation in a prostitution ring?
That Mr. Spitzer went to a prostitute isn't shocking. In some ways, the only thing newsworthy here is his own vulgar hypocrisy. But, what really bothers me is this: if Mr. Spitzer could buy--literally--into the notion that some women are commodities to be bought for his pleasure, how is it that he could represent and advocate for public policies that ensure the equality of men and women under the law? In New York, Spitzer was a known proponent of progressive legislation for women's rights. Amy Goodman has a great article about it here (and about how, as the news of Spitzer's infidelity was breaking, New York's women & teens were rallying for new legislation that Spitzer supported).
What I'm trying to get at is this: the very public picture of Mr. Spitzer and his wife, above, sends one message about equality in our society: men and women working together to effect social and political change (of course, he as the legislator, she as the trusty "support" network). Mr. Spitzer's political career was defined, in one arena, by a fierce passion for women's rights. And below, a darker, more chilling picture of Mr. Spitzer's conscious? unconscious? opinion of women. Call them Eliot's Headless Whores.
Here is what the Emperor's Club promised its clients (via Huffington Post--the EC Website has been taken off-line):
Emperors' Club vip is the most preferred international social
introduction service for those accustomed to excellence. Introducing
the most impressive models to leading gentleman of the world is our
expertise. We specialize in introductions of: fashion models, pageant
winners and exquisite students, graduates and women of successful
careers (finance, art, media etc...) to gentlemen of exceptional
standards. When seeking an evening date, a weekend travel companion, or
a friend to accompany you during your next business / social function
our models are perfect preference.
We act for a select group of educated, refined and successful
international clients who give their best in all they do and who, in
return, only wish to receive the best. Catering to clients who will not
compromise in any area of their life...
Our meticulous standards of beauty, intelligence and charm ensure
that you always encounter the quality you've come to expect in a woman,
when with an Emperors' Club vip model. Each of our companions is a
product of an exceptionally fine background and a success in her right.
All rendezvous are individually crafted to suit the needs of your
specific occasion. Note that each model has place in her schedule for a
select number of appointments per month, so your date will be a special
one for both of you.
Our goal is to make life more peaceful, balanced, beautiful and
meaningful. We honor commitment to our clients as we covet long-term
relationships of trust and mutual benefit. Experience for yourself a
service of obvious distinction...
We are a visual culture--one which understands, interprets, and argues, based on images. Images say everything. So, how disturbing is it that each of these "companions," who boast "intelligence," "charm," and "success" is pictured headless? Now, before you jump to the immediate argument--of course their faces are not depicted for legal reasons. And yet: they are headless. They are not, say, shot from behind without faces shown. They are not (with one exception) shot with their hair covering their faces. They are, in fact, headless.
They are rated, by diamonds. They are body parts to be used for pleasure--breasts, legs, and torsos (oh yeah--and the implied vagina). They are not "perfect preference," but headless whores. Were Mr. Spitzer actually interested in "success" and "intelligence" and "charm" (not to mention support and the propagation of his legacy), why would he need to look further than his wife & partner?
So, in that headlessness is revealed a vast misogyny that views women as nothing more than the fuckable object--a 'ho with holes. Here we have women to be used and discarded--not really that different than buying a box of tissues: buy them, use them for your bodily fluids, and throw them away when you're done.
Here we have women as the ultimate act of capitalism: an object to be bought & sold.
Images via Wonkette:
Here's the thing: if Mr. Spitzer were actually committed equality and a fierce advocate for equal rights, then he should have been repulsed by these images, a clearly disgusting portrayal of women as sex objects. Let's face it: we're a country fairly immune to rhetoric. Despite the Emperor Club's discussions of "introductions" and "models" and "successful women," we all know the site is selling these women. And Eliot Spitzer was buying--to the possible tune of $80,000. For the moment, I'd like to belay the inevitable debate over what it means to work as a high-priced "companion" and whether or not the ability to set one's own price and working conditions is, in fact, an act of feminism, as some have argued. That is a rich topic ripe for debate. What I want to remain focused on here is Mr. Spitzer's remedial understanding of a woman as a headless, fuckable object.
So, the question is a philosophical one: how can a politician truly understand and argue for gender equality when accepting the most primitive of social norms where women are concerned? At least conservative religious leaders who would bar women from public office have their ideology aligned with their practice. When you look at the incredible spate of male politicians engaging in illegal (or unwise) trysts, the hypocrisy points to the basic fact: do they really believe that men and women are equal? If not, how can they govern and legislate in a way that represents us all? As a culture, I don't think we're truly ready to wrestle with the embedded sexism that lies deep within our cultural psyche--we can't even address & universally critique blatant acts of sexism.
Here's my final point: none of this is news to feminists. This is the basic stuff of feminism for years and years and years. From conferences to websites to courses in college to blog posts (see this great one on the male gaze at Feminism 101) to books like Judith Butler's Gender Trouble, Susan Bordo's Unbearable Weight, Joan Jacobs Bromberg's The Body Project, and Janet Price's Feminist Theory and the Body, this is all the stuff of basic feminism. And yet, despite all of this canonical & contemporary work, the basic message is still adrift in our culture. Mr. Spitzer, champion of women's rights, father to three daughters 13, 15, & 17, husband to a Harvard lawyer and "partner" in his career, is revealed as a hypocrite in his own ideology. Women as equals? Good for the political sphere & rhetorical flourish. Not so good for the bedroom.
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P.S. On women politicians, sexual trysts, and equality: I'm not saying that women politicians can't make the same mistake. I'm not saying women might not commit an act of infidelity. I'm just saying the temptation & the ideology aren't quite the same. When was the last time you saw advertisements for a Headless Man Whore site? I'm just saying...
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