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Amy Schumer's GQ cover is a disappointment for feminist fans

Jessica Valenti
Jessica Valenti
It’s distressing to see a woman who uses words so brilliantly for a living having to pose with a penis substitute in her mouth
Amy Schumer on the cover of GQ
Amy Schumer on the cover of GQ Photograph: Supplied
GQ magazine has always been a fan of covers that depict barely dressed women with things in their mouths. In 2011, it was Mila Kunis in her underwear seductively chewing on an iced coffee straw. In 2012, it was Kate Upton in a bikini sucking on an ice pop – shot by notorious abuser Terry Richardson, no less. So perhaps the magazine’s latest cover – featuring comedian Amy Schumer in a Princess Leia costume sucking on C-3PO’s finger – shouldn’t be shocking. Still, I think it sucks. (Literally, it seems.)
It was just last month that Schumer, star of her eponymous show on Comedy Central, accepted Glamour magazine’s Woman of the Year award, noting how lovely – and different – it was to work with them. She said generally, “when a female comic has a photoshoot, they’re like ‘Oh cool, can you like hold this plastic dick over your head and we’re going to shoot actual cum out of it onto your head?’”
“They’re like, ‘You’re going to be a cum dumpster,’ and you’re like ‘Thank you for having me!’” (The trope has even been mocked on 30 Rock.)
Schumer – whose show has gotten increasingly and fantastically feminist – knows, and often riffs on, the ridiculous expectations that are put on women, celebrity women especially. It’s part of what has made her own rise to fame so down-to-earth for her fans: She’s criticizing the sexism of Hollywood as she works her way through it.
So to see a cover where the GQ staff literally took a woman who speaks for a living and shoved a penis-stand-in into her mouth is distressing. One Amy fan and friend of mine opined that the cover “broke her heart”. And the cover isn’t the worst of it. One of the pictures in Schumer’s spread shows her fellating a lightsaber.
It’s clear the shoot was meant to come across as funny and in good fun. It’s entirely possible that Schumer loved the cover and theme for the photoshoot. If so, I’d feel a bit better but would still think it’s terrible. But it’s also possible that she didn’t love the direction of the shoot. Schumer is making the rounds promoting her new movie, Trainwreck – so drumming up publicity is part of the gig. And as powerful as Schumer has become in the last year, it’s silly to think she could just walk away from a magazine cover in the middle of an epic publicity tour. (Or that she could criticize a cover after the fact.)
And that may be what’s so upsetting for some of Schumer’s feminist fans. It’s not just that the same old sexist visuals still exist even now, in this incredible moment feminism is having. It’s that the cover is a reminder that no matter how far a woman comes – even if she’s a successful, unabashed feminist – there’s always someone waiting to put her back in her place, with a finger in her mouth.

comments (15)

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  • 0 1
    Has Valenti ever actually listened to Schumer's comedy? This photo shoot is 100% in line with her style.
    Reply |
  • 1 2
    Since when did putting a penis in your mouth become anti-feminist? When did turning on men and being sexy become wrong?
    As long as she isn't raped on the way out I'd say we've accomplished a great deal.
    Reply |
  • 1 2
    Do feminists not put things in their mouths?
    Reply |
  • 2 3
    Worse, the poor robot has been cajoled into being photographed entirely naked.
    Reply |
  • 3 4
    Amy Schumer's comedy has always hinged on exaggerating stereotypes to a point of ridiculousness. This cover is clearly consistent with her comedic persona. I mean come on, she's sucking C3P0's finger. That's inherently hilarious.
    Reply |
  • 1 2
    Blame her.
    She's an adult.
    Reply |
  • 2 3
    Sister doing it for herself
    Reply |
  • 1 2
    She's a comedian. Nuff said jeez.
    Reply |
  • 8 9
    So what you're saying is that she can be a feminist and all that only up until it doesn't fit your agenda of feminism? Yawn.
    Reply |
  • 0 1
    GQ is basically Loaded's pretentious brother.
    I wouldn't expect too much from the covers/content - it'll be going the same way its sibling did before too long
    Reply |
  • 4 5
    I'm guessing Amy Schumer does whatever she thinks will get attention and mention....and this cover did just that.
    Reply |
  • 6 7
    One obvious message of Amy Schumer's TV show is that she's feminist, funny, and sexy all at the same time. What would really be disappointing is if anyone still thinks you can't be all three at once.
    Reply |
  • 12 13
    Oh come on..be better than this.
    Isnt Feminism about a woman's right do whatever she so pleases, just like the opposite gender? Amy comes across as someone who has and will continue to do things that she is on board with...thats he appeal ( along with being really funny ).
    Men have a lot to answer for but not here. But I think we know why you took this stance with this cover...page views, And yes, I feel for it.
    Reply |
    • 1 2
      Feminism isn't just about a woman's right to be sexual if she pleases. It's about her right to not be sexualized for the purpose of personal (male) gratification or corporate monetization. Even if Schumer liked doing the shoot, it says a lot that there's no real male equivalent to the "phallus replacement-in mouth" trope for magazine covers. And, if a guy were to ever do a cover like that, it would almost certainly be assumed to be a joke, rather than a marketing technique.
      Reply |
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