Last week, Pirelli unveiled its 2016 calendar which broke with tradition and stereotypes. Usually filled with photographs of nude or barely clothed models, this year's calendar, shot by Annie Leibovitz, features 12 studio portraits of women renowned for their work in diverse fields from business to sports, arts and culture, and fashion to philanthropy.
The roll call includes Yoko Ono, Patti Smith, Serena Williams, Mellody Hobson and Yao Chen.
Along with Playboy’s decision in October to end nudity in its pages, the Pirelli pivot seems to give real substance to the theory that we may be at an inflection point in the public objectification of female sexuality.
The real question though, as Iranian artist Shirin Neshat who also features in the calendar, says is whether next year, Pirelli will abandon the focus on women who define modern life and go back to "sexy girls who are too young to have accomplished anything".
At TWF, we are excited about launching our new documentary "She Objects" early next year. We hope the film will prompt viewers to consider the ways in which women’s bodies are displayed in the media and to rethink the standards and criteria we use to evaluate them.
