Belly

Oscuridad said:

I'm sorry to hear that.

To me pregnancy is an incredibly feminine and inextricably sexual thing. Call it goddess worship if it helps. Personally, I really feel dumbfounded by all the stories I hear about women who's SO's were put off during their pregnancy. God's bollocks, she was pretty enough BEFORE you fucked her. Now you can't be bothered?!?? WTF?

I in no way mean to suggest that women are for making babies, or for sex. Women are people. And I think pregnant women are sexy. Just like women who are not are sexy.

But that's just me.

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Yeah, I get it. I can't really intellectualize it. It's just a gut reaction for me.

If we all liked exactly the same things... It'd be a less interesting world.

It's been a really long time since I was pregnant, but I can't believe I looked that sexy. Do you suppose I did, and just wasn't aware of it? I could ask hubby, but if I remember right he kind of had this whole Madonna/Purity thoughts about pregnancy.

dclabrecque said:

It's been a really long time since I was pregnant, but I can't believe I looked that sexy. Do you suppose I did, and just wasn't aware of it? I could ask hubby, but if I remember right he kind of had this whole Madonna/Purity thoughts about pregnancy.

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Pity.

And its entirely possible

Re: OOH! Bad Kitty!

OK, Yall have me blushing.

RudeNastyAssBitch said:

You Have Flame Marks From That Pregnancy!

They Are Such Nice Stretch Marks

I Have The Same Ones! After This Kid Is Born, I'm Gong To Have Them Tattooed Over With Orange, Blue And Red Flames!

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LOL most of those were from my daughter actually. They got extended an inch with my son. I sure hope they don't get any bigger with this one.

It wouldn't make you any less beautiful

Olivianna said:

Wow - this is really just a gut reaction, but 'pregnant woman as sex object' (i.e. naked, posed suggestively, etc.) completely disgusts me. It makes me think of women as just baby-making sex machines. Gross.

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I don't want to sound like I'm attacking you with this post because I'm not it is this view point that I have heard before that I am going to comment on.

I have heard this before. "Pregnant women should not have pictures taken of themselves." I heard this when I was eighteen at a friend of the family's house who was pregnant and she and her husband were sharing pictures of her pregnancy. While I at the time didn't really care to see this woman who had an 'Aunt-like' status, I have to admit the pictures were gorgeous. You could feel the love this woman had for her unborn child and the love and admiration this man had for both just through the pictures taken.

I think some women who are pregnant at times feel ugly and not worthy of the immortality of a photograph of the moment of change. I didn't say all...just some. I didn't but there were certainly moments. However I am not shy about my picture being taken and modeled for a photographer I had worked with years earlier while I was pregnant...I didn't do any nudes but very artistic shots. I couldn't appreciate them while I was pregnant but after I was floored. The other women were beautiful...left me speechless...in awe.

Women go through a range of emotions during pregnacy. Their entire bodies change before their eyes. Sometimes they become insecure as to how this change will affect those around them and how they view them...face it people care what others think of them. To have someone capture this moment is not necessarily a desired thing at this time.

A viewpoint such as yours seems to perpetuate that insecurity for women who are facing a beautiful yet scary moment in their lives. Yes scary. Bringing a life into this world is the ultimate of wonders. It is an unknown. There is always a momentary fear of the unknown. Will she be a good mother? Will she be as desirable to her husband after she pushes an eight and a half pound (more or less) baby from between her legs? Will her body ever be the same again?

All this said...I feel that a pregnant woman is one of the most breathtaking sights on earth. She glows with the life that beats within her. She radiates the promise of future cuddles and laughter. Her body morphs into a beautiful creation.

It does not in anyway mean she is a babymaking sex machine. To view her in this form, naked and glorious is an act of reverence, joy, hell if it turns you on? Great...she is no less attractive than a woman who's body has never been altered by pregnancy. Nor is she any less a sex goddess. It is all in how she is viewed.

Again, I don't mean to attack you at all. Your comment just triggered a discussion I'd had with a pregnant girlfriend recently. Just had to comment too!

Bless you calypso

calypso_21 said:

I don't want to sound like I'm attacking you with this post because I'm not it is this view point that I have heard before that I am going to comment on.

I have heard this before. "Pregnant women should not have pictures taken of themselves." I heard this when I was eighteen at a friend of the family's house who was pregnant and she and her husband were sharing pictures of her pregnancy. While I at the time didn't really care to see this woman who had an 'Aunt-like' status, I have to admit the pictures were gorgeous. You could feel the love this woman had for her unborn child and the love and admiration this man had for both just through the pictures taken.

I think some women who are pregnant at times feel ugly and not worthy of the immortality of a photograph of the moment of change. I didn't say all...just some. I didn't but there were certainly moments. However I am not shy about my picture being taken and modeled for a photographer I had worked with years earlier while I was pregnant...I didn't do any nudes but very artistic shots. I couldn't appreciate them while I was pregnant but after I was floored. The other women were beautiful...left me speechless...in awe.

Women go through a range of emotions during pregnacy. Their entire bodies change before their eyes. Sometimes they become insecure as to how this change will affect those around them and how they view them...face it people care what others think of them. To have someone capture this moment is not necessarily a desired thing at this time.

A viewpoint such as yours seems to perpetuate that insecurity for women who are facing a beautiful yet scary moment in their lives. Yes scary. Bringing a life into this world is the ultimate of wonders. It is an unknown. There is always a momentary fear of the unknown. Will she be a good mother? Will she be as desirable to her husband after she pushes an eight and a half pound (more or less) baby from between her legs? Will her body ever be the same again?

All this said...I feel that a pregnant woman is one of the most breathtaking sights on earth. She glows with the life that beats within her. She radiates the promise of future cuddles and laughter. Her body morphs into a beautiful creation.

It does not in anyway mean she is a babymaking sex machine. To view her in this form, naked and glorious is an act of reverence, joy, hell if it turns you on? Great...she is no less attractive than a woman who's body has never been altered by pregnancy. Nor is she any less a sex goddess. It is all in how she is viewed.

Again, I don't mean to attack you at all. Your comment just triggered a discussion I'd had with a pregnant girlfriend recently. Just had to comment too!

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In today's times, everything that a woman does seems to be "empowering." More power to you.

I wasn't saying that pregnancy was a digusting act. No, the issue I have is with the male gaze (the photograph) which serves to sexualize the image of the pregnant woman. I don't necessarily see getting off on pictures of pregnant women as an act of reverence. I'm not saying that I find pregnant women and their bodies to be disgusting (if this is what you read, then you misread me - in fact, reading your post, I'm certain you misinterpreted my original post), it is the Image of pregnant women as posed sex-object that disgusts me.

In terms of who is more attractive - the pregnant or non-pregnant woman... that is not the issue here either.

I wish I would have!! Done nude pregnancy pics or even just more pics while I was pregnant. I too felt as big as a barn my boys were very big. BUT now I would give anything to have some pics of me pregnant with each of my kids. I'm done having kids but if I could turn back time I would!

WHAT WAS I THINKIN????

Bad Kitty- Don't despair about the weight. You can always take more time for youself and body once the kids are a bit older.

Women are baby-making sex machines. Men are merely sex machines. It's one aspect of our bodies, and our lives. Not every woman gets pregnant, nor can every woman even get pregnant. But those that do exude Sex, simply because it's a necessary prerequisite to the state of pregnancy. In fact, it would be odd to de-sexualize a pregnant woman.

Read as just baby-making sex machines.

We're not just baby-making sex machines.

I'm not talking about the pregnant state itself - I'm referring to the image/photo.

Olivianna said:

Read as just baby-making sex machines.

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So is there a way to create sensual, sexual images of pregant women that does not convey a "just baby-making sex machine" image? Do you have a gut reaction averse to any sensual/sexual image of a pregnant woman, or just the ones that were posted on this thread? Do you prefer de-sexualized images of pregnant women [not saying that you do or have to prefer pregnant pictures; I'm just trying to figure out the parameters of your gut reaction]?

Mischka said:

So is there a way to create sensual, sexual images of pregant women that does not convey a "just baby-making sex machine" image? Do you have a gut reaction averse to any sensual/sexual image of a pregnant woman, or just the ones that were posted on this thread? Do you prefer de-sexualized images of pregnant women [not saying that you do or have to prefer pregnant pictures; I'm just trying to figure out the parameters of your gut reaction]?

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I suppose that any time that I look at standard porn, I am conscious of the image being an object of my own or someone else's desire. The images of pregnant porn, to me, seem related - yet it isn't about the sexual intimacy between partners, it's about the woman seeing herself and being seen as sexual object. Why does this bother me? I guess it is the notion that a woman's self-worth must constantly be fixed and shaped by how her physical body is viewed. And, further, that one of the major sources should be her sexualized body as viewed in a photograph.

True, maybe it is just the tenor of the pictures posted here. Some of them just seemed kind of cheap. It was like a 'trashy pregnant' series. I suppose there could be ways of "naturalizing" the photography practice to make them seem less posed and thus get past that object-gaze thing.

Olivianna said:

In today's times, everything that a woman does seems to be "empowering." More power to you.

I wasn't saying that pregnancy was a digusting act. No, the issue I have is with the male gaze (the photograph) which serves to sexualize the image of the pregnant woman. I don't necessarily see getting off on pictures of pregnant women as an act of reverence. I'm not saying that I find pregnant women and their bodies to be disgusting (if this is what you read, then you misread me - in fact, reading your post, I'm certain you misinterpreted my original post), it is the Image of pregnant women as posed sex-object that disgusts me.

In terms of who is more attractive - the pregnant or non-pregnant woman... that is not the issue here either.

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Where did I state that your comment said anything to the effect that pregnancy was a disgusting act? I didn't state that getting off on pictures of a pregnant woman was an act of reverence. I said that many pictures are taken for the latter rather than the former. Nor do I believe that pregnant women are any more beautiful than non-pregnant women...just that they are among the most beautiful sights I've seen. My comments were merely my opinion on women and pregnancy...and pictures being taken of them.

I also never thought that you meant that women's bodies were disgusting. I am only stating what was brought up in a discussion I had...and what I've experienced.

I did not in any way misread you.

I do however agree completely that women are not *just* baby making sex machines.

I fully believe to each his own opinions, beliefs and values. I do not knock your thoughts and feelings on this. You have every right to them. I just disagree.


Why is a woman pregnant any less a sex object than a thin woman or a robust woman? I am curious.

Olivianna said:

...I guess it is the notion that a woman's self-worth must constantly be fixed and shaped by how her physical body is viewed. And, further, that one of the major sources should be her sexualized body as viewed in a photograph...

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Thank you. Insight into your thoughts is always appreciated...I do understand better now where you are coming from.

Wow. Ok - I can offer a short response only now.

In terms of disgusting - I seemed to understand that you thought I was saying that pregnant women were unattractive, and so shouldn't have pictures taken of themselves.

Clearly, a pregnant woman isn't any less of a sexual object than is a thin or robust woman. I think there is ultimately a difference between experiencing sexuality/being a sexual person and being a sexual object.

Added later - I think another dimension of it is that pregnancy becomes just another fetish.
Anyway, thanks for forcing me to think this through - even if it doesn't lead to any agreement between us.

Oscuridad said:

It wouldn't make you any less beautiful

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I think I love you!

Olivianna said:

Wow. Ok - I can offer a short response only now.

In terms of disgusting - I seemed to understand that you thought I was saying that pregnant women were unattractive, and so shouldn't have pictures taken of themselves.

Clearly, a pregnant woman isn't any less of a sexual object than is a thin or robust woman. I think there is ultimately a difference between experiencing sexuality/being a sexual person and being a sexual object.

Added later - I think another dimension of it is that pregnancy becomes just another fetish.
Anyway, thanks for forcing me to think this through - even if it doesn't lead to any agreement between us.

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You should read second my post...I actually agreed with some of what you stated.

I hope you don't take my post as being harsh. Neither were meant to be. I appreciate your opinion and openness. It is rare someone is so steadfast.

I may not agree with you but I do see your side.

I cannot say how much I love the debate ranging throgh this thread. Olivianna, you've made me think more about John Berger and his book "Ways of Seeing" than anyone has in years. It is about images and perceptions.

In that vein, I accept some responsibility for the "trashiness" of some of the images posted. I wanted more of the sort of "Art Photography" like Ginny posts, but I don't GOOGLE all that well.

What I was interested in showing was that pregnant women could be desireable and sexual. Perhaps it's a point that need not have been made. And perhaps I could have done it better.

What I wasn't interested in doing was cheapening, in any way, the beauty that I perceive. Perhaps I've done that.

BlueDaisy said:

I think I love you!

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Stop it...

You'll make me blush.

Here O, these are some nice ones

http://www.redshift.com/~daveslite/images/4hnds.jpg