Hugh Hefner

Hugh Hefner, the Sex Revolutionist 

Popularized by its sexy yearly calendars, provocative topless centerfolds, and its infamous mansion, Playboy has been around for more than half a century and still continues to be a well-known marketing product. However, despite its economic and social success there lies an even bigger impact that the magazine creator, Hugh Hefner contributed to: sexual equality.

            From his controversial polygamous relationships to his openness with sex, Hugh Hefner has been around for ages and still remains as a household name. Born into a conservative, Puritan family, Hugh Hefner broke out of barriers by following through with liberalistic ideas and emphasizing individual rights. It was not until December 1953, that Hefner expressed the need for sexual equality by publishing Playboy magazine, which revealed the late Marilyn Monroe. Despite, his initial desire to only publish one issue, the popularity of the magazine took charge selling over 50,000+ copies ^[1]. The success of Playboy consistently grew, with selling millions of copies each month. Hefner continued with marketing the valuable product by having the first Playboy Jazz Festival, producing and syndicating various television shows, and purchasing other endeavors like the Playboy Mansion and Playboy Clubs. The brand continued its success to contemporary times, as Hefner still remains the magazine’s editor-in-chief. As Playboy remains one of the U.S’s best-selling men magazines, the success of Hefner serves as an inspiration to the media empire ^[2]. 

            Although Hefner was able to make much success with Playboy, it was his contributions to society that made his empire so influential. Prior to Playboy, America’s society was centered around a conservative family life, with little women rights, strong racial barriers put into place, and very little talk about sex. With couples televised in sleeping in separate twin beds, Hefner felt the yearning to embrace sexuality and liberalism amongst people. ^[3]. Through his Playboy brand, Hefner contributed to society by breaking down racial boundaries and supporting women’s rights and equal rights amendments. During the time period in which blacks and whites were segregated, Hefner broke down barriers by hiring Alex Haley as Playboy’s chief interrogator. His openness to desegregation was also made clear as he chose to hire black musicians to often perform at the Playboy Club. Playboy magazine was open to all people, as some of its famous interviewees included Muhammad Ali and Martin Luther King Jr ^[4]. Furthermore, during the era women were expected to be pure and shy from sexual activity. Hefner’s Playboy magazine became the freedom to women’s sexuality, as they were given the opportunity to be open about their sexual desires. Continuing forth with women’s rights, Hefner helped to fight for changes in birth control and abortion laws, in which he advocated that women should be given the right to choose. Since 1965, Hef’s Playboy Foundation, a non-profit organization, has supported the pursuits of women’s equality in society ^[5]. Hefner support continue to this day, as he fights for gay marriage. He believes that discrimination against sexuality causes the dehumanization of all individual’s sexual rights, thus restricting sex to only the purpose of reproduction ^[6]. Nevertheless, as can be seen Hefner’s influence on society has impacted the equality of all individuals, regardless of race, gender, and sexuality.

            Despite his contributions to society’s equality, Hefner has critics who often view the activist as a degrading to women. Critics believe that Hefner viewed women solely as sexual objects and the magazine Playboy is created for only the pleasure of men ^[7]. However, Hefner believes that the magazine was subjected to be a lifestyle genre with the notion of sexuality incorporated into it, as well as that women are sexual objects, in terms of reproduction, but it is not their only important role in society ^[6]

                Prior to my research, I did not know much of Hefner’s involvement in civil rights and birth control. At times, I feel that the controversial aspect of Hefner takes much attention away from his impact on society, thus less publicity is given to how he was an equal rights activist. As an advocate for equality, I agree with the things he has done. Given his high influence, his desire to advocate for gay and civil rights, regardless of his identity, is what makes me agree with him. By creating Playboy, he did open up a gateway for women to be more expressive in their sexuality, hence it broke down suppressive stigmas that existed prior to his contributions.

       In regards to the openness of women’s sexuality, Helen Gurley Brown is famous for her controversial feminist viewpoints. As a described devout feminist, Brown served as the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine, thus changing the housewife-based issues to fit non-traditional women roles during that time. Brown’s writings remained open to women’s sexuality and liberation. Due to the time period, her journalism caused much controversy to the ideal stereotype of women, but she gave women the opportunity to enjoy premarital sex, thus causing the social movement for female independence ^[7]. Nonetheless, due to the controversial, openly sexual writings of Brown and Hefner, women were given the opportunity to be empowered to express their own ideas, thus making their legacies much impactful to the history of sexuality in society. 

[1] Hugh M. Hefner Foundation . "Mr. Hefner’s Biography." Hugh M Hefner Foundation. http://hmhfoundation.org/site/?page_id=20 (accessed February 23, 2014).

[2] AssignmentEditor.com. "Assignmenteditor - Top 10 Mens Magazines | Top 10 Womens Magazines." Assignmenteditor - Top 10 Mens Magazines | Top 10 Womens Magazines. http://assignmenteditor.com/womensmens-mags/ (accessed February 23, 2014).

[3] Hadaway, Krista. "How Hugh Hefner changed the world." Examiner.com. http://www.examiner.com/article/how-hugh-hefner-changed-the-world (accessed February 23, 2014).

[4] Beeson, Jeff. "News Bureau." MU News Bureau Atom. MU News Bureau, 11 Sept. 2008. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2008/0911-watts-hugh-hefner.php.

[5] McKinney, Tatiana. "Hugh Hefner: Activist for Women's Rights | Everyday Citizen." Hugh Hefner: Activist for Women's Rights | Everyday Citizen. http://www.everydaycitizen.com/2010/08/hugh_hefner_activist_for_women.html (accessed February 23, 2014).

 [6] Ford, Zack. "Hugh Hefner: Anti-Gay Activists Will ‘Criminalize Your Entire Sex Life’." ThinkProgress RSS. http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/08/21/722251/hugh-hefner-anti-gay-activists-will-criminalize-your-entire-sex-life/# (accessed February 23, 2014).hat end, they will criminalize your entire sex life.

[7] Grinberg, Emanuella. "Helen Gurley Brown's complicated feminist legacy." CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/17/living/helen-gurley-brown-legacy/ (accessed February 23, 2014).