Which MPs Would You Sleep With?

Is ranking the sexiness of politicians a good way to learn about who’s running the country or just another exercise in the objectification of women?

If you’ve watched The Social Network or are familiar with Mark Zuckerberg’s steps towards creating Facebook, the concept of the website causing the latest stir in British politics will seem familiar.

Sexymp.co.uk, created by 22-year-old Francis Boulle, a reality TV star and diamond mine heir, is based off Facemash, the Zuckerberg website that matched up two female Harvard undergrads and asked viewers to vote for the one they’d prefer to have sex with. Boulle just replaced the colleges students with the 648 MPs of the British parliament.

The website randomly selects two pictures of MPs and asks you “Which MP would you rather have sex with? Choose one.” The MPs who get the most clicks end up on the top of the list. The MPs are selected and ranked regardless of gender.

So far, Labour Co-operative Luciana Berger has the top spot and the first man to appear on the chart is Conservative Zac Goldsmith at the 19th spot. When you think that the House is composed of 506 men and 142 women, it’s a little surprising to see men appear so late in the chart. Or is it just another hint that even in the less-than-glamorous world of politics, women are still more sexualized than men?

The politicians concerned have taken the news of this website in two widely different ways. Some only see it as harmless fun, while others claim it is demeaning and diminishes the importance of their political platforms.

Although I believe the site is just another hotshot’s attempt at getting some media attention and should largely be ignored, I appreciate that it has sparked a little discussion about the diktat of appearance.The way our society has become obsessed with looks isn’t just bad because it forces people to fit into stereotypes and present themselves a certain way. It also steers us away from meaningful debate about what people contribute to society.

So if we’re going to talk about anything related to this, let it be about what these politicians do for their communities. If a politician is doing a good job, I don’t care what they look like.

Contact the author here: sedera@morningquickie.com