Mormon Moms, Muffins and Sex Appeal in the Name of Charity

Mormon moms are taking it off for charity and embracing euphemism and domesticity in a fell swoop with the upcoming Hot Mormon Muffins: A Taste of Motherhood calendar. 

On the heels of the gay boys fave calendar featuring repression in a pretty package, Men on a Mission calendars, Mormons Exposed announced it would release a 2010 calendar featuring sexy Mormon moms shot in a "playful vintage pinup style."

Proceeds from the calendar will benefit breast cancer, an idea inspired by a few of the Mormon mom models who've survived or been touched by the disease in their families.

While it's tough to dispute the inherent kitsch and playfulness in a calendar featuring women typically reputed to be repressed and stripped of their agency as individuals, Mormons Exposed appears to have missed it's mark, touting the calendar -- in a press release -- as, "...a vehicle to create dialog and deliberately debunk the subservient stereotypes of women's roles within the Mormon Church, the sexy new calendar celebrates the great looks, beautiful bodies and delicious muffin recipes of these unconventional Latter-day Saint moms."

Women clad in aprons and oven mitts, cleavages heaving and wielding greased-up muffin pans in the name of philanthropy could be construed as reclaiming power but it's hardly on par with the hunky boys back returning triumphantly from missionary work that the Men on a Mission calendar depicts. The last time we checked, women-in-the-kitchen narratives were fairly de rigueur and hardly a fulcrum to debunk stereotypes of subservient women.

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"Many of the women appearing in the calendar are single mothers and have firsthand experience with the arduous expectations associated with living in a strict religious society," according to a press release. "Comfortable with their beliefs, these women are independent and brave enough to challenge the status quo in order to promote religious and cultural tolerance."

While the boys' calendar celebrates male freedom to wander and to woo willing subjects to Mormonism, it's back to the kitchen for the ladies. So much for challenging the status quo. But Mormons Exposed creator Chad Hardy doesn't see it that way.

"All of our projects offer a deeper story than your typical skin-baring calendars-one that we believe can reshape perceptions, heighten awareness and perhaps inspire a broader acceptance of diversity," says Chad Hardy, creator of Mormons Exposed. "This project has created a polar response from both sides of the spectrum, and has gotten people's attention."

Hardy launched Mormons Exposed in 2007, and last year the Mormon Church excommunicated him for his efforts. Brigham Young University, displeased with Hardy's work, pulled his diploma.

As a companion piece to the calendar, Mormon's Exposed has also created Webisodes featuring semi-exposed women offering muffin-baking tips and religious nuggets in Mormon Muffins for TV Dinners -- because 50's TV Dinner culture is synonymous women's liberation.

Read more of Tracy's musings here.