Peggy Drexler is the author of "Our Fathers, Ourselves: Daughters, Fathers and the Changing American Family" and "Raising Boys Without Men." She is an assistant professor of psychology at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University and a former gender scholar at Stanford University. Join her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @drpeggydrexler . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

(CNN) Did you see the headlines this week? Mostly naked women making questionably feminist statements using — what else? — their bodies.

First up: The 2016 Pirelli calendar . Since the mid-1960s, tire maker Pirelli has produced an annual calendar featuring mostly models, mostly nude. This year's calendar, images from which were released this week, was a certain departure, however. Photographed by Annie Leibovitz, it features a number of nonmodels, fully clothed (for the most part), ditching, as Today put it, "sexy for strong."

Among the participants attracting the most attention are comedian and actress Amy Schumer, who poses — topless, with her arm covering her breasts — wearing her underpants and a shocked expression; tennis superstar Serena Williams, who poses— apparently topless, too -- with back to camera; and writer Fran Lebowitz, who told The New York Times she thought the call to join the calendar was, frankly, a joke.

Jeff Goldblum may be 65, but he had plenty of fans headed to the newsstand in November 2017 to pick up a copy of GQ which featured a spread about him (also included in the photos were his wife, Emilie, and their two young sons.).

Christie Brinkley turned 60 in February 2014 by showing off her birthday (swim)suit on the cover of People magazine . The model and mom of three is now 64.

Some of Pam Grier's "Foxiest" work is older than some of her fans, but the film star's still got it. The cancer survivor turned 69 on May 26.

Like many of her 60-something counterparts, Jane Seymour has no problem getting cast in a sensual role. The 67-year-old actress appeared on "Franklin & Bash" as a "sex surrogate."

The secret to Jeff Bridges' sex appeal? Keeping it real. As he said in 2010 , "Being a sex symbol is all about honesty. That's not how I see myself at all, but I think the attractive men are the ones who show you who they are." Bridges is 68.

Shelley Long, 68, may forever be known as Diane Chambers from "Cheers," but she's shown no signs of a career slowdown since the show ended in 1993. From "Troop Beverly Hills" to "The Brady Bunch" to "Modern Family," Long makes all her roles memorable.

Shelley Long, 68, may forever be known as Diane Chambers from "Cheers," but she's shown no signs of a career slowdown since the show ended in 1993. From "Troop Beverly Hills" to "The Brady Bunch" to "Modern Family," Long makes all her roles memorable.

Jessica Lange nearly set the big screen on fire with her steamy work alongside Jack Nicholson in 1981's "The Postman Always Rings Twice." At 69, she's still gorgeous.

Jessica Lange nearly set the big screen on fire with her steamy work alongside Jack Nicholson in 1981's "The Postman Always Rings Twice." At 69, she's still gorgeous.

Now 65, Pierce Brosnan can still play the older gentleman who falls for a younger lover, as he did in 2012 at the age of 60 with "Love Is All You Need." It has been years since the former 007 was named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive, but Brosnan is secure in his standing. "There's nothing to prove," he told "Today" in April 2012. "I feel comfortable in my own skin."

Musician Sting, 66, has never been shy about sharing details of his sex life. He and wife Trudie Styler aren't quite having tantric sex for hours, as rumor has claimed , but they do like to keep things spicy. "I don't think pedestrian sex is very interesting," he told Harper's Bazaar in 2011 . "There's a playfulness we have; I like the theater of sex. I like to look good. I like her to dress up. I like to dress her up. ... Romantic? We like tawdry."

When then-68-year-old Richard Gere opened a boutique hotel in 2012, he told CNN he had a very clear understanding of what he wanted the design to convey. "Sex -- every choice in here was about sex," People's former Sexiest Man Alive said. And yet, the guy doesn't believe that he has "a certain impact" on the opposite sex. He is now 66.

How many 66-year-olds know what it's like to have the Internet practically squeal with glee at the sight of them in boxer-briefs ? Liam Neeson does.

Actor Kurt Russell, 67, and partner Goldie Hawn, 72, are championed as one of the happiest unmarried couples around. Whenever we see them, they're always beaming. Onlookers at a New York movie premiere in September 2014 commented that the two could hardly keep their hands off one another.

Oprah Winfrey turned 64 on January 29 and last year said she is feeling healthy and strong. "I no longer have to be concerned about what anyone thinks of me!" the media star said on her 60th birthday . "I'm turning 60, and I've earned the right to be just as I am. I'm more secure in being myself than I've ever been."

At 63, Denzel Washington is still just as handsome as he was when he first started in the business on the TV series "St. Elsewhere" in the 1980s.

At 63, Denzel Washington is still just as handsome as he was when he first started in the business on the TV series "St. Elsewhere" in the 1980s.

If anything, Meryl Streep has only gotten sexier with age. The Oscar winner, who turned 69 on June 22, has shattered the notion that actresses should leave Hollywood when they hit 30. In the eyes of The Telegraph's film critic, David Gritten , it all comes "down to sex. ... Apart from her remarkable skills as a film actress, there's a glow, a sensuality and a radiance about Streep these days. Put simply, she's looking great."

Ever since Rick Springfield pined for "Jessie's Girl" in 1981, the song became an enduring pop hit, just like Springfield himself, who turned 68 on August 23. But he's no one-hit wonder, Springfield -- seen here performing in July -- also has a successful acting career, including credits like "General Hospital," "Californication" and "Hawaii Five-O."

Ever since Rick Springfield pined for "Jessie's Girl" in 1981, the song became an enduring pop hit, just like Springfield himself, who turned 68 on August 23. But he's no one-hit wonder, Springfield -- seen here performing in July -- also has a successful acting career, including credits like "General Hospital," "Californication" and "Hawaii Five-O."

Madonna turned 60 on August 16 and there was plenty of birthday love for her on Twitter. She is now officially one of several celebs bringing the heat in their sixties. Here are a few more...

The 77-year-old former MoMA president Agnes Gund told the Times she had a similar reaction. "That's odd," she thought, when she was invited to participate. "What's that got to do with someone like me?"

In response, the Internet has gone buck wild with praise, declaring feminist victories all over the place:

Septuagenarians, ornery authors, and actresses a good 15 pounds (or more) above the Hollywood ideal, given the honor of appearing in a traditionally sexist calendar? Certainly, we have won! "The 2016 Pirelli Calendar is a New Dawn for Feminism," announced Bustle . "Pirelli Calendar Wins Praise for Feminist Makeover," said Yahoo According to British GQ , the calendar is about "Brains over Boobs." Hurray! The collective cheer seems to go. Sexism is solved!

But is it?

It's true that this year's Pirelli calendar is a departure from calendars of the past. And yes: That the women featured in it are notable for accomplishments that do not include their waist size or faces. And yet, it's hard to deny that the focus — of the calendar, and of the reaction to it — remains squarely placed on how these women look.

JUST WATCHED New kind of Pirelli calendar unveiled Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH New kind of Pirelli calendar unveiled 05:29

Even if the intent is to applaud Pirelli for picking women who aren't traditionally beautiful, by describing them as such we're still calling attention to their looks (possibly insulting them while we're at it). Leibovitz said Pirelli came to her with the mandate of "doing something different." But it's hard to say that generating attention for how women look is any different at all.

Maybe there are more brains than boobs, but there are still plenty of boobs. Butts, too.

And, of course, the mandate worked, didn't it? More than 50 years after its inception, the Pirelli calendar is commanding some of the biggest headlines for doing little more than what it's always done: calling attention to the physical appearance of women.

This is evolution?

JUST WATCHED Famous women show off their bodies in viral photos Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Famous women show off their bodies in viral photos 01:48

It's hardly surprising. The fact is that we don't know how to react to women's bodies anymore. To wit: Also making headlines is Christie Brinkley, who recently posted to Instagram photos of herself in a bikini (not to go unnoted: She has a book to sell.) Predictably, nearly all headlines — of the "Bikini-Clad Christie Brinkley Takes Internet by Storm at 61" sort — mention her age. Which, of course, makes all the fuss seem less a celebration than a concession: She looks good, for a 61-year-old.

If feminism were really having a moment, would this be a judgment we'd still be making?

You could say standards and expectations are changing, and that the Pirelli calendar is evidence of that. That may be. But you could also question whether our reaction to the calendar proves this is true — or, in fact, quite the opposite.

Pirelli has done what it's always known how to do: court controversy for press. By championing the brand's latest choices to that end, we're not really evolved, are we? More like willing victims of great marketing?

If feminism were enjoying any sort of real victory, would we be reading images of Amy Schumer's nonflat belly as permission to condone what's still a girly calendar, by the way? Would we be so quick to buy the images we're being sold?

Or would we, instead, be taking the calendar in stride?