Sexist billboard under attack
Nieuws, gepost door: nn op 27/07/2013 07:09:29
Tags: add busting feminism
Waar: Amsterdam oost, Netherlands
Wanneer: 27/07/2013 - 10:24
Sexist add couldn't escape our spray paint
They keep cleaning it up, but we'll keep spraying it down.
These sexist objectifying adds are everywhere, disempowering women and convincing us all that women are nothing but passive sex objects. This one is particularly enraging.
Enough is enough. Women unite!
Tags: add busting feminism
2012
After complaints and actions from Dutch Feminists we have been searching for a way to avoid further incidents and negative publicity.
Now we proudly present our new clothing line, approved by leading Dutch Feminist dr. Anja van Oostenwegge.
We are confident now that Dutch women will buy even more of our products. Now in all our outlets: pay for one burka, get the second for free!
In protest against the (publication here of the) 'ad for the new clothingline of American Apparel' (the burka) - which is a very dirty discussion-technique - I decided to claim this (virtual) billboard to promote the work of one of my favorite artists Evan Baden. This work is titled Emily and comes from his project Technically Intimate about youth culture, sex and technology.
See his website: http://www.evanbaden.com/
(On it is also another project about workers.)
and also: http://blog.photoeye.com/2013/04/interview-and-portfolios-evan-baden.html
http://evanbaden.wordpress.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PixA3nER4E
Technically Intimate is not porn, but a critical documentary about modern youth culture, and an investigation into the perception of the viewer. Baden: "I want the viewer to be unsure of what to think of the character in the image, to be torn, to be unsure whether the character is a young girl in need of protection or a sexual object to be lusted after."
I find these pictures both disturbing and fascinating and I think everybody should take a look at them and try to make up their mind about what they see.
I'm claiming another (virtual) billboard. This one for the movie Girl Model, a documentary about Nadya, a 13 y.o. girl from Russia who is send to Japan by Ashley, model-scout and ex-model.
http://girlmodelthemovie.com/about-the-film/
http://girlmodelthemovie.com/about-the-film/105-2/
From this website is also a link to The Model Alliance
http://modelalliance.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_Alliance
This is a US based organisation that campaigns for a Models' Bill of Rights: professionalism, tranparency and control
http://modelalliance.org/models-bill-of-rights
Because more then half of all models start working under 16 y.o.
http://modelalliance.org/industry-analysis
there is special attention for the position of models under 18 y.o.
The first succes they claim is that there's a law now in the state New York protecting child models
http://girlmodelthemovie.com/child-models-protected-under-new-york-labor...
Girl Model is a very sad movie, because even though Nadya in the end succeeds to start her career, she is not treated fair at all.
Sure the models should organise like The Model Alliance is trying to do and fight to improve their position. But I wrote "Industry take action!" because they are the first responsible to respect childrens- and workers rights. I'm not sure how bad the situation in the industry really is but I've seen and read enough now to be sure that there's at least a lot to be done. Everyone should work together to make sure that girls like Nadya are protected. (Spoiler alert!) That their trips are well organised with someone to look after them, that they get their money and don't miss on their education etc. They deserve their share from the profits they generate. More morey should go to the workers both for better conditions and higher wages. This goes both for the models as for the workers who are producing the clothes.
https://www.indymedia.nl/node/16802
Found out that American Apparel also has an older model, Jacky. Only one I found (but damn she's hot!). Probably they have her for the same reason why there are also often only one or two women in a board of directors (like some excuse?) See also my comment under discussion.