Tag Archives: advertising

‘Attractive & Fat’ ad spoofs Abercrombie

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In this interview with activist and artist Jes Baker, she explains what motivated her to write a public letter to the CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch after he had been quoted saying that they did not offer women’s sizes over a size 10 because “We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely.”  This is an example of how institutions (in this case business) influences gendered norms because while there are XL and XXL men’s sizes at Abercrombie, you won’t find larger women’s sizes.

Baker has prompted a change.org petition and created a Abercrombie ad parody to “challenge the separation of attractive and fat.”  Check it out!

Banned Ads in the UK

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Click here for an array of ads recently banned by Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority, which has the power to force companies to pull ads that are “misleading” (which includes “excessive” use of Photoshop) or endanger children.  I think the photos featuring Hailee Steinfeld and Dakota Fanning are particularly interesting because of the way the 14-year-old and 17-year-old girls are portrayed.  The authors of the article state Steinfeld looks “adorable” – I key in on the fact she looks vulnerable – like a lost child – but yet is dressed like an adult woman (although I can’t say that I agree with the Advertising Standards Authority’s reasoning for banning this ad!)  The Fanning ad is very similar to images of sexualized girls we see in the US.