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Mar
23
Horribly Misogynistic Fashion Spreads Via America’s Next Top Model and New York Times Magazine
Filed Under Gender and Sexism, Media Praises and Critiques, Pop Culture, Sociology, Uncategorized by Rachel
Jean Kilborne, I hope you’re reading (I know she probably isn’t, but I figured I would give her a shout out anyways.).? I’ve got some pictures you can add to your award winning films on misogynistic media.?
First, we have last night’s episode of America’s Next Top Model, where the photo shoot consisted of simulations of murdered? models.? Jill mentioned it over at Feministe, and Jennifer at WIMN’s Voices has a much longer post, including this link to the actual pictures.? The pictures also include the comments of the judging panel, which adds another touch of misogyny to the photo shoot.? I saw the episode last night and dropped my jaw in amazement.
A few weeks ago the NYT magazine featured another blatantly misogynistic fashion spread.? This spread included women in nooses and bondage.? I was able to find the blogger Musings of a Working Mom who posted a few of the pictures on her site (You can see all of the photos here.).? The photo from above is one example from the NYT Magazine.
I say we start a letter writing campaign.? If you want to email the New York Times Magazine about their photo shoot. Here is the email: magazine@nytimes.com
America’s Next Top Model is sponsored by a few companies.? One such company is Sprint.? I found the name and email of some folks at Sprint.? I’m not really sure exactly who one is supposed to contact, but you could CC an email to each of these folks:
Sprint Nextel Executive Services
866-398-4606
executive.offices@sprint.com
Director of Consumer and Business Communications Laura Lisec
Laura.m.Lisec@sprint.com
I had a hell of a time finding contacts for Cover Girl, but they also sponsor ANTM if you can find a contact.? In fact, if anyone knows the right people to contact, feel free to tell me in the comments section.
Comments
31 Responses to “Horribly Misogynistic Fashion Spreads Via America’s Next Top Model and New York Times Magazine”
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WHAT. THE. HELL!!!
Have they lost their damn minds?
Isn’t Tyra the one who’s always been all about self-esteem, body image, postitive female attitudes, and she puts this kind of shit on her show?!
WTF???!!!!
I also say we write letters to their bigest sponsors Covergirl and whichever mag is offering the prize. I think it’s Elle.
I would view that photo as a statement on the sexist institution of marriage, not as misogyny. I guess if they’re trying to sell wedding gowns, then I’d have interpreted that wrong, but couldn’t that kind of image being reclaimed and used as a feminist statement about how marriage still acts to imprison and bind many women worldwide?
I feel kind of stupid asking, but could someone explain to me how these photos are misogynistic? Yes, the bridal pictures and the ANTM photos were a bit shocking, but I don’t quite get why they are offensive. Is it that the pictures are condoning violence against women? I’ve been trying to think about things from a more feminist perspective, but sometimes I get confused about what I’m supposed to think.
Tia said, “I feel kind of stupid asking, but could someone explain to me how these photos are misogynistic? Yes, the bridal pictures and the ANTM photos were a bit shocking, but I dont quite get why they are offensive. Is it that the pictures are condoning violence against women?”
I would say condoning violence is part of the problem. Another problem is that they are treating violence as if it is sexy. You can read the comments by the ANTM judges as one more example of how how they treat death as sexy. Additionally, I see this as part of a pattern–a pattern in which women are treated as passive victims and our victimization is glorified. In my view that promotes hatred of women and femininity. Someone over at Alas as suggested that the women in the NYT Mag shoot are being portrayed as marionettes, which would also make them powerless.
Tia said, “Ive been trying to think about things from a more feminist perspective, but sometimes I get confused about what Im supposed to think.”
Feminist disagree with each other all the time, so I would say there really isn’t just one way to think as a feminist.
I do think that as a feminist consciousness develops people begin to notice these kinds of fashion spreads and portrayals of women more often. I may not have noticed this when I was much younger, and I may have thought of it as an isolated instance. However, I have seen these types of pictorials on numerous occassions, and that’s what is even more troubling.
The photo of the falling chair, which I thought was supposed to represent
suicide, really bothered me. The photography is really interesting, but
I don’t think it is a fashion spread. Lucky me, I missed America’s Next
Top Model last night. Glad the kids weren’t watching it.
What the !?*# Can someone email the photographer and ask them what VISION they had with this? I can’t even look at this right now. I’m already in angry mode.
A couple of seasons ago ANTM had the models pose in coffins/graves.
Here’s some more contact information:
Bankable Productions, the company owned by Tyra Banks which produces the show - inquiries@bankableprods.com
The CW - feedback@cwtv.com
Proctor & Gamble, who apparently owns Cover Girl, have a contact form through their website - http://www.pg.com/
Don’t mean to restate the painfully obvious, but Tyra’s a first-rate hypocrite.
Yeah, Yolanda. She keeps talking out both sides of her mouth.
[...] This letter was inspired by information I found at Women’s Space, where the information was posted from Rachel’s Tavern. I encourage you to look at the photos from the shoot mentioned above and, if you are displeased, write your own letter. Feel free to use mine. [...]
[...] Via Rachel’s Tavern [...]
Tia, the other thing to consider is that I have never seen men done up bound to sell fashion, nor have I seen them encouraged to play dead for fashion.
This seems to be some fad. Check out this story from the Business section of the Hartford Courant.
It’s about a teenage girl who “freeze models” at a local mall.
What is most disturbing is the small child’s reaction to her: the girl is a doll.
Women and girls are playthings. The idealized woman: silent, passive, and dressed in gender appropriate garments.
I made a slideshow using the ANTM photos and domestic violence stats. If you want to check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCIl3Vvorhs
Please disregard the link I gave above, here is the right one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnh4UGxq5Gs
Sorry and thanks!
Tyra is either crazy or an airhead.
I was absolutely horrified when I caught the end of ANTM on the weekend (in Canada it airs on Saturdays), and saw the photos glorifying violence against women . Thank you for providing the contact information for the show and its various sponsors; I’ll definitely be joining in on the letter writing campaign.
[...] Meanwhile, BuddyTV reports that women’s rights advocates are "irate" over the episode (slight understatement perhaps?), with New York City NOW president Sonia Ossorio condemning the shoot in the Daily News. Starting last week, female bloggers were already mobilizing, encouraging readers to contact sponsors of the show and providing e-mail addresses (like this one and these…not that we’re hinting or anything) for letter-writing campaigns. As for the CW network and ANTM supermodel host Tyra Banks? Both declined to comment. [...]
Thank you for providing some contact information to protest this. That’s a great service to your readers!
Hi!
Thanks so much for posting this info and the relevant links…
The “research team” in my Gender & Pop Culture Class found your site and used it in their class presentation this past Monday (The 26th of march)
These images were of great importance to the consciousness of the class and the power of media! The entire class is blogging and some of the blogs are on ANTM. Thank you again for posting this super-disturbing photo-slaughter (where models were cut for not looking alive/but still dead enough?!?!?!) “shoot.”
Take care,
Jessie Gamble
WGS Program @ TCNJ.edu
I hate the portrayal of the two women. We are living in a woman-hating, woman-bashing society. These images lead to real life violence against women such as the murder of a Texas college student a week ago.
I hope people have sense enough to say enough is enough to the violent and misogynistic portrayal of women in the media today.
Stephanie B.
[...] Via Rachels Tavern [...]
what kind of world are you living in that a picture make syou think wow this is what is caussing worlkd wide murder of of women all around the globe, its show that portray women as catty and sexually limitless you should be worried about Vh1’s flover of love and Rock of love come to mind, if i had a child i wouldnt want her to ever be exposed to shows like that but top model i wouldnt worry about, thse women are making art with what they were given and never in top model history have i felt
“Wow they just did that shoot to expose the girls, or i cant believe top model condones the murdering of women”
you make top model seem like the devil when there are far worst things out there!
>you make top model seem like the devil when there are far worst things out there!
This is a “concern troll” statement: “How can you care about X, when there are so many Ys in the world?” It’s an attempt at a
Clue: Sometimes Ys start as Xs, so vigilance is a good thing. Sometimes what a society accepts today allows that same society to accept what was once unacceptable tomorrow - that can be either good or bad. And sometimes, it matters to care about BOTH X and Y. Caring about X doesn’t mean that Y gets no care or concern. In fact, it’s people who care about X AND Y that probably have their sensitivity meter calibrated to fight against ALL problems, not just the biggest ones.
Every large problem starts out small.
Get it?
Edit: should read: “Its an attempt at assuming a superior stance on an issue, while trivilizing others who could be allies, if the person expressing concern is in good faith. Often they’re not and have ulterior motives - which would you fall into?”
And if you really can’t see the problem with images of women fake-HANGED wearing what amounts to wedding dresses, like the wives of Blackbeard, and the statement made is supposed to be, “Hey, look at the designer wear! Corpses are arty!” instead of “Dude, violence and death are BAD THINGS,” there really is no hope for ending misogyny and general inhumanity.
Could the artist have intended to suggest that the entire venal pursuit of married status (as embodied by wedding dresses) is actually akin to being lynched…that there is a sort of collective “bearing of witness” to lynchings in which culpability is spread beyond “the couple” or “the bride” to the society which places this form of socialization as primary?
Are wedding dresses the prelude to death? Are women better off without PURSUING or GETTING married? Do they live longer, earn more and report being generally happier? Is companionship outside the bounds of marriage an acceptable form of “Adulthood” or “coming of age.”
Can the bonds of matrimony and the public spectacle of taking life from the neck be escaped through a frontal attack on this imagery?
———————-
I can’t speak for the artist or a show that I don’t watch or an industry I try my damnedest to IGNORE, but there seem to be more possibilities to this artist’s conception than meet the eye. Conversely, it could just be that simple.
Hmmm… does Occam’s Razor apply to art? j/k
Temple3’s analysis and speculation is interesting. I think like any other form of art, the underlying meaning is supposed to be subject to interprestation by the beholder. Fashion is an art form, right?
I am not sure what the correct interpretation of the photoshoots is, perhaps you are right admin and a letter writing campaign is in order, I am not convinved. What this brings to mind for me is the Brooklyn Museum Exhibit a few years back with the Virgin Mary made out of elephant poop and the images of jesus with a big boner, and Mayor Guiliani and others having a canary about the desecration.