Is this a step forward toward acknowledging the beauty of all sizes and shapes — or does it continue to perpetuate the objectification of women, no matter what size they are?
Take a look for yourself and decide.
Why Representation Matters
When I first heard about Ashley Graham, I was excited that a larger woman was breaking into mainstream advertising.
As a teacher of women’s self-defense and personal empowerment for college-aged women for the last 30 years, I have met countless young women who have suffered from eating disorders and low self-esteem. Mainstream media, with its unrealistic portrayal of an “ideal” body, is at least partly to blame.
Being 5’11” and rail-thin is only possible for about 5% of the population. Do you look like that? I don’t — and I don’t know anybody with a body like that.
When girls are bombarded with unrealistic images of “the perfect body” in magazines, on TV, in movies, and on the web, they begin to believe their bodies aren’t good enough. Their self-esteem suffers.
A Quote from Ashley Graham
On one hand, I am happy to see Ashley Graham demonstrating that you don’t have to be skinny to be beautiful.
She was quoted by Lauren Cox of Hollywood Life as saying: “It doesn’t matter if you’re a size 2 or 22 as long as you’re taking care of your body, working out, and telling yourself, ‘I love you’ instead of taking in the negativity of beauty standards.”
I like that. I really like that.
And Then I Watched the Video
And I got angry. Really angry.
Did you get angry too? Or are you desensitized to the damaging effects of this kind of sexual objectification because you see so much of it every day?
I’m genuinely curious about your response.
How This Video Objectifies Ashley Graham — and Women in General
Everything about this video was sexual. Here is what I noticed.
What She Did
- The audio track was simply her breathy exhalations — as if she were getting aroused with every step.
- Her hands caressing her thighs.
- Her hand touching her backside.
- Her lips parted in that inviting way. Have you ever tried to walk around like that? It’s not easy.
- Her bending over.
What the Men Did
- Three men noticing her — emphasizing the message that more men will find you attractive if you have more curves.
- One fanned his head with a hat. “She is so hot.”
- Another cooled his forehead with a water bottle. “She is so hot.”
- A third appeared suddenly behind her, staring at her backside, then tripped and fell into the water.
- She takes off her top and throws it in the water, leaving the rest to your imagination.
- When the three men stood up to run, one “accidentally” stepped on a sunscreen bottle — and it squirted a long stream of white liquid into the air.
So What’s So Bad About This Ad?
You might think I should just lighten up.
If we did not live in a country where 1 in 4 women are sexually assaulted in their lifetime (U.S. Department of Justice: Bureau of Justice Statistics), I might be more willing to.
When we objectify women’s bodies — no matter the size — we make assaulting or raping them more acceptable. Do you see my point?
If the woman does not speak, as in this video, she can be seen as an object rather than a person. Objects are easier to objectify.
Start to Notice
I want to encourage you to notice how advertisements use women’s bodies to sell products. Look at ads for alcohol or cars, for example. Often only certain body parts appear — or she may be headless. If she has a head, she is usually looking sideways or down.
It becomes dangerous for women when they are no longer seen as human beings, but as a collection of body parts used to sell things or provide pleasure.
Talk to the Young People in Your Life
Might I encourage you to have conversations with your children and the young people in your life about what they are exposed to in the media?
Look at things together. Talk about how they feel and what they think about what they are seeing. What messages are the advertisers trying to convey?
When young people can look at potentially harmful advertisements with an analytical eye, they can thwart negative impact, gain new perspectives, and go on feeling good about themselves — just as they are.
What Do You Think?
I’m curious about your thoughts on this.
Is it a yay for including larger women in ads, or a nay for the way Ashley Graham is portrayed?
Share your perspective — this is a conversation worth having.
