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Normally, I look up to Canada as an example – I even talk about moving there if the next election goes sour. I find their publicly-funded health care system and their official position of non-involvement in the war on Iraq both refreshing and laudable. I tend to think of Canadians as peaceful, level-headed, practical Midwesterners. After reading about Canadian-based Plain Jane Couture, I fear I’ve been brushing with too broad a stroke.
The Plain Jane Couture line features a large logo of a woman’s silhouette. Now, before you envision the reclining silhouette typically gracing the mud flaps of an 18-wheeler, think again. This silhouette is of a woman standing with a pair of underwear around her ankles. The logo is about the size of a hand, so there is no missing this degrading detail. 
The Canadian designers, Hardip (hard-up?) and Zoum state that they make clothes for the kind of women they like. (I would tend to believe that this logo represents the kind of woman they never get, but that is just my speculation.) They define their kind of woman as “cute, fun, witty and wild.” I challenge you to find a single model on the website that fits that description. On the contrary, I would suggest spineless, malnourished, pale and angry. Additionally, I know a lot of witty women – and none of them would consider wearing such a demeaning image of women on their clothes.
But it gets worse; these two go on to say that their patrons “hold the new voice of feminism.” Shortly thereafter, they state, “Jane permanently has her panties around her ankles. And quite frankly, that’s where they want them to stay.” Sure makes getting around difficult for poor Jane, especially if she plays hockey up there in Montreal. C’mon boys, no one is buying your attempt to sell feminism with permanent sexual availability. 
Again, and I’m quoting: Their line is nonchalant, fun, cheeky and likes to ‘take the piss’. I’d like to offer my editing services again in order to make this sentence more accurate: Their line is adolescent, degrading, pedestrian and likely to never get off the ground.
I’d like to remind Hardip and Zoum that there are a lot of young girls who are inundated with hundreds of humiliating images of women on a daily basis. It’s time to man up, boys. Do either of you have sisters, nieces, daughters, or girlfriends? If you answered yes, why not be true to them, honor them even, and be a different kind of company? Be the clothing company whose advertising doesn’t disgrace, offend, or confuse girls and women. Be the company that refuses to have a size zero. Be the company that cares about what women think. Be the company that actively demonstrates that how and what a woman thinks is far more important that how she looks. Be the company that acknowledges the intellectual contributions of women. You could even use a brain as your logo - now that’s sexy. –Amy Scott
August 7th, 2007
Just wanted to let you know that our brand-new, rockin’ Gallery of Offenders has been posted! Can you help by submitting #10?
(We’ll be opening a special area for comments soon!)
– J.B.
April 9th, 2007
When a popular British tabloid published a story on Kate Winslet’s secret plans to see a diet doctor, the actress not only got furious and made a public statement, but she’s also suing Grazia Magazine! Way to take action! Kate said:
“I will continue to say what I feel about this issue of women being thin and emaciated. It’s just out of control . . . I know I’m a role model to young women. It’s a role that I take very, very seriously and I would never want anyone to ever think I was a hypocrite in doing something like going to a diet doctor, for goodness sake. I mean, it’s really, really ridiculous.”
I must say, it’s nice to hear that as a celebrity, Kate Winslet feels a sense of responsibility to the public. Ahem, unlike most other celebrities we’ve heard about recently.
Tell us what you think by adding a comment!
–A.J.
February 22nd, 2007
One of my best friends, Alison, is expecting her first child this March. Auntie Alyza sure has a nice ring to it, no? Alison is one of the few women in my life who rarely critiques her body — something many women have trouble with in general.
Because many of her loved ones live out of state, Alison uses MySpace to keep her long-distance friends updated on the hows and whats of her pregnancy. We visually track her pregnancy with pictures she posts every week. It’s been a delight! What I love about these pictures are her poses. Alison does funny plies, uber-sarcastic “sexy model” expressions, funny 80’s midriff shots, and every once in a while, she takes a simple shot of her glowing, smiling self. Alison’s baby boy will be lucky to grow up in a body-positive household! It’s refreshing knowing a pregnant woman is having fun with her body, since most of us feel burdened by the extra pounds.
Here’s what Alison says:
“People have joked that I’ve been gaining some weight. They make sure to tell me that they are joking, but I never take it seriously because I know that I am gaining the right amount of weight per my pre-pregnancy size. I eat so I’m full and know that I am nourishing another growing life.
“Earlier last year, I interviewed for a nanny job with this lady who was due to have twins. She was a ridiculous exerciser. Despite being pregnant with twins, she said she had only gained around 25 pounds. That’s the bare minimum that a woman like me should be gaining with ONE child. It kills me that some women are more concerned about their weight and image during pregnancy than creating another life.”
Alison is a great role model for all of us, not just the pregnant ones! This is why I love Alison — she’s a great role model What’s your take?
– A.J.
February 8th, 2007
From government concerns with uber-thin models affecting eating disorder rates amongst women to models defending the fashion industry to the name-calling of an ex-model who’s gained weight… Here’s the news, people.
Fashion & Government
Many of you may have heard of Spain’s ban on excessively skinny models last year. Recently, Spain’s Health Ministry has been working with several top-name, Spanish fashion designers to find ways for the fashion industry to curb unhealthy body image among women and girls. Standardizing clothing sizes is one of the several agreements they reached. Way to start a trend, Spain!Italy, France, U.K. and the U.S. are beginning to think about (that is, sorta kinda ponder) this as well. About-Face is glad to see that these countries are beginning to see a relationship between the fashion industry and eating disorders, but merely reporting on this isn’t enough. It’s time to see some actual changes! STAT!
Bundchen and Family Values?
Gisele Bundchen, a Brazilian model, says that the fashion industry should not be to blamed for promoting eating disorders. Lack of family support is the problem, she says. She knows first-hand! Ms. Bundchen has strong family support which helps her maintain a healthy body image.Um … No matter what the situation, it is always a bonus when your loved ones support you and help keep it real. However, Ms. Bundchen’s opinion doesn’t seem to account for the fact that there is only one body type seen as beautiful in the fashion industry. And it’s of the thin to uber-thin type. Family support or not, women are likely to feel pressure to be thin. And
some women might go to great lengths to achieve it.
T-T-Tah-Tyra
In other news, Tyra Banks is stunned! Ms. Banks, a former model and now the host of America’s Next Top Model and The Tyra Banks Show, was appalled to find pictures of her in a one-piece bathing suit mocked as “fat”! She tells People magazine that she has gained weight, but is happy with her size. She was also sure to add that the pictures taken of her were “snapped at an unflattering angle,” making her look heavier than she actually is.Though Tyra is trying be a positive role model, it’s unfortunate that her weight gain is an issue, and an issue she feels forced to defend! With so much controversy over what’s too thin and what’s too heavy, it’s hard to have a positive body image at all. It’s good see Tyra is trying to work through hers. She seems to make a concerted effort to be honest about it.
–A.J.
February 2nd, 2007
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