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  • Has American Apparel Gone Too Far?
    Krissy commented on the article | over 2 years ago
    Has American Apparel Gone Too Far?

    Well, I think instead of taking the issue up with the company, blatantly pointing out the faults and problems with these ads would get to more people.  Have you seen those truth ads raising awareness about smoking?  I think those are incredible.  They always catch your attention and they use wit and humor and satire to grab on to the attention of a younger audience.  


    That's what I'm thinking...

  • Has American Apparel Gone Too Far?
    Krissy commented on the article | over 2 years ago
    Has American Apparel Gone Too Far?

     


    We never confirmed that these girls were underage...  


    The fact that they are utilizing the under age "look" is a marketing technique, and perhaps a very effective one, but this is why we need to educate young girls about the images that are being portrayed about them in the media.  This one says a lot of things (a photo is worth a thousand words), and one of them is that very young girls have sex appeal.  If women in younger age ranges recognize the difference and reject these or understand that they are inaccurate interpretations of real women, then that will pave the way for men who misunderstand as well. 


     

  • Has American Apparel Gone Too Far?
    Krissy commented on the article | over 2 years ago
    Has American Apparel Gone Too Far?

    Well, I think the issue people are attempting to address is from a women's rights perspective, not from a marketing standpoint.  These adds sell, there's no doubt about that, and no problem there.  There is a problem, however, with the ideas that women formulate upon seeing these adds.  I don't think the adds, necessarily, are the problem.  I think that educating women to "know better" is a more appropriate way to look at it. No matter how much we protest or witch or complain, these adds sell and they will continue to sell.  Young women, however, see these adds and feel like this woman must feel powerful, she's got something everyone wants, which sex and sex appeal. Recognizing the superficiality of this fleeting power she has is what I think may be key in this issue.  I find women's issues incredibly interesting, but the more literature I have read, the more I am convinced that women in a sense victimize themselves, as in, "Don't show me this!  Cover her up, she's not a sex toy!", and if she covers her whole self up, it's also a man's fault and a part of his control over her.  As I mentioned in an earlier comment, women, especially the new generation, need to take their self-worth and dignity into their own hands.  Blame will get you nowhere.  Have you ever seen Gloria Steinem?  The way she is exudes a confidence, as a person, that I have never seen. She just is, and she is happy with herself and her life and she is relative to no one. 


    In terms of sex trafficking, don't quote me on this, I've not researched this much, but I think most sex trafficking deals with women as the victims.  But I agree, ALL sex trafficking is an issue, and an incredibly important one, but I don't think that just because we are focusing on women makes the conversation invalid. 

  • Has American Apparel Gone Too Far?
    Krissy commented on the article | over 2 years ago
    Has American Apparel Gone Too Far?

    Brian,


    I am glad you've addressed the issue of emotion in this discussion.  I think oftentimes when arguing about something like this, it's so easy for logic to be clouded in emotion. 


    On the topic of women being empowered through sexuality, this concept can only be considered in a superficial manner.   A woman is not considered powerful because she has control over the man, but ultimately it is because of the potential of what she can do for the man... which is namely to please him.  In these photos, she's not depicted as someone who can do something for the betterment of mankind, she isn't depicted as intelligent or someone who can make an impact on the people who see her, she is depicted as someone who has power over the sex she either gives or withholds. Although this concept can be alluring for young women such as myself, it is superficial.  It sells, I realize that, but women's reactions to this depiction is the bigger issue here, I believe.  As a young woman growing up in suburban American society, I can say from experience that messages are so incredibly mixed in terms of what a woman ought to be.  It should be no shock to anyone that this girl is posing.  She feels good, she feels like she is wanted and doing something fantastic and big.  She isn't htinking about the issues we are talking about, and that's a problem.  Young women don't understand their gender. I don't understand my gender.  I'm faced with women who paste their mostly naked bodies all over the media and also women who only complain about the women who paste their mostly naked bodies all over the media.  I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, that we, as women, are trying to find a place away from being what Simone DeBeavoir refers to as "The Other" gender. We are constantly being defined by a man's needs.  The women who succeed in altering this definition, are the ones who have finally discovered how to live for themselves and base their actions off of their needs as a woman, whatever they may be for that individual.  We are not a minority.  We are half the world, it's time to take our dignity into our own hands. 

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