America's Next Nude Model

It's hard for me to write negative things about a hardworking Jew who pays his workers a living wage and manufactures his garments in the USA, where the company is based. It's hard for me to criticize a man who fights for balanced trade and lower duty fees on imports/exports between the USA and Europe (the bane of my existence when I REALLY need some Victoria's Secret undies). However, I can't write negative things about the practices of a company without holding the owner of that company responsible.

American Apparel is a bit of a phenomenon, getting as much good press as it does bad. Never since Abercrombie and Fitch has a clothing company come under such media scrutiny. Initially the feedback was positive- AA manufactures quality garments which are 'Made in the USA' and made by those who are being compensated fairly for their craftsmanship. However, just because something is 'Made in the USA' does not mean it is made by Americans and in 2009, American Apparel had to let go over 1,500 illegal workers from its factories due to immigration laws. You can read Dov's letter to his staff here: http://www.dovcharney.com/20090902102021430.pdf and though it's heartbreaking that this had to happen, it was really always going to happen if you're a company who is knowingly breaking the law.

My beef with AA has nothing to do with immigration or with their proud statement that they are 'sweatshop free', which by the way I feel should not be something to be proud of, it should just be the norm. My issue has a lot more to do with this:

For a company who waxes lyrical about how ethical it is, I object. It is not ethical to have models plastered all over the pages of its website and even on the pages of magazines who are wearing so few actual clothes. Now, I'm really happy that they let this one have some pubic hair, but that's where my happiness stops. How old are these girls? The average age of a working model today is just 20-years-old. Remember that's the average, so there are many working models in their 30's, but there are also many in their teens and this one looks pretty young to me. There is an increased pressure on young women to show more skin than ever before, and with models getting younger and younger this is a disturbing trend.

As an avid watcher of America's Next Top Model I have watched 20 'cycles' of girls and women pressured into the obligatory nude shoot. However, this last season which is the 'College Edition' none of the girls needed any extra coaxing. It's now accepted as an industry standard that to be a successful female model, you have to strip down. These are educated young women who without question took their clothes off and draped themselves all over one of their judges, Rob Evans. The only girl to refuse was a Harvard Masters student who walked off and was then called a 'prude' and criticized for not 'having what it takes' to make it. These photos are not just in the hands of the judges this season, they are plastered all over social media for the public to judge as well. I know I took some dodgy naked photos when I was 19, but if they were still on the internet today being looked at and judged, I'd be in a whole different kind of hell.

Now Tyra Banks herself claims that she does all of the same photo shoots the girls do, so she's not exploiting them in any way, but have a look at the two photos below. Spot the difference?
                                        

  

In Tyra's photos she is quite clearly wearing a bra under her less-than-desirable weave which completely covers her breasts. Tyra took that photo in a closed studio with just her, Rob and a photographer. Brittany on the other hand was made to parade around topless in front of a whole TV crew, her fellow contestants and a photographer. She is far more exposed, is in more of a submissive pose and Brittany is just 18. So what? You might say. So everything. Whilst I appreciate that Rob is also in some tiny briefs, men never quite get the same treatment as women. In American Apparel, for example, the raciest ad I could find with a male model was this:

While this image was actually in magazines in Europe:

This needs to stop. While I think that bodies of all shapes and sizes are beautiful and should be seen, this much exposure is doing nothing but sexualizing absolutely everything we do. That advert doesn't make me want to buy that piece of 'clothing'. I looked at it and realized how overdue I was for a bikini wax. For many that image would spark desire, and if you were reading that magazine waiting for a job interview, for example you'd probably just be thinking about the wood you were getting instead of how best to make a good impression on your potential future boss. Others will look at this and the obsess about their own body.  All of these reactions are natural and understandable, but none of them is to run out and buy this 'ethically created' article of clothing.

We are surrounded by these objectifying images every day. So much that we've stopped reacting to them, or even defending them. 'Sex sells' I was told the other day when I was having a conversation about this very same topic. But what does it sell? It sells us an idea that women are objects and pretty props to look at. It sells the idea that every man deserves one of these beautiful, naked women as this is the prototype for us all to be born from. It sells a different standard of beauty that men and women are held up against. It sells nothing I'm looking to buy. So please, for those of you who shop at AA, stop. Choosing between slave labor and the exploitation of women is not a fucking choice. There is no lesser of two evils here. Do your research and find other companies who support your ethics and your beliefs. Here is an article to help you get going: http://ethicalfashionblog.com/2011/10/14/affordable-ethical-fashion-online/