Oh BBC home page picture editor could you be more annoying?

But it seems a shame to me that an inclusive, body positive middle-aged woman dominated activity is represented with a skinny model.

Her body shape is normal, not skinny, but our view of what is normal has become twisted by the normalisation of obesity.

Thanks phlossie, really interesting to hear your perspective, and well done for organising it. I'm also quite jealous as I now avoid very cold water because of a health condition, but I used to love it.

Oh shut up everyone. We are just jealous of the "physique" of the model in the stock photograph placed there as clickbait.

Middle aged women aren’t interesting to editors. How the piece was edited is also interesting: I orchestrated the swim with HFW and was interviewed extensively, talking about the benefits of cold water swimming and explaining the science behind what happens physically as well as the social and emotional benefits. They also got sound bites from the other swimmers, including some quite powerful stories from people who swim to cope with bereavement, improve auto-immune conditions and depression. In the final edit, they only included a sound bite from one of the few men there.

The model on the click-through could be a winter swimmer — there’s a university group that swims with us of women who don’t look unlike her.

But it seems a shame to me that an inclusive, body positive middle-aged woman dominated activity is represented with a skinny model.

Also, you really don’t sit around looking pensive in January when it’s 4 degrees C in the air and water! You get wrapped up pronto!

For the same reason, exam results are univerally illustrated by pictures of (attractive) teenage girls leaping around in joy, not the boys who presumably make up around 50% of those receiving exam results.

@DuLANGMondeFOREVER I didn’t realise the feminist message board was supposed to be an echo chamber. Do you not like reading different opinions from other women ? I’m telling you as a woman and a feminist that I don’t find this particular example to be objectifying as it fits the brief of the article.

I have noticed the BBC are increasingly relying on unrelated stock images. When they actually have images of something then they should use it. Choosing this image is all about the woman in it being attractive and nothing about the article.

I also noticed this article. I wonder why women might be less keen than men? www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-leicestershire-48560119/naturist-swimming-club-wants-more-women-members

I think most people find an attractive woman more pleasing on the eye. Advertisers know this and remember this is an advert for an article

1, the BBC is supposed to be above advertising tricksyness - not being funded by advertising and all and 2, it seems sadly incurious to try and shut down examination of WHY women are used as bait on Feminist discussion board, including why some people think aesthetics are more important than truth when it comes to news.

I personally liked the picture of a line of swimmers, in hats, laughing, best.

Maybe, Everard? I'd say it's a given. Look how they treat their own staff.

If they’d chosen one of the swimmers it would have been the best looking in the bikini. The “poster girl” as a previous poster put it. She’d be the click bait, she just happened to be there.

Yes as someone who is a prime candidate for outdoor swimming, a real person trying it out is much more likely to persuade me than a picture of a model, that wouldn't capture my attention at all. But then maybe the BBC don't give a shit about middle aged women.

I have to agree with @DesireesChild, I think most people find an attractive woman more pleasing on the eye. Advertisers know this and remember this is an advert for an article. It’s not about sex or sexuality. Women’s features in general are softer, smaller and there’s obviously the maternal factor.

I do find this obsession by certain feminists over what a woman should or shouldn’t look like / should or shouldn’t wear to be a bit boring.

Are women objectified: yes.
Does this have anything to do with looks, age, dress: No
Is it to do with male entitlement and privilege: yes
How is this changed: tough question, but parents need to teach their sons that women are equal and their bodies should be respected no matter what they look like or how they’re dressed
Regardless of this will humans always find beauty more compelling: yes, it’s primal

Another vote for HFW here (or anyone who was actually in the bloody article).

my personal view is there are far more women who are good looking than men.

Helped by the fact that women become invisible when old or ugly so they don't register

Your comment makes no sense in the context of what I said. Think about it.

DesireesChild

You saidThe other point is, whether you like it or not, the click through rate from a picture of an average middle aged man will be lower*

Why do you think the click through rate will be higher for an attractive woman?

Really think about it

(Hint - Lots of PPs have already given sound reasons for this that are to do with sexism, women as commodities, decoration for the male gaze, etc.)

Oh I love a bit of feministplaining. Did you miss the part where I said I got thar point?

Although I think you are wrong about "the male gaze" apart from the posters on here I think most people would prefer a picture of that women than HFW.

Fair dues, phlossie...small world! Sounds a hoot! Enjoy!

I am the woman! Not the one in the bikini — don’t know her — but the one in the other photo! There were plenty of great outdoor swimmer poster girls there on the day.
Outdoor swimming is the best thing for confidence — it includes women (and men) of all shapes and sizes and no shits are given about how we look.

DesireesChild

You said *The other point is, whether you like it or not, the click through rate from a picture of an average middle aged man will be lower.

Why do you think the click through rate will be higher for an attractive woman?

Really think about it.

(Hint - Lots of PPs have already given sound reasons for this that are to do with sexism, women as commodities, decoration for the male gaze, etc.)

Kantastic “Does anyone know why Mumsnet doesn't have an "ignore poster" option? It would improve the experience so much and nearly every other forum has it”

Sorry to @ you. I started a thread about this in site stuff in case you want to add your voice.

I was going to echo Kantastic, then saw your post Autumn. I'll go find your thread - thanks.

Does anyone know why Mumsnet doesn't have an "ignore poster" option? It would improve the experience so much and nearly every other forum has it.

I would love to have an ignore poster option. We could call it the Bunbury Button.

And I would favourite your post if I could.

Funny note - I actually proofread this before hitting post. Autocorrect had turned ‘ignore’ to ‘ignorant’. I did consider not amending it.

Looking at the indentation at the top of her thigh, it seems to me that she's been wearing a different style of costume for quite a while before this photo was taken. Poor woman looks very uncomfortable in her skimpy costume, so yes I agree op. This is just another objectification of women's bodies. Article about swimming, let's find some random female in a too small costume and that'll do.

@Kantastic “ Does anyone know why Mumsnet doesn't have an "ignore poster" option? It would improve the experience so much and nearly every other forum has it”

Sorry to @ you. I started a thread about this in site stuff in case you want to add your voice.

my personal view is there are far more women who are good looking than men.

Helped by the fact that women become invisible when old or ugly so they don't register.

MrsTerryPratchett

I personally think there are far more women in the world who range from pretty to beautiful to stunning than there are men

And I disagree. Taste, in people, food and similar, is entirely subjective. Unless it's socialised, which I would argue this is!

Your personal take on it is different from mine. I'm entitled to my personal view and my personal view is there are far more women who are good looking than men.

Maybe it would have been better to have an image of water only....