AIBU to think this magazine cover is really sexist?

[cheeseycharlie]

I receive this magazine, and the January issue cover here left me a bit

This plays to the worst stereotypes of sexism in the construction industry. It is a disservice to the industry and insulting to the women who work in it.

The publisher responded to me that the image "simply shows a woman at work on the project featured in the article". Well he clearly has forgotten the H&S laws that protect all workers by requiring steel-toe boots, hard hats etc - and not silly pink spotty wellies! I am not sure what the H&S laws say about flashing cleavage while on site though...

AIBU or should I lighten up?

For all those crying sexism about that image, really? Shes a site worker, a real one. Look at her hands and face and knees all 'worn in' and in use.

'a shot right down her top'
No it's not, it shows a small portion of her upper chest/neck (NOT clevage) and her arms, she's wearing long shorts and wellies caked in crap and in no way could it be seen as sexist unless you wanted it to be. ffs

Her wellies are her choice -I'd guess they're pink either cos she likes them or cos it stops the blokes on site from nicking them- and more than likely to be steel toe. Why would she need a hard hat to pull a nail from a bit of wood? or pour concrete? Her clothes would appear to fairly sensible for the task and conditions and job (not going to mention skin cancer risk though)

I'm really curious to know how you would pose/take a shot of a genuine woman at work in Australian weather that wasn't sexist?
Should she have stood up straight and worn a suit?

so yeah. yabu

Anyone else just getting a black page when they click on the link? I'm on an iPhone if that's relevant.

'a shot right down her top'
No it's not, it shows a small portion of her upper chest/neck (NOT clevage) and her arms, she's wearing long shorts and wellies caked in crap and in no way could it be seen as sexist unless you wanted it to be. ffs

Oh very good, break out the ffs.

That is your interpretation. I still think it is an unnecessary angle which was deliberately chosen as the subject is female. I haven't for one single second doubted she IS a construction worker or that in Australia shorts and a vest top would be worn. I AM questioning the angle of the shot yes, and no amount of 'ffs' is going to alter my interpretation of the photograph as unnecessarily sexist. Oh and the pink boots - I have no issue - quite like them but it does seem rather contrived for a certain effect to me.

Australians tend to cover up to avoid skin cancer.

^^ this may be a sweeping generalisation

If they wanted a look down her top, why not shoot her from above, instead of below?

The pink boot seem to be the model's own; if she'd been dressed by the photographer/costumer/whoever then I don't think they'd have put her in some worn, dirty tank top and shorts, and a branded hat.

I volunteer on a farm once a week and legally have to wear steel capped boots. That image just looks like a random woman 'playing' at being a builder.

I agree she is a real construction worker but she has definitely been dressed for the pic not the task. Legally she should be wearing high vis vest and hat (in UK and presumably in Aus too).
And the main thing for me is that the article is supposed to encourage women to enter this industry, but anyone who is not body-confident or is not into flashing thighs and cleavage is going to feel disenfranchised by this and might be put off. Casual sexism is itself the main bar to women in the profession. An image like that is not going to encourage many to enter construction sites in professional capacity.

Thanks for the offers of emails to the mag. I'll get the email addy I used or alternatively there is an email address on p2 of the mag on the link

The article itself isn't trying to encourage women to enter the industry, it's about an organisation doing that.

This is not about "flashing thighs or cleavage". She is working construction, outdoors, in Australia, in summer. She pretty much needs to wear shorts. What is she meant to do with the rest of her legs? Should she be forced to wear floor-length dresses, in case a the sight of her muddy knees (sorry, "flashing her thighs") disenfranchises the nearest body-concious woman?

What about her tank top? See above re manual labour during Australian summer. Clearly she should put on a thick pullover, because it would be terrible if anyone were to see that a woman had an area of skin between her neck and her boobs. How disgusting that a woman dare to show that off! Well, it's just flashing her cleavage, the brazen hussy!

I'm not sure why you think she'd need a hard hat and hi vis and for that task or that it's of any importance in bolstering the sexism viewpoint.

So; the clothes are genuine, the woman is genuine, the location is genuine, and her profession is genuine.
But it's sexist because she's showing skin, isn't fat and the 'dynamic' camera angle ? I don't buy it.
and I think this comment,

"This plays to the worst stereotypes of sexism in the construction industry. It is a disservice to the industry and insulting to the women who work in it."

Is bordering on delusional and insulting to the woman herself as most seem to agree that she IS one of the women who work in the industry.

By the looks of her legs and her tan shes been outside, working for some time. If she's doing what I think she's doing, removing nails from shuttering frames (her hat shows a concrete company) then It's quite safe to say that her job is quite physical and she's going to be quite lean due to the massive amounts of exercise and labour involved in her job. yet her body shape is somehow being held up as evidence of sexism. the other women inside are much the same shape wise.

I'm not being funny but labourers who work in the sun doing site work tend to have a few common traits, stripping off, getting tans, being lean and toned it's kinda obvious that it comes with the job.
So she's actually quite representative of the industry norm (male or female) and I think your seeing things where they don't exist.

For all those crying sexism about that image, really?

Flick through the magazine. All men pictured are fully clothed, well until you get the pic of the family on the beach and then dad and boy both in knee length shorts, mum swimming costume and little girl in thigh high shorts.

The magazine shows other projects in Australia and some in the US in LA - no one wearing shorts.

And no one else shot at that angle.

Lighten up.

You can buy steel toe cap wellies.

You can write to the editor at [email protected]

I've seen workers pouring concrete in rubber boots, but presumed their boots had hard soles and toecaps.

I don't mind the amount of skin the woman is showing, but they might have given her 2 minutes instruction on how to use a claw hammer to pull a nail.

oops, an auto email reply give the new email address as
[email protected]

Typical bloody mumsnet really. Complain women are unrepresented, complain when they see a woman at work on a building site.

Coumarin, I'm on an iPad getting the same blank page. If you open up the main homepage for the site, you can see a smaller picture of the cover on the right hand side.

As for a skimpy top and shorts, I'd guess that working outdoors in Australia requires light, airy clothes

Working outdoors in Austral;is requires the same clothes as anywhere else. Hi Vis protective clothing & long sleeves/trousers on hotter days to protect from high UV. If it is too hot, they down tools.

But safety, not looks is top priority, as it is anywhere in the world.

Here are some actual Aussie female construction workers...

www.blacktownsun.com.au/story/1877524/women-at-work-on-construction-sites/?cs=1431

Vile.

Good on you OP.

I ink the image has been supplied by Industry Women Central, there are some very similar pics on their Facebook profile.

I'm really curious to know how you would pose/take a shot of a genuine woman at work in Australian weather that wasn't sexist?

Here

and here

The weather doesn't change what they wear. My dh is a mechanic. He has to wear full-length (sleeve & leg) overalls in all weather, if he is on the workshop floor. The only difference it, that he is allowed to wear shorts under them in the summer.

Oh & if you need further proof, on Monday I will pop up the road & takes pics of the guys who are building new bridges. It is going to be 38o here.

She pretty much needs to wear shorts Except she would not be allowed to...

Sorry for the multiple posts, but I am seriously PMSL that construction workers would be allowed to wear small shorts & skimpy tanks tops just because it is Australia!