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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Protein World "beach body" adverts

447 replies

RunkyJam · 22/04/2015 16:24

Anyone else raging about these?

I've complained to the ASA and just signed a petition taking off over at change.org

www.change.org/p/proteinworld-arjun-seth-remove-are-you-beach-body-ready-advertisements

Absolutely BONKERS this was approved IMO.

OP posts:
fatlazymummy · 28/04/2015 17:12

I don't think her body is particularly unrealistic for a young woman who is a normal weight and works out. Obviously not everyone is as tall as her ,or goes in at the waist as much ,but surely most of accept that we have variations in shape?
Personally I have no problem with this advert. I've been both very slim and obese, I wouldn't have thought twice about the phrase 'beach ready body' .It just means you want to look and feel your best if you're going to appear in public in a bikini. Nothing new there.

scallopsrgreat · 28/04/2015 17:12

I don't think it is body-shaming. The advert is body shaming. That is its very essence. It is what it is trying to do.

And it is an unrealistic body for a great deal women to achieve. Black women, older women, short women, women with thinner hair, disabled women etc etc.

I personally wouldn't have worded the petition like that though, I agree.

"So we shouldn't let a model show her body because most people don't look like that?" It isn't about not letting her show her body. It is about yet another advertising company buying into the same trope of what a woman should look like.

fatlazymummy · 28/04/2015 17:16

ameythyst why do you think it's not achievable for 99% of women? She doesn't look that extraordinary to me.
There was a woman in the pool today who had a similar shape to her (she wasn't wearing a bikini though, so couldn't judge her abs).

Amethyst24 · 28/04/2015 17:22

Because I would say only about 1% of women are:

  • aged between 17 and 22
  • white
  • very tall
  • very slightly built
  • large breasted
  • long bodied with small waists

As I said upthread, I'm slim and fit and work hard to stay that way. But I don't look like that, and I never will because I am not that shape.

Why is it so hard to understand?

Aeroflotgirl · 28/04/2015 17:25

Yes they are offensive because basically they are saying that unless you look like this photoshopped model, you are not beach body ready. The message that it is sending out to young girls is Hmm. Yes I would love to look like that, but realistically it is not possible, I have my tiger stripes and a flabby tummy, that only a tummy tuck can get rid of, despite my working out for 3 years, each day, doing 45 mins cardio kickboxing and reducing my food intake.

Mengog · 28/04/2015 17:33

I really don't get the fuss. I remember 10-12 years ago, going to the gym with my mates for two months before a holiday to Spain to get "beach body ready".

Her body isn't that unobtainable. Go on a beach in Spain or Italy in the summer you will see loads of woman with bodies like that.

mamapants · 28/04/2015 17:36

Yes but amethyst one advert isn't going to include all permutations of a slim body.
I don't have large breasts nor am I 5'10 or blonde i'r in my twenties but I don't think I need to be in order to go on the beach and that isn't what the advert says at all. It isn't saying anyone needs to look exactly like the model.
Since everyone is putting their own interpretation on the advert Here is mine are you where you want to be in terms of physical appearance, if not is part of that that you want to be slimmer if so here is a product that does that.

sugarhoops · 28/04/2015 17:38

aeroflotgirl - sorry but you just sort of sound peeved that you can't achieve that body even though you have worked out every day for the past 3 years Hmm. Lots of women achieve similarly toned figures by working out - just because you can't, doesnt mean its offensive for everyone. I personally find it inspiring.

Like I said upthread, I could be equally offended that my hair still isnt long, glossy and gorgeous like that advertised in a hair shampoo commercial, even though i've used that advertised shampoo for years. Not fair maybe, but never offensive.

Amethyst24 · 28/04/2015 17:38

Of course that's what it's saying. The message couldn't be clearer. "This is what 'beach body ready' looks like. Do you look like this?"

Amethyst24 · 28/04/2015 17:39

Ah, sugarhoops, I knew the tried and trusted "you're just jealous" argument would come along in due course Grin Always so illuminating.

sugarhoops · 28/04/2015 17:42

Sorry but I think people must be jealous, why else would you really care?!

mamapants · 28/04/2015 17:42

No that's how you are interpreting it.

chiefbrody · 28/04/2015 17:44

I agree with ''sugarhoops'' why would you care.

Far more things to worry about in the world if you need to have something to worry about.

Amethyst24 · 28/04/2015 17:45

Because it's a feminist issue, sugarhoops, and this is feminism chat. Look, it says so at the top of the page.

Aeroflotgirl · 28/04/2015 17:46

sugarhoops no I am not, because I am happy within myself, and I have done the best I can, I have slimmed from a size 18 14, stone, to a size 10/12 9.5 stone, so I am incredibly happy, and on holiday I will be wearing a bikini with pride Smile. What I am angry about, is that the advert is basically saying that unless you look like that, which for a lot of women is unrealistic, you are not beach body ready, bullshit!!!!

Aeroflotgirl · 28/04/2015 17:48

Yes it is helping some feel ashamed of themselves, which they should not. A lot of these images are photoshopped, and altered, and are totally unrealistic, the danger with them, is that young girls want to look like that, it can contribute to a negative body image of themselves.

MagentaOeuflon · 28/04/2015 17:48

Go on a beach in Spain or Italy in the summer you will see loads of woman with bodies like that.

Aaaand perhaps that's partly because so many women have got the message that if you don't look like that, you're not fit for the beach, so they're self-selecting. How many women avoid uncovering their bodies and avoid places where they might do so, because they feel self-conscious about having a perfectly normal amount of body fat (or indeed any amount).

I love swimming in the sea, it made me sad when we went on holiday with a friend and she wouldn't come in for a splash – though she was sweltering and likes swimming – because she was slightly overweight. So was I but fuck it.

Aeroflotgirl · 28/04/2015 17:49

No I dont care, but is this not a discussion forum about that image Hmm

soverylucky · 28/04/2015 17:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ErrolTheDragon · 28/04/2015 17:54

Some of us care because we see how much some girls can be influenced by stereotypes and how much their self-worth depends on conforming to this sort of image.

sugarhoops · 28/04/2015 17:55

Ha! My god I didnt realise this was a feminism thread, it just appeared in the most commented box today!

Well i'll leave it alone then - I just can't get angry about it, and i'm a woman with a womanly body. More important stuff to worry about!

mamapants · 28/04/2015 17:56

Exactly anti wrinkle cream isn't going to make a 70 year old look like the normally forty year old women advertising it. We don't go on about how it's unobtainable for a big percentage of women do we

Aeroflotgirl · 28/04/2015 17:58

Your right sugar I came on here as it was in the most commented box, but I am happy with where I am right now, I don't care about the advert really.

sugarhoops · 28/04/2015 17:59

Well I have 2 daughters and the advert still doesn't worry me. Raise them with love & honesty and they'll realise that no everyone can have such a body.

shewept · 28/04/2015 17:59

So again, this girl isn't allowed to be a model because she doesn't look like most girls?

That girl is in a bikini, she is bikini ready....for herself. The advert doesn't say if you don't look like this...you aren't bikini ready. She is what she considers bikini ready for herself.

No one advert can cover everybody type out there.

And as for the she can achieve it because she is white, is ridiculous. Go to any ukbff, pure elite, Miami pro show and look at the girls in the 'bikini' section. There are plenty of women of colour built like this model.