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hlthe2b

(102,501 posts)
Sat Feb 22, 2014, 08:59 PM Feb 2014

Fascinating: In a women's sports clothing catalogue just received in the mail

This appears on the first page:


Our models...
Our models are not models at all. but real women, friends and friends of friends with real jobs and full lives.

Our "make-up kit" is a comb, a brush, a spray bottle, concealer and some hair ties.

Sometimes a "model" shows up for a swim shoot 5 months pregnant.

No air-brushing. We us Photo-shop to fix fly-aways and spinach in-the-teeth. We do NOT use Photoshop to build bigger breasts, higher cheekbones, longer legs or thinner thighs.

Our photostudio is the great out-doors. The sports and stunts are all real, and yes, things can get a little messy. Sometimes there are bumps and bruises involved. But always, there is courage, humor and good will in full measure.

We hope you like what you see.


The catalog is appropriately named: "title nine"

If only SI would learn to celebrate athletic women in such a non-exploitative way... BTW, the models are all naturally photographed, beautifully engaged in athletics.
I'm sure their website must be equally refreshing: www.titlenine.com (and no, I have no interest in the company beyond my being impressed that they are setting a good example.

Progress, I hope.....
40 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Fascinating: In a women's sports clothing catalogue just received in the mail (Original Post) hlthe2b Feb 2014 OP
link to page with their models. madrchsod Feb 2014 #1
"Yeah, that thing looks good on a Photoshopped size zero. How would it look on me?" Warpy Feb 2014 #2
And, Dar-ling! I must say they look absolutely Fabulous! Tuesday Afternoon Feb 2014 #3
Cool. DURHAM D Feb 2014 #4
Thank you for sharing JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #5
Unfortunately I'm not seeing anything larger than a size 16 eridani Feb 2014 #6
Clearly, athletic women come in all sizes. hlthe2b Feb 2014 #7
That's great. MadrasT Feb 2014 #8
Yeah- women need to quit being treated the artwork AAO Feb 2014 #9
Someone else mentioned the red edit too. CrispyQ Feb 2014 #26
But I do LOVE it. Makes me seem smarter than I am. AAO Feb 2014 #33
"Title Nine" refers to the Federal Law that KauaiK Feb 2014 #10
Umm, do you honestly think ANY woman in this group DOES NOT KNOW THAT? Really? hlthe2b Feb 2014 #12
Alright, I'll confess noamnety Feb 2014 #14
well, then good that it is coming up...I grew up with the Title IX fights--guess I'm old hlthe2b Feb 2014 #18
I also grew up with the Title IX fights...then I'm old as well KauaiK Feb 2014 #21
Absolutely...Phyllis Schafly and her ilck are the worst women--as Allen West is to African Americans hlthe2b Feb 2014 #22
I found it interesting. I had no idea what title nine was Autumn Feb 2014 #16
'glad it came up then... hlthe2b Feb 2014 #19
Thanks Autumn KauaiK Feb 2014 #34
I just looked it up. I had no idea what it was. Autumn Feb 2014 #20
Thank you. I didn't know. -nt CrispyQ Feb 2014 #27
K&R!!! DeSwiss Feb 2014 #11
K&R! sheshe2 Feb 2014 #13
I've received Title Nine catalogs before. Triana Feb 2014 #15
Natural beauty is real beauty GETPLANING Feb 2014 #17
Nice. ismnotwasm Feb 2014 #23
great idea . . . mzteris Feb 2014 #24
As discussed earlier, athletes come in all sizes... hlthe2b Feb 2014 #25
Yes, a start. mzteris Feb 2014 #28
No one would ever call me fat & I would have to order an XL. CrispyQ Feb 2014 #31
The fashion industry seems to think that women never grow older than 30 trying to look 20. appleannie1 Feb 2014 #29
Very slow progress there, though I was thrilled to, (for the first time) find petite clothing hlthe2b Feb 2014 #30
I am fortunate in that I sew and know how to alter but it irks me that I have to pay top dollar for appleannie1 Feb 2014 #32
It doesn't matter who the models are or what they look like. Selling stuff with bodies is already El_Johns Feb 2014 #35
You do not have a clue or you are intentionally trying to obfuscate... hlthe2b Feb 2014 #36
or maybe you don't. The concept of objectification is from Marx and has to do with commodification El_Johns Feb 2014 #37
No one is buying what you are "selling" n/t hlthe2b Feb 2014 #38
I'm not selling anything but the truth. The concept of objectification in feminist studies was El_Johns Feb 2014 #39
This seems alright to me. AverageJoe90 Feb 2014 #40

Warpy

(111,429 posts)
2. "Yeah, that thing looks good on a Photoshopped size zero. How would it look on me?"
Sat Feb 22, 2014, 09:10 PM
Feb 2014

Anybody who's taken an outfit to try on when it's looked really super on a store mannequin knows the problem well, that what looks good on some ideal is not going to look very good on the real thing.

If the clothing industry doesn't wake up soon, they're going to start losing money hand over fist as women over 25 just give up on fashion completely.

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)
3. And, Dar-ling! I must say they look absolutely Fabulous!
Sat Feb 22, 2014, 09:23 PM
Feb 2014

Simply Stunning!

Thank you for sharing this. I may have to spend some money at Title Nine.

 

AAO

(3,300 posts)
9. Yeah- women need to quit being treated the artwork
Sat Feb 22, 2014, 10:28 PM
Feb 2014

and treated like freaking human beings. It's another thing that goes unanswered year after year. Body sculpting type Photoshopping should have to come with a label.

** Since when don't we get a red message that we've edited the post?

KauaiK

(544 posts)
10. "Title Nine" refers to the Federal Law that
Sat Feb 22, 2014, 10:45 PM
Feb 2014

guarantees women the right to compete and participate in sports. Look it up.

hlthe2b

(102,501 posts)
12. Umm, do you honestly think ANY woman in this group DOES NOT KNOW THAT? Really?
Sat Feb 22, 2014, 11:19 PM
Feb 2014

Why, pray tell, do you think I said it was "appropriately named?" A company celebrating the equality of women as REAL women engaging in sports?

Sorry, but I can not believe that you felt the need to point that out.

On edit, seems several didn't know that so it is good you brought it up... Mea culpa

 

noamnety

(20,234 posts)
14. Alright, I'll confess
Sat Feb 22, 2014, 11:40 PM
Feb 2014

I didn't know it.

I saw title nine in the post and mentally linked it to something about sports, and somehow converted it into something about golf. (titlest golf balls? I don't know.) I didn't look at the link, I just assumed it was a catalog for women golfers.

Then I read the post about stunts, and was trying to envision what golf stunts would look like.

KauaiK

(544 posts)
21. I also grew up with the Title IX fights...then I'm old as well
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 12:39 AM
Feb 2014

The things that are now taken for granted as a right, we did not have then. We fought for it. Every time I see Phyllis Schafly I want to hurl since she fought so hard against everything that benefited females and then used those benefits for her own self gain.

hlthe2b

(102,501 posts)
22. Absolutely...Phyllis Schafly and her ilck are the worst women--as Allen West is to African Americans
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 12:47 AM
Feb 2014

today.

I have to really take a deep breath when I see young women either taking for granted, or worse, denigrating those whose fights preceded them and to which they should owe a great debt. I can only hope our younger women are aware of the risks if they do not pick up the baton.

hlthe2b

(102,501 posts)
19. 'glad it came up then...
Sat Feb 22, 2014, 11:49 PM
Feb 2014
Title IX passage was a hard fought battle and women faced a lot of blowback from men angry at what they perceived as diversion of "their" athletic funding for some time. Some, especially RWers, are still bitter about its passage.

KauaiK

(544 posts)
34. Thanks Autumn
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 05:14 PM
Feb 2014

Hang around DU and you'll find out about the women that broke all the "rules" - my generation.

 

Triana

(22,666 posts)
15. I've received Title Nine catalogs before.
Sat Feb 22, 2014, 11:40 PM
Feb 2014

Always appreciated their respect and realism when it came to sportswear - and women.

mzteris

(16,232 posts)
24. great idea . . .
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 01:37 PM
Feb 2014

but - I think I'm missing something.

I looked but everyone still seems super slim. Granted they're selling "sports wear", but I know some very athletic and "sporty" women who aren't even close to looking like that.

Did I just miss those models? I very well could have, if so, please point me in the right direction. Like I said - their statement is wonderful, but I'm trying to figure out if it goes far enough?

hlthe2b

(102,501 posts)
25. As discussed earlier, athletes come in all sizes...
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 01:46 PM
Feb 2014

But their emphasis on "real", non-photo-shopped, non-anorexic is surely a start...

mzteris

(16,232 posts)
28. Yes, a start.
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 02:34 PM
Feb 2014

Don't get me wrong - it's a great idea. I just think maybe they should include some women a little larger.

CrispyQ

(36,556 posts)
31. No one would ever call me fat & I would have to order an XL.
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 02:42 PM
Feb 2014

So anyone even a little larger than me is out of luck.

Agree that it's a start, but it would be nice if the clothing manufacturers were a little more in tune with real women's sizes. Our culutre has this tendency to think that larger women are not fit. I dare say that when I was 40 pounds overweight & exercising everyday, I was more fit than I am now, getting out to walk only 2 days a week, if that.

Love those tankini's! With the boy shorts, that's better than a one-piece.

appleannie1

(5,074 posts)
29. The fashion industry seems to think that women never grow older than 30 trying to look 20.
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 02:38 PM
Feb 2014

Women over a certain age do not want low riders that show off their belly or tops that are skin tight and don't reach their waist. Even skirts and dresses are geared for young people. Finding clothes has become an headache instead of a treat. And why don't they make petite clothes that actually fit short women or even sweats that do not need 4 inches cut off the bottom? Short women do not have 5' long legs. They have short legs that go with their short stature.

hlthe2b

(102,501 posts)
30. Very slow progress there, though I was thrilled to, (for the first time) find petite clothing
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 02:41 PM
Feb 2014

(specifically ski pants for downhill and cross-country skiing/snowboarding) at REI. Given I have spent up to $100 to have this type of clothing professionally altered, complete with re-sealing Gore-tex liners, I am thrilled.

But, it has been a damn long time coming and more is needed, I completely agree. We have to keep pushing.

appleannie1

(5,074 posts)
32. I am fortunate in that I sew and know how to alter but it irks me that I have to pay top dollar for
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 02:48 PM
Feb 2014

a finished product and then have to cut and hem it or shorten the waist in a dress as well when it is is supposed to be petite.

 

El_Johns

(1,805 posts)
35. It doesn't matter who the models are or what they look like. Selling stuff with bodies is already
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 05:37 PM
Feb 2014

objectification.

In social philosophy, objectification means treating a person as a thing, without regard to their dignity.

According to the philosopher Martha Nussbaum, a person is objectified if they are treated:[1]

as a tool for another's purposes (instrumentality);
as if lacking in agency or self-determination (denial of autonomy, inertness);
as if owned by another (ownership);
as if interchangeable (fungibility);
as if permissible to damage or destroy (violability);
as if there is no need for concern for their feelings and experiences (denial of subjectivity).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objectification

hlthe2b

(102,501 posts)
36. You do not have a clue or you are intentionally trying to obfuscate...
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 05:42 PM
Feb 2014

Either way, a big FAIL to this post.

 

El_Johns

(1,805 posts)
37. or maybe you don't. The concept of objectification is from Marx and has to do with commodification
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 05:46 PM
Feb 2014

under capitalism.

 

El_Johns

(1,805 posts)
39. I'm not selling anything but the truth. The concept of objectification in feminist studies was
Sun Feb 23, 2014, 06:06 PM
Feb 2014

taken from Marx.

http://www2.law.columbia.edu/faculty_franke/Certification%20Readings/catherine-mackinnon-feminism-marxism-method-and-the-state-an-agenda-for-theory1.pdf

evacuating that background pretty much ensures that people will conceive of "objectification" as equal to "admiring/desiring the sexual attributes of a person," as one poster here already said they did.



IOW, omitting that background will lead to stupid clusterfuck threads like this one, essentially about nothing.



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