Body image debated in 2014

‘Perfect Body’ campaign generates debate about depiction of women’s bodies

In 2014, Victoria’s Secret released the “Perfect Body” campaign to sell the “Body” bra. The campaign was criticized by people who believed the advertisement attacked women’s personal body image.

“The fashion industry is resistant to plus-size modeling, who are typically size 8, and by doing so it is dangerous not to represent variety,” said Kryn Freehling-Burton, a women studies senior instructor at Oregon State University. Freehling-Burton specializes in sex and gender representations in the media.

According to the Huffington Post, backlash against the Victoria’s Secret campaign was initiated by the website Change.org. With more than 27,000 signatures, the Change.org signers demanded an apology be made publicly by Victoria’s Secret for their controversial representation of the “perfect female body.”

Freehling-Burton said that the fashion industry is primarily male dominated, and that positions of power aren’t being represented by females. She said magazine and television advertisements are mostly made by men, which is why many advertisements are over sexualized and often photoshopped to depict inaccurate portrayals of women’s bodies.

Freehling-Burton credits social media as an outlet for change and development of how women’s bodies are accurately portrayed.

“Social media has opened up a forum for people to talk about these issues, which has made a lot more people aware of the problems women are facing,” Freehling-Burton said.

The emergence of positive body empowerment has made people more aware of the issues surrounding women’s bodies and the perception of them.

Some students at OSU felt the Perfect Body campaign was a misrepresentation of women’s bodies.

“The Victoria’s Secret definition of perfect is linear: They all look the same — even racially,” said Brendon Allen, a junior majoring in industrial engineering.

“Victoria’s Secret sexualizes women’s bodies, which is a misrepresentation to men of what women’s bodies actually look like,” said Katlyn Herrera, a freshman majoring in biochemistry and biophysics.

The Huffington Post referenced a body-positive campaign by lingerie company Dear Kate that was created as a response to the Victoria’s Secret advertisement. The Dear Kate campaign depicts “women who are often neglected by the media and traditional retailers” and shows models of different sizes.

“This campaign presents a realistic image and empowers women’s individuality, opposed to the Victoria’s Secret one,” said Charlie Ransom, a senior majoring in biology.

Herrera said that the Dear Kate campaign was well-planned.

“There is no such thing as a perfect body,” she said. “Your body is perfect.”

Jasmin Vogel, news reporter

news@dailybarometer.com

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