Urban Outfitters Controversy

there's been some serious body image controversy on the internet over the past few days and i want to open it up as a discussion point for readers of sofia's journal. urban outfitters are selling a t-shirt with the slogan 'eat less' across the front. i can only assume that they released this tee purely for (bad) publicity. if not, then who would the target market be? i certainly wouldn't want to buy this t-shirt and make a statement like that. no thanks.

as the majority of teenage girls are on a diet, consider a size 8 too fat and significant numbers fall into disordered eating, or even worse anorexia and bulimia, i think this is nothing short of sick.

this t-shirt is pro-ana, no?

the lovely sophia bush has responded on her blog, as follows:

Ladies! This is OUTRAGEOUS. I hope none of you will stand for being told such a thing, in such a way. Being healthy, eating right, and staying active is one thing. Being told to starve yourselves by a fashion company? Not cool. Here is my letter, in defense of all of us who have ever looked in a mirror and felt less than fabulous...

UO,

I have been a supporter of your store for many years, but now I'm through.

I am fortunate enough to star on a wonderful TV show called One Tree Hill. I play a fashion designer named Brooke Davis, who started a campaign on the show called "Zero Is Not A Size" and the outpouring of love and gratitude that came my way from girls and women ALL OVER THE WORLD who have body image issues brought me to tears.

To promote starvation? To promote anorexia, which leads to heart disease, bone density loss, and a slew of other health problems, not least of all psychological issues that NEVER go away? Shame on you. I will no longer be shopping at your stores. And I will encourage the tens of thousands of female supporters I have to do the same. I have fought to boycott BP. I never imagined I would also be boycotting affordable fashion.

You should issue a public apology, and make a hefty donation to a women's organization that supports those stricken with eating disorders. I am sickened that anyone, on any board, in your gigantic company would have voted 'yes' on such a thing, let alone enough of you to manufacture an item with such a hurtful message. It's like handing a suicidal person a loaded gun. You should know better.

I sincerely hope that next time you decide that making fun of serious issues is comedic, or 'snarky in a cool way,' that you rethink your decision.

With Sincerity but NO respect,

Sophia Bush

in a similar vain, although not quite as bad (in my eyes) is this ad by gap:


a nifty way of selling their pants, by telling us we don't all look good in shorts. annoyingly, other ads in the store promote the sale of 'jeggings' which probably don't look good on everyone either.

if there's one thing i've learnt over the past few years it's that mass media/advertising is a pretty sick and twisted industry. the majority of advertising works by making us feel guilty about something or by making us feel 'not good enough'. if we buy that product we'll somehow improve ourselves. spend £10 on mascara and you'll look a little more like cheryl cole. i think it's very hard but we should all be aware of the subliminal messages advertising feeds us and try our hardest to not be sucked in.

if you're feeling fed up about body image and angry about the likes of urban outfitters and gap then head over to operation beautiful and be inspired.

now tell me what you think. does the 'eat less' t-shirt bother you? who do you think would wear that tee? how about gap's ad? is this kind of advertising acceptable? leave a comment and let me know what you think.

♥