Is this Protein World ad body shaming?

I don't think it is body shaming, but it doesn't really inspire me, either. I am short and broadly built and I've had two kids and I work a very demanding job - I can get into better shape, but I will never look like that (nor do I really aspire to). And it looks to me like she has had breast implants, in addition to the Photoshopping, but that is neither here nor there, really.

At my age (41), I don't really give a damn about whether or not anyone is checking me out at the beach. As long as I like myself, feel healthy, and my husband finds me attractive, I am good.

I think one of the things that annoys people about it is it's everywhere...I feel I can't escape it. It's at every exit at the tube stations I use the most. It's in the trains. It stares at me when I go about my day, when I go to the gym, or spinning class, or to dinner. To say it's jealousy/bitterness/PC-gone-wild ignores that there's tremendous pressure on women to look physically perfect with very little leeway. Sure, I'm an adult woman and I can almost ignore it, but I can't say that images like these don't influence what people expect of an average woman. Just like we all have access to the internet and aren't at the mercy of Murdoch corp. but I can't say that traditional news media doesn't influence our perspective on the world.

Saying 'are you beach body ready' also suggests that there's a point at which your body is not ready. That your body isn't beach okay. Sure it's not explicitly stated that you have to look like her. But come on.

I think many of us have already bought into the beauty myth -- and the health myth. That healthy women look a certain way and that way conforms to what we think of as physically attractive. Me included -- hey, that's why I'm here. I hate seeing that poster every time I take the train but some part of me thinks: surely, this is why I go spinning 5x a week and run and yoga...and...and...

To fall into the narrow space where my body is considered visually acceptable. I hate and resent that fitness and food aren't solely about health and what your body can do, but also about attractiveness. I hate feeling like I have to be beautiful, that to go to the beach my body has to be 'ready'. Not ready to enjoy the beach, but ready to be viewed.

Honestly sometimes I think the line between what is acceptable and what is disordered is beginning to blur a bit. Is avoiding carbs for the rest of your life okay? What about constantly double-booking spinning classes? What about doing yoga, barre and hardcore cardio classes 5x a week? At what point can we say that we're expecting too much, that there is an unreasonable pressure on adult women to, yes, be 'beach body ready', or is it always verboten, under the guise of good health and the obesity epidemic.

Again, to be honest, I doubt that this ad is gonna appeal to anyone who's actually, truly obese and inspire them to be all healthy and *kitten*. Part of the reason I find the ad just about palatable is I'm about 10 lbs and a few deadlifts away from being almost 'beach body ready' -- though not quite at photoshop level. But. I mean. This is an ad for whey protein and nutritional supplements, not a 'healthy lifestyle'.

That said, there's lots of other, women's rights related protests happening in London soon that I'd like to see more people show up to than this.

@spartan_d: I don't agree with your interpretation of it. To me are you beach ready, with the helpful image of the model definitely suggests that there's a certain type of body that is beach ready. You're right that we already implicitly acknowledge and accept what that type of body is. There should be no reason why any of us should be uneasy about going to the beach and that suggests an issue we already have about what type of body is acceptable.

Honestly, I can see everyone's point of view. Here's mine. When I saw that poster I felt the usual emotions. Jealousy, wistfulness, interest, excitement about summer. But this is how it works with me, as I'm a perfectionist, it has got me even more motivated to lose the 3/4 comfort eating pounds I've gained by being weak and lazy the last two or three months. Does that sound hard? I had my heart broken and I started analysis again. It's friggin hard. But I know I can look as good as that if I try. I have spent the last 3 years of my life on beaches, in a bikini, feeling proud and excited about my body. I'm 44. My body is amazing because I'm tough on myself and I have no time for self pity.
Interested to hear your replies!

SonyaCele wrote: »

just because there is a picture of someone thin and healthy looking doesn't mean they are body shaming anyone. people need to quit being so sensitive and get over it.

This.

I wouldn't even give that ad a second glance. I thought nothing of it.

People need to get off the idea of looking like someone else as an ideal- and look the best THEY can- there is no reason you still can't look amazing. It has nothing to do with "real women will never look like that" no one will- she's her own human personage.

This. Every woman's body IS different and there are all sorts of different bodies that are "beach ready."

I don't necessarily find it to be body shaming, as it's not directly pointing out and speaking against certain features/types of bodies.

It does speak more subtly to what we as a culture finds attractive, but that's a more neutral issue to me.

Oh god, something else for people to "Trigger" on. I swear that has become the new buzz word. The world has no care for what triggers a person. It is up to the person to grow stronger (Physically and mentally) to deal with it.

I wouldn't even have looked at this ad twice or be mad over "beach body ready"?? That phrase is everywhere!! Skinny, photo shopped model ads...everywhere. Models don't even look like themselves in ads like this. Body shaming by big companies to make money...hmmm...seems like a pretty normal ad to me.

KentWhiteRabbit wrote: »

kmsoucy457 wrote: »

Generally no. Except that this already beautiful woman has been photoshopped to high heaven! So it's body shaming in the respect that they are selling the unattainable. That is my only issue.

Why do you say she's been edited? The guy from the company on Radio 2 today swears she wasn't. I can't see that it's been obviously edited.

If she has been photoshopped they've done a good job, she looks pretty much the same on the photos on her website.

http://www.reneesomerfield.com.au/#!gallery/c1ogl

I think there would have some touching up, but not whole sale photo shopping.

I am reminded how "bad breath" and "halitosis" were concepts invented by Listerine ads early in the 20th century. This is just an updated version of the oldest ploy in the advertising business- invent an insecurity and then sell the "remedy."

So- I guess I find it obnoxious but not offensive or shaming.

spartan_d wrote: »

It's interesting how nobody here on the Fitness and Exercise board considers this ad to be bodyshaming.

I think that's significant. People who are insecure or who don't do much to take care of themselves will be more likely to express outrage. I suspect that people who focus heavily on weight loss as opposed to fitness (yes, there's a fine distinction) will also be more likely to take offense, though to a lesser degree.

In contrast, people who value physical fitness will tend to view these ads as aspirational, representing a goal that they are willing to work hard toward. They are therefore less likely to read superfluous, nonsensical messages into the ad, e.g. "Unless you look like this, you don't belong on the beach."

This is a very good point. Everyone draw straws to see who has to sack up and post this same question on the weight loss board so we can compare.

And they wonder why so many young children of our generation have eating disorders!

I'm not to fussed about the advert but to me (in my opinion) it was saying you have to have a body like that to hit the beach! I'm an adult and comfortable in my own skin but a vulnerable young girl/boy who are constantly bombarded with the "perfect" body images everyday might not be so comfortable!