1) I am overweight
and
2) I am brand conscious.
This is not to say I am a brand whore. But I will admit there are certain names and labels that catch my eye and are more likely to make me splurge. Now, keep in mind when I say this I'm talking about getting these things at a T.J. Maxx where they're drastically reduced, but a Juicy Couture bag can still run around $150 and Betsey Johnson shoes aren't exactly cheap.
But I do know of at least one brand I won't be buying, even on sale.
Oh, Ecko, how you've pissed me off.
Jezebel.com reported last Friday on the new ad campaign by Ecko, featuring bikini-clad women working in their factory. Now, that in and of itself doesn't bother me. Oh no, women in bikinis in a place where bikinis shouldn't be worn. That's new and innovative right there.
The problem is Ecko's decision to use viral marketing to make themselves look like the sort of sexist pigs who would, well, base an entire ad campaign around the idea of "hot women make our clothing, so you should wear them." Most notably, a fake news story on their website called "Unattractive Girl Sues Ecko!"
Janet Oner had previously applied for an entry-level position at Ecko Manufacturing.
The only problem, according to company officials, was that she looked like a farm animal.
"So what if people mistake me for a pot-bellied pig," snorted Ms. Oner. "I'm a damn good worker."
(Independent research confirmed that Oner does bear an uncanny resemblance to the domesticated breed.)
In response to her denial of employment, Oner filed a lawsuit claiming unreasonably high standards and discrimination against the morbidly unattractive.
HA! See, it's funny because they're discriminating against her because of how she looks! She's not pretty and thinks she should work there! Hysterical.
Oh, wait, that was my sarcasm getting out of control again.
You know why this isn't funny? Because we do live in a world where so many people are judged by their looks. Where worth in both the cases of men and women can be judged on how traditionally attractive they are. If you're a little too skinny, a little too heavy, if you're a little too imperfect, sorry. You're not as "good" or as "worthy" as someone who's perfect.
Except...nobody's perfect.
Yeah, there are people you might think have the perfect body. Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Will Smith, Heidi Klum, Vin Diesel, Tyra Banks, all of them are absolutely gorgeous people. But in the end, they're not perfect.
Consider that we still live in a world where Jennifer Love Hewitt was called "fat," where tabloids obsess over Britney Spears gaining or losing five pounds, where both women's and men's magazines tell you how to get the "perfect" body. Where men and women both are driven to over dieting, eating disorders, hating their bodies all over not being able to be Hollywood gorgeous.
So yeah, it's TOTALLY funny for a fashion company to make fun of people who are turned down for jobs because they're not conventionally attractive. Because discrimination like that never happens in the real world.
I'm not calling for a boycott on Ecko. I'm not even saying we should pay attention to this bullshit ad campaign for more than twenty seconds. Because that's what they want.
Instead, let's just get smoothies and maybe do some yoga.
]]>
