"Plus is Equal."
"I don't think it matter's what size you are."
"No one's ignoring us anymore."
Lane Bryant's new campaign preaches body confidence with the mission statement "Plus is Equal."
While their heart was in the right place, the execution was fatal.
So maybe not all hope is lost in this campaign, while it was executed poorly, #PlusisEqual is a motto with good intentions.
Who's with us? Let's bring body positivity into 2016.
Watch the full campaign video here:
The internet has been obsessed with the "ideal body type" throughout the decades. They love to compare beauty standards from 1950's, think Marilyn Monroe's pinup bod, to the 1990's, like Kate Moss' waif-like figure.
For the past couple decades, a couple things have been true about the "ideal" body type.
1. The stomach must be flat.
2. Curves? Only in the form of a perfectly round butt and ample bust.
3. Perfectly proportioned body complete with long legs.
Lane Bryant, a plus-size clothing store, has launched a campaign against the "ideal" body type. The company stated that the average model weighs 23% less than the average American woman. The goal seemed to be to preach the idea that even women that don't meet this criteria are equal, however the campaign went back on it's word.
The campaign features 6 women who seem to be just diverse enough. However, if you compare this advertisement to the "Ideal Body Test," this is what occurs.
1. The stomach must be flat. Oh look, all six of the woman seem to have flat stomachs. There is no lumps or bumps anywhere near their stomaches.
2. Curves? Oh yes. These ladies have the most amazing curves that can make girls with narrow hips, cry out in envy. Ample busts? Check. Perfectly round butts? Check again.
3. Perfectly proportioned body complete with long legs. All the girls have legs that mirror the mile long legs of supermodel Karlie Kloss. Their heads aren't too big or too small, their features all equally as stunning.
Wait, wasn't Lane Bryant trying to confront the ideal body and prove to women that you don't need to have the ideal body in order to be beautiful?
According to Dana Suchow of Dothehotpants, Lane Bryant meant well, but the advertisement failed.
Dothehotpants is a body positive blog that is well known in the blogosphere. Suchow is honest about the struggles that come with being a woman in the 21st century, and has turned many followers to the notion that loving yourself is okay.
"I don't like it. I remember walking down into the Subway and seeing the ad and saying 'I hate this.'" Suchow said.
"There is no asian women, no short women. What I really don't like is that they are all in stilettos and the main focus is on their breasts and butts. This is not a common body type- it's an ideal body type."
Lane Bryant's ad promotes an idealistic image, but also a sexual one.
"This ad hyper sexualizes women, saying larger women have more tits and ass to grab on to. I hope that we stray away from this in years to come. Women aren't just sexual objects. We are all real women, who are aloud to take up space and live how we want."
Suchow brings up the conversation of loving your body for what is it. Whether you are short, tall, fat, skinny, loving your body is the ultimate end goal. Lane Bryant briefly touches on that. The ad features positive mantras, or sayings, like "I don't think it matter's what size you are."
"I do really like the #PlusisEqual slogan. It's important, plus sized women ARE equal, and just as real of women as everyone else."
According to Dana Suchow of Dothehotpants, Lane Bryant meant well, but the advertisement failed.
Dothehotpants is a body positive blog that is well known in the blogosphere. Suchow is honest about the struggles that come with being a woman in the 21st century, and has turned many followers to the notion that loving yourself is okay.
"I don't like it. I remember walking down into the Subway and seeing the ad and saying 'I hate this.'" Suchow said.
"There is no asian women, no short women. What I really don't like is that they are all in stilettos and the main focus is on their breasts and butts. This is not a common body type- it's an ideal body type."
Lane Bryant's ad promotes an idealistic image, but also a sexual one.
"This ad hyper sexualizes women, saying larger women have more tits and ass to grab on to. I hope that we stray away from this in years to come. Women aren't just sexual objects. We are all real women, who are aloud to take up space and live how we want."
Suchow brings up the conversation of loving your body for what is it. Whether you are short, tall, fat, skinny, loving your body is the ultimate end goal. Lane Bryant briefly touches on that. The ad features positive mantras, or sayings, like "I don't think it matter's what size you are."
"I do really like the #PlusisEqual slogan. It's important, plus sized women ARE equal, and just as real of women as everyone else."
So maybe not all hope is lost in this campaign, while it was executed poorly, #PlusisEqual is a motto with good intentions.
Who's with us? Let's bring body positivity into 2016.
Watch the full campaign video here: