This is the official profile page for one of Canada's new MPs, Rathika Sitsabaiesan. The honourable member was elected in the riding of Scarborough—Rouge River on May 2, standing for the New Democratic Party.
Do you notice anything strange about her picture?
Let's blow it up a bit:
Contrarian reader Mark Austin thought it looked a little odd, and was able to find the original at OpenParliament (it has since also been replaced):
As a 29-year-old Millennial woman, The Honourable Ms. Sitsabaiesan probably felt the top she wore to her portrait sitting was just fine. It is fine, as a matter of fact, and no different than what any other woman would wear in a modern business situation.
But somebody thought otherwise. Whether she herself had second thoughts, or whether someone behind the scenes at the House of Commons had a moment of extreme prudishness, the completely awful photoshop cleavage-ectomy has now made the pages of Jezebel.
And that's far more embarrassing than seeing the modest bits of your Member of Parliament's breasts.
Nonetheless, I post this to mock prudishness and bad Photoshop—not the rookie MP, who has taken on a thankless job in public service that I would never want. I wish her and her colleagues the best of luck in the new session.
As a fotografer who is occasionally called upon to do head shots here's a tip if you are going to sit for one: wear season neutral clothes (i.e., a top with sleeves that won't show too much chest). There's just something funny about seeing people in summer clothes when it's not summer.
ReplyDeleteNothing against cleavage or not conforming to The-Powers-That-Be stereotypes but.....
:-) i was looking at her earrings or necklace to see what was different. :-)
ReplyDeleteI-)