Candie's Foundation gets spanked by activist moms #NoTeenShame

The Candie's Foundation recently launched an anti-teen-pregnancy campaign in which a who's sho of Millennial celebrities  — Hayden Panettiere, Carly Rae Jepson, Hillary Duff, Lea Michelle, Fergie, Vanessa Minillo, Ciara, Teddy Geiger and the band Fall Out Boy — tell teens how much parenthood sucks.

According to Feministing, the campaign has really offended the Strong Families Movement for its shaming approach towards teen pregnancy. Allied blogger Natasha Vianna puts it plainly:

At the age of 17, I gave birth to a little girl. When the Candie's Foundation launched a teen pregnancy prevention campaign with the tagline "You're supposed to be changing the world... not diapers," I was outraged by their attempts to shame young parents. Although I was changing diapers at age 17, I am changing the world – and so are Lisette, Consuela, Jasmin, Gloria, Marylouise, Christina, and so many other young parents like us across the country. Our activism has been shaped by our experiences as young moms; we are working to change the world because we are young parents.

The organization has launched a petition to Candie's and encourages the use of a hashtag, #NoTeenShame, to draw eyes to the cause.

This controversy is similar to what happened when NYC's Human Resources Administration put up ads  in which young children shamed their teen parents about getting pregnant.

The problem lies in the strategy of shame. This is an organization that previously used wealthy teen mom (and born-again abstinence advocate) Bristol Palin as a spokesperson for what a burden young parenthood is. They describe themselves as " a non-profit organization that works to shape the way youth in America think about teen pregnancy and parenthood." 

And sex:

Research has shown that teen girls who have been exposed to the foundation and its messages are more likely to view teen pregnancy and parenthood as stressful and negative, and they are more likely to be skeptical of the media's portrayal of teen pregnancy and parenting. They also think teens should wait longer to have sex than girls who are not aware of the foundation and its messages.

But where does that leave the teens (especially girls) who have become pregnant? Ashamed, if the campaign has its way with them. But even if their own feelings of self-worth are not important to you, do you actually think that teens are unaware of the fact that unplanned pregnancy is a big deal? 

It would be really refreshing to see someone pony up for a pleasure-positive, choice-positive teen sexuality campaign that helped young people get and use contraception without vilifying those who do not, and who decide to have a baby. The Candie's Foundation's pro-abstinence stance reflects a conservative culture of sexual shaming, in which people who consensually give in to their natural curiosities and pleasures are seen as morally weak. (And the shaming can affect victims of rape as well.)

As much as I don't want to be a grandparent too soon, neither would I want to raise my young son to believe that teen parents are lesser people than him. Not only for their sake, but possibly for his own. 

Racism again rears its ugly head in anti-abortion ads

It's not the first time charges of racism have been levelled at a "pro-life" ad, but this time there was nothing subtle about the message:

Via Tumblr

This was a homemade job, that showed up on the campus of the University of New Mexico recently. And Native American students were not happy about it:



Feministing reports that a representative for 40 Days for Life, who were thought to be behind the posters, denied that they were associated with the group.

Student placards read, “Racism is not pro-life” and “We will not be used to further your political purpose.”

Feminsting adds:

Native women–who face rates of sexual violence that are twice as high as the rest of the country–often severely lack access to reproductive health care. A recent report found that only 10 percent of the pharmacies in the Indian Health Service system offered Plan B over the counter. And thanks to the Hyde smendment, abortion isn’t covered under the IHS or Medicaid.

FHM presents "The 100 sexiest women in nonexistence"

Betty or Veronica? Other Betty or Wilma? Erin Esurance or Kim Possible?

Since the stone age,  oversexed boys (and men) have fantasized about women who are figments of artistic imagination, from Venus figurines to coffee mascots.

To fan the hormonal fires, ladmag FHM is currently running a Facebok-based pageant in which users are encouraged to nominate and vote on "The 100 Sexiest Women in Nonexistence".

A motley collection of mythical, cartoon and literary characters, commercial mascots, internet memes, classical art and even pictograms, the list is intended to be a joke.

(The iPhone personal assistant, Siri, is on the list even though "she" is only a voice.)

But with this kind of humour also comes the opportunity to cross a few lines...

As the contest copy says, "This is your chance to vote for the sexiest non-existent woman ever. Lusty logos, saucy statues, cute cartoons: they're all here so get voting and make one imaginary woman very happy indeed."

While not exactly helping the status of women, it's just more dumb, boy humour. Although, I will have to admit — if somebody nominates the Feministing logo, I will be required by the rules of irony to laugh heartily.

Tip via Brands of The World

F'd Ad Fridays: Now you can be a sexy eating disorder for Halloween

This costume is, at least, scary:

From Feministing:

The picture on the website shows a young, thin, Caucasian woman with large breasts sporting a short, skintight black dress with the outline of a skeleton on it. She is wearing a red, circular button that reads “Anna Rexia”. The ribbon tie belt around her waist has the markings of a tape measure.

The author, Camille, adds:

I don’t see this site, or any others, marketing costumes like “Sexy Leukemia Patient” or “Slutty Angiodysplasia Victim”. And why would I? Those are “real” conditions.

Well, she seems to have gotten through. The e-commerce link to the product is 404ed.

F'd Ad Fridays: iHead

This weird viral has been making the rounds. I first saw it on Illegal Advertising.



"iPad Girl" was shot in NYC to promote a version of Cosmo for men which is only available on the Apple tablet.

Very cool coordination of the four screens, although the ending is presumably staged.

Feministing had this to say:

As bad as this ad is, I’m sure the product will be even worse. In case the idea wasn’t painfully clear, the video’s director explained: “The concept and analogy here is to show a guy ‘getting inside a girl’s head’ and sort of ‘reading her mind’ by flipping through the magazine pages on the iPad. The reason for that is: it is the first magazine for men that is written by women, so for the first time women are letting guys in on what they think.”

Ewww. It's like some terrible Mel Gibson movie.

"Our bodies, our brands"

Feministing just posted a visual essay by "Art Fag City" about the lack of imagination shown in visual identities for women's organizations.

Feministing put it into words:

"Frankly, I find it beyond depressing. Of course it’s natural to think of women’s bodies, particularly for organizations that are health-related, but must every one end up as some squiggle-of-dancing-feminine-curves?"

Here are some examples:

Women leaping.

Women dancing.

Women meditating.

Women as trees.

Women as... ummm...

The point being that we branding folk seem to be rehashing the same stereotypes over and over again. Am I guilty? Of course. But this collection will definitely make me think next time we take on a similar assignment.

There was also an amusing apologetic in the Feministing post because, as they knew readers would hasten to point out, their logo is also a female form:

And an awesome one at that!

Here is their rationale:

"I also understand that a lot of people take issue with our logo, which, indeed, is a woman’s body. But in our case, I think the concept is pretty damn original–reclaiming an image that has been so patently misogynistic by arming her with a definitive point of view."

Whatever. You had me at "F*ck you!" ;)

PETA gets Feministed

The American Thanksgiving travel rush, which was this year made extra-painful by new physically invasive security at airports, was also supposed to debut a new campaign for veganism by PETA:

The ad (which is actually kind of lame) didn't just fail to pass airport ad standards for "political advertising"; it completely pissed off the community at Feministing: "Only PETA can try to profit off of the invasive TSA screenings by pushing objectifying and body image bullshit with their latest ad."

The L.A. Times noted: "PETA Vice President Dan Matthews said the ads were meant to be humorous. He said PETA has not taken a political position on airport security measures."

Of course not. PETA has no mandate to promote human rights. Just their own agenda.

Which is funny, considering they made this ad so prudish. PETA protests are known for their nudity.

What a missed opportunity, since everyone knows the new scans look like this:

UPDATE: Apparently, that image is a fraud.