http://blogs.militarytimes.com/outside-the-wire/2013/11/20/dont-show-pretty-female-soldiers-army-colonel-says/
I don't know if anyone saw this, but a female colonel sent an email saying that she thinks the army would be able to recruit more female soldiers if 'ugly' women were represented in the ads. This just made me angry because why would she even refer to people as ugly in the first place? Why not say normal looking or average looking? She said, “In general, ugly women are perceived as competent while pretty women are perceived as having used their looks to get ahead.” The article is specifically referring to one ad wear the soldier appears to be wearing makeup in the ad and she happens to be really pretty. The colonel makes the point that, "Such photos undermine the rest of the message (and may even make people ask if breaking a nail is considered hazardous duty)." Women in the army have to work just as hard weather they are normal looking or pretty and no one is going to have a better chance of getting ahead if they are attractive.
What really bugs me is that you would never see this controversy if an ad used an attractive, buff male in combat. You would never hear, "Oh men are going to think you need to be good looking to join the army." If someone is set on joining the army, they will do so regardless of the ads. This is another way to use women's looks to say that that is the most important thing that a female should be focused on. Either you can't be too pretty or you can't be too ugly. These messages are everywhere and it needs to stop.
There was an update at the end of the article that quoted the Col. saying that she wanted to assure that the women are recognized based on their hard earned achievements and I get that but can we please stop associating women's achievements and success with looks.
ReplyDeleteI think she had good intentions and her wording came off wrong. I think she needs to rethink what she is trying to say. Does she want "ugly" women? Or does she want commercials that provide the viewer an experience that shows that women who are in the military work hard?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ebony that we need to stop associating female success with the individual's looks but I do think that the Col. was speaking with good intentions. However, her phrasing was way off. I feel like she's had to fight the notion that women in male dominated fields only move upwards in the company by using their looks and sexuality and she wants to break that notion. I agree with Lydia that she was probably trying to say that women in the military work hard no matter their looks.
ReplyDelete