I will be the first to shout out about whether I think an advert is detrimental to women; making them appear to only be over-sexualised, or a stay at home house wife. In fashion, it's surprising and a huge shame that such a liberal and creative industry still goes back to these offensive and misogynistic representations of women. At this point I'm not even shocked when I see ads like this D&G one, I'm just saddened and fed up. I can't even imagine what goes through people's mind when they do shoots like these and think it's all fine. If I myself were to be stereotypical, I would assume it's because it's a man behind the camera and the one creating the advert. I really can't see women okay-ing all these ads that represent them in such awful ways, and I know that literally every other woman who saw this probably rolled their eyes like I did. It's 2016, and women are still being displayed as having less power than men, only there for the male gaze. Women in the industry do amazing jobs and have huge positions of power, like Miuccia Prada and Anna Wintour. To those not involved in the industry, fashion must often look like a sexist and egotistical joke. Fashion should be about innovative expression, but it's difficult to do when, as women, we still aren't taken seriously. It's sad to think of the men that buy the products in these ridiculous ads and don't think twice about it, and it's sad that those behind the lens don't feel guilt for ridiculing everything women have fought for. It may sound over dramatic, and you could say it's just an advert, but it's a mirror of the attitude many men still have of women.
On the other hand, I actually disagree with this Miu Miu ad being banned. The SS15 campaign featured Mia Goth laying on a bed. I think it was tastefully done and I wouldn't see anything offensive about it. However, it was banned for being "irresponsible", for making the model look like a child in a sexually suggestive pose. The Advertising Standards Agency said "The ASA noted that the model was wearing very minimal makeup and clothes that appeared to be slightly too large."All of this apparently means she looked younger than 16. Mia Goth was 22 when she shot the ad. It was printed in Vogue, who said they saw nothing wrong with it, which makes you wonder why this ad was banned, yet countless that depict women as sex objects or mindless housewives are still seen on billboards and TV every day?
dolce & gabbana image is from nydailynews.com, miu miu is from bbc.co.uk
