Alex Blimes, editor of 'Esquire' magazine said at the Advertising Week Europe conference on Tuesday that, and I quote, "The women we feature in the magazine are ornamental. I could lie to you if you want and say we are interested in their brains as well. We are not. They are objectified."
Wonderful.
Mr Bilmes then went on to say how when he moved from GQ to Esquire in 2010, he promised to be more truthful and is doing so. He claims his magazine is more diverse than most women's magazines as they use women of different shapes, sizes and ages. Noting how Cameron Diaz (who is in her 40s) was a recent cover star. Something RARELY seen in Women's mags.
Oh yes, because, I COMPLETELY FORGOT that Cameron Diaz is your average 40-something! How absent minded of me...
I went ahead and done me a little digging and it turns out that last year, the lovely Ms Diaz was on the cover of In Style, Elle, Bazaar and Cosmopolitan to name a few, and they were editions of the magazines all over the world. So, no, Mr Bilmes, I am afraid you have not done women kind a massive favor in liberation by sticking Cameron Diaz on your front cover.
He talks about how, women, much like the cars featured in the magazine are there because they look good, and help sell, and about how men (and this is another quote for you all) "at certain times we like to see them [women] sexy". We like to see men sexy too, thank you very much, but if Vogue manages to give us Chanel Haute Couture, and Hermes can sell a Birkin, a handbag with a price range from £6000 to £100,000, without a half naked man in the background, then Esquire sure as hell can bring us a Ferrari without a girl in a bikini on it's bonnet.
I know that sex sells. It's a fact. We want to obtain and acquire the things we don't have in life, these luxury goods; these luxury people. But being open about the fact that you're willing to objectify another human being in order to achieve them isn't the step forward I'd hope equality would be taking in 2013.
When is the media going to wake up and realize that it's action's, it's Page 3's, it's girl-with-iPad-dipping-wet-just-out-of-a-pool, have an effect on the way women are seen. That their action's have consequences. They create smoke, with their provocative images, their lucrative pull and then act surprise when so many women feel unable to come forward after they've endured any form of abuse.
Women's magazines may promote all sorts of unhealthy idea's when it comes to weight and body shape... But I've never seen Beyonce oiled up and bent over a pair of Louboutin's.
We make it ok to see woman as ornaments, and, thank you ever so kindly Mr Bilmes, we get treated like them too.
I want to be a journalist, some days, it's just about the only thing I'm sure of, but I want the industry to have grown up by the time I get there or so help me God, I'll be raising hell from my London office.
- xo
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Saturday, 2 March 2013
The Death of The Fashion Statement
As one of the fashion conscious having been following Fashion Week across the globe and trends since I was about 9, I am aware of the fact that what we wear speaks.
Karl Lagerfeld himself has said
“Fashion is a language that creates itself in clothes to interpret reality.”
So WHY are there T-shirts for sale on Amazon and Ebay with the slogans 'Keep Calm and Hit Her' and 'Everyone Loves Gang Rape' to name a few?!
What kind of world do we live in where rape and domestic violence are being glorified, to the point where blokes think it's ok to wear it on their chests and, even worse, designers think it's ok to even put it out there in the first place?!
If racist t-shirts are made, they are shot down. Certain establishments do not allow entry to anyone wearing a t-shirt with a political statement. Football shirts have been banned from almost everywhere other than football stadiums and yet, a t-shirt that tells you to 'Keep Calm and Drug Her' is a-ok... Huh!?
I AM BORED OF THESE SHITTY, RIDICULOUS AND OUT DATED DOUBLE STANDARDS.
What is about women that makes the world think it's ok to poke fun and exploit every possible thing about us!? Why is it we bear the brunt of all this bollocks, just because 100 years ago, we couldn't vote?
It's sickening. I long to be a part of the fashion industry. As as industry, fashion holds the key to some of the most influential people in the world, and is something that inspire everyone. Fashion is culture, it's art, it's love and labor and sweat and tears and it's beautiful... But when we reduce it to cheap jokes and vulgarity, we reduce this great thing to little more than chewing gum on the pavement.
I'm done. These t-shirts aren't a freedom of expression; they aren't fighting for a cause. They aren't making a fashion statement but a social statement. They scream 'Go ahead and rape here!' and 'We know rape isn't ok, but let's make it funny anyway'. It isn't funny. It just HIGHLIGHTS the fact that in this country, Rape Victims are treated like the guilty, they are made to feel ashamed and embarrassed and many spend years struggling with the idea that it was their fault. It's the reason we had to wait until Jimmy Saville was cold in his grave to find out that he is one of the largest pedophiles this country has ever seen. It's the reason so many rapists get off lightly. The reason so many suffers of domestic abuse, both male and female, sit in silence rather than leave.
We glorify the bully.
We shame the victim.
And I, for one, am sick of it.
Wednesday, 20 February 2013
Back on the Boob Brigade
Well, I suppose it's not really a boob brigade as a, please, we don't need those boobs in our newspaper brigade...
But we won't dwell.
I'm back doing the No More Page 3 campaign, which is actually very exciting, Uni work got in the way (story of my life, am I ever going to graduate?! I feel like I've been here forever, anyway...) Things have picked up considerably since I last checked in, to the point where even the main man himself, Rupert Murdoch, has tweeted about the possibility of removing Page 3 altogether!
Result! I hear you cry! She'll finally stop posting about tits, you say!
Not quite, I reply!
Here's the thing, the campaign is still, almost 6 months down the line, being REALLY misunderstood.
I'm not sure how much clearer it can be made that this campaign is not, I repeat NOT anti-glamour, or anti-choice or anti-women. It is not a group of bored housewives looking for an hobby, or the middle class looking for something to shout about, it's not a bunch of prudes trying to shove their opinions down the throats of anyone who'll listen, in the way that many extreme religious groups go about their business.
It is just a campaign asking to have boobs taken out of the newspaper, because, at the end of the day, whilst many would argue that, alright, Jordan's latest marriage/divorce I mean, the campaign was started by someone who's not even close to 40. So if people would KINDLY do some sort of background check before they open they're mouths (or their laptops, as case would be) both sides of the debate would stand a far better chance of actually being heard.
The Girls of Page 3 have launched their own petition, obviously, going against our campaign. Within their petition description they mention how Page 3 girls 'boost morale among the troops' and how they 'raise A LOT of money for charity together as Page 3 Girls of the Sun Newspaper.' Two, teeny, tiny, itty, bitty, little things here:
1) I believe, that these men (and women) who are fighting for our country deserve more than second rate soft porn to 'boost their morale'. In fact, I'm pretty sure these brave individuals love the idea that their morale is only as good as the tits in the paper. They're fight wars! These people haven't seen their families for Christ knows how long, and I don't see a half naked bloke being sent over there, sexy solider style, for the female troops. So can we just. there is absolutely NO reason why The Sun cannot contribute to keep the morale of our troops high, whilst keeping their tops on too.
2) The girls argue that they do charity work. If The Sun is going to push that as a reason for keeping Page 3, I'm about to run the marathon. Charity work and printing tits in the newspaper on daily basis are two VERY different things. Whilst I appreciate that topless calenders do sell (Tom Daley, I am talking to you) and therefore do seem like a viable way to raise money for charity, if the Sun is so concerned with Page 3 being associated to charity work, why not start introducing people who are out there, day in, day out doing work for some of the amazing organisations out there? Keep it to British Charities, if we're going to argue that Page 3 is a 'British Institution' (good Lord), and do profiles on people actually making a difference? On people who are out there, doing amazing and incredible things every single day.
Murdoch himself has mentioned the idea of replacing the Page 3 girls with 'Glamorous Fashionistas', so take it one step further Rup (is ok if I call you Rup? I'm going to call you Rup), scratch beneath the surface a little. Sure, feature Glamour Fashionistas... Henry Holland is releasing a capsule collection for Cancer Research (Gay, fully clothed, on Page 3. I see an angry mob forming... not). Have some faith in the British public, in your readers and the buyers and your advertisers.
So here we are, Hayley & her NMP3 adventure, round 2.
I'll keep you updated.
Much love xo
But we won't dwell.
I'm back doing the No More Page 3 campaign, which is actually very exciting, Uni work got in the way (story of my life, am I ever going to graduate?! I feel like I've been here forever, anyway...) Things have picked up considerably since I last checked in, to the point where even the main man himself, Rupert Murdoch, has tweeted about the possibility of removing Page 3 altogether!
Result! I hear you cry! She'll finally stop posting about tits, you say!
Not quite, I reply!
Here's the thing, the campaign is still, almost 6 months down the line, being REALLY misunderstood.
I'm not sure how much clearer it can be made that this campaign is not, I repeat NOT anti-glamour, or anti-choice or anti-women. It is not a group of bored housewives looking for an hobby, or the middle class looking for something to shout about, it's not a bunch of prudes trying to shove their opinions down the throats of anyone who'll listen, in the way that many extreme religious groups go about their business.
It is just a campaign asking to have boobs taken out of the newspaper, because, at the end of the day, whilst many would argue that, alright, Jordan's latest marriage/divorce I mean, the campaign was started by someone who's not even close to 40. So if people would KINDLY do some sort of background check before they open they're mouths (or their laptops, as case would be) both sides of the debate would stand a far better chance of actually being heard.
The Girls of Page 3 have launched their own petition, obviously, going against our campaign. Within their petition description they mention how Page 3 girls 'boost morale among the troops' and how they 'raise A LOT of money for charity together as Page 3 Girls of the Sun Newspaper.' Two, teeny, tiny, itty, bitty, little things here:
1) I believe, that these men (and women) who are fighting for our country deserve more than second rate soft porn to 'boost their morale'. In fact, I'm pretty sure these brave individuals love the idea that their morale is only as good as the tits in the paper. They're fight wars! These people haven't seen their families for Christ knows how long, and I don't see a half naked bloke being sent over there, sexy solider style, for the female troops. So can we just. there is absolutely NO reason why The Sun cannot contribute to keep the morale of our troops high, whilst keeping their tops on too.
2) The girls argue that they do charity work. If The Sun is going to push that as a reason for keeping Page 3, I'm about to run the marathon. Charity work and printing tits in the newspaper on daily basis are two VERY different things. Whilst I appreciate that topless calenders do sell (Tom Daley, I am talking to you) and therefore do seem like a viable way to raise money for charity, if the Sun is so concerned with Page 3 being associated to charity work, why not start introducing people who are out there, day in, day out doing work for some of the amazing organisations out there? Keep it to British Charities, if we're going to argue that Page 3 is a 'British Institution' (good Lord), and do profiles on people actually making a difference? On people who are out there, doing amazing and incredible things every single day.
Murdoch himself has mentioned the idea of replacing the Page 3 girls with 'Glamorous Fashionistas', so take it one step further Rup (is ok if I call you Rup? I'm going to call you Rup), scratch beneath the surface a little. Sure, feature Glamour Fashionistas... Henry Holland is releasing a capsule collection for Cancer Research (Gay, fully clothed, on Page 3. I see an angry mob forming... not). Have some faith in the British public, in your readers and the buyers and your advertisers.
So here we are, Hayley & her NMP3 adventure, round 2.
I'll keep you updated.
Much love xo
Sunday, 3 February 2013
Weekly Edit: Feeling Blue
 |
| Weekly Edit #1 - Scrapbook page devoted to denim, denim, denim! |
I do not mean a 15 minutes of fame kind of moment, I do not mean a flash-fashion kind of moment, but a full blown, Susan Boyle I Dreamed A Dream kind of moment.
And I am completely swept away.
I would just like to begin with the statement that I, quite royally, DESPISE jeans.
I hate them.
I hate skinny. I hate flared. I hate bootcut. I hate boyfriend. I hate coloured and patterned and stone wash and black.
I just hate jeans.
Yes, it all down to a MASSIVE inferiority complex. Skinny jeans have always and will always be cool and I cannot pull them off. The fabric itself stretches across my thighs the way Lycra would go across an elephant. The colours are unflattering, and I've only ever encountered one pair that fit me at both the waist and the length and those were from a shop in California. Helpful.
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| Perfect Pini |
And it's back in every form possible. From handbags to dresses, everyone is in on it.
Topshop's current denim range include the most perfect Pini I've ever seen. My wardrobe has to have it, coming into summer it'll be worn with lacy socks inside pretty Converse, and brightly coloured crop tops. Then come the winter the socks will become woolen tights and the crop tops into long sleeved shirts and jumpers. Stylish and warm (well, living in Manchester, a girl has to find a way to do both!).
 |
| A few of the beautiful Mary Katrantzou collection. |
I have also, been after an over sized denim jacket for what feels like a life time, but two of my housemates beat me to it (despite my insesnt whining) so now I just borrow theirs. It feels to me like even if the summer doesn't see in many blue skies (see again the note on me living in Manchester) then at least my wardrobe will be. I support double denim. I really do, if you can pull it off without looking a member of B*Witched then you're going places in life, and if you're one of the few lucky bitches/indie boys that can rock the skinny, then chances are you are already within life's elite.
- Much love xo
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
The One In Which I Acquire a Boyfriend
A strange, funny and mysterious thing happened this weekend my darling, devoted readers.
I became a 'girlfriend'.
Which, for those of you who are unaware of relationship terminologies means that I, yes, me, Miss Hayley Olimba Devlin, have a boyfriend.
A boy who is more than merely just my friend.
Not someone I am sleeping with.
Not even someone I am texting and sort of fancy.
No, no. I have a full blown, bonafide, real as the present day boyfriend.
I know, I know. I'm still waiting to wake up and for it to have been an odd dream following a heavy night out.
So, here comes the question. How, I ask, does the girl who has been single forever, and who very much liked it that way, despite her near constant drone, become someone's other half? And how does she do so without turning into one of the regular relationship psychopaths?
You know, because people in relationships are all insane and things...?
I have learn how to be someone's other half, whilst still being me. Technically, it shouldn't be that hard. I've been me for 19 years, and I've never had to compromise with myself. People tell me that every relationship involves sacrifice, and compromise and that it's the little things that matter. I would like to think that after 19 years of it being just me, I know myself well enough to know how to bring all the best parts of myself to a relationship Lord knows, I've witnessed enough of them over the years!
I will, of course, have my moments, I'm not sane at the best of times, let alone when my emotions are heightened but I will keep calm. I will. I will NOT turn into a crazy person... Ok, crazier person.
I will not get scared and push him away, I've seen quite a few people do that, I've never understood why... again, see my note on crazy people in relationships.
No, I will be the most wonderful girlfriend ever.
I mean, I have absolutely no idea what that entails; smiles, a good amount of make up, making sure his parents and friends like me, cooking...
Oh God, cooking.
We can cross that bridge when it comes to it.
Wonderful. Girlfriend.
I can do this.
I can do this... Right?
- Much love xo
I became a 'girlfriend'.
Which, for those of you who are unaware of relationship terminologies means that I, yes, me, Miss Hayley Olimba Devlin, have a boyfriend.
A boy who is more than merely just my friend.
Not someone I am sleeping with.
Not even someone I am texting and sort of fancy.
No, no. I have a full blown, bonafide, real as the present day boyfriend.
I know, I know. I'm still waiting to wake up and for it to have been an odd dream following a heavy night out.
So, here comes the question. How, I ask, does the girl who has been single forever, and who very much liked it that way, despite her near constant drone, become someone's other half? And how does she do so without turning into one of the regular relationship psychopaths?
You know, because people in relationships are all insane and things...?
I have learn how to be someone's other half, whilst still being me. Technically, it shouldn't be that hard. I've been me for 19 years, and I've never had to compromise with myself. People tell me that every relationship involves sacrifice, and compromise and that it's the little things that matter. I would like to think that after 19 years of it being just me, I know myself well enough to know how to bring all the best parts of myself to a relationship Lord knows, I've witnessed enough of them over the years!
I will, of course, have my moments, I'm not sane at the best of times, let alone when my emotions are heightened but I will keep calm. I will. I will NOT turn into a crazy person... Ok, crazier person.
I will not get scared and push him away, I've seen quite a few people do that, I've never understood why... again, see my note on crazy people in relationships.
No, I will be the most wonderful girlfriend ever.
I mean, I have absolutely no idea what that entails; smiles, a good amount of make up, making sure his parents and friends like me, cooking...
Oh God, cooking.
We can cross that bridge when it comes to it.
Wonderful. Girlfriend.
I can do this.
I can do this... Right?
- Much love xo
Wednesday, 16 January 2013
It's a Carrie 2.0
Whilst Blair Waldorf is my home girl (do excuse the experssion), there will only ever be one New York girl who truely has my heart; Carrie Bradshaw.
She is just about everything I want to be, and because technically, she isn't a real person, I might actually stand a chance of seeing it happen. With a warbrobe busting at the seams, Vogue on speed dial, amazing friends, Big AND a successful career being paid to write about her own life and opinions.
She pretty much is the dream.
Ok, so I was just too young to catch SATC when it was in it's prime (a girl can't help when she was born), but I spent a lot of time playing catch up, and can now pretty reciete the 6th season and the first film. Naturally I was over joyed when Candace Bushnell realesed The Carrie Diaries and Summer and The City - tale of Miss Bradshaw back when she was still at school, still trying to find herself, still a virgin and still helplessly in love with the city.
Sound familiar, much?!
It was time for a new era of Carrie's to take the reigns, of course we were lucky, we already Queen B and Serena, but now that they are off the airwaves for good *sobs* The Carrie Diaries can FINALLY take centre stage.
It doesn't disappoint, Anna Sophia Robb is kinda perf as the young Carrie, the outfits are great, especially the scenes shot in New York (I mean, obviously), and at long last a TV show about young women who lose their virginity and, praise be, actually say that it hurts! Hoorah!
I look forward to my Bradshaw/Manhatten obsession kicking back into full swing, I look forward to being reminded exactly what it is I want to do, who it is I want to be and quite why Carrie is so important as a female figure within the public media. Because fictional as she may be, Carrie Bradshaw and the rest of SATC girl really have inspired and shaped countless amounts of women.
And who knows, maybe I will possess the writing skills of Ms Bradshaw, the edge of Ms Waldorf and their wardrobes combind and actually make something of myself... One day...
If I ever finish University!!
Much love xo
She is just about everything I want to be, and because technically, she isn't a real person, I might actually stand a chance of seeing it happen. With a warbrobe busting at the seams, Vogue on speed dial, amazing friends, Big AND a successful career being paid to write about her own life and opinions.
She pretty much is the dream.
Ok, so I was just too young to catch SATC when it was in it's prime (a girl can't help when she was born), but I spent a lot of time playing catch up, and can now pretty reciete the 6th season and the first film. Naturally I was over joyed when Candace Bushnell realesed The Carrie Diaries and Summer and The City - tale of Miss Bradshaw back when she was still at school, still trying to find herself, still a virgin and still helplessly in love with the city.
Sound familiar, much?!
It was time for a new era of Carrie's to take the reigns, of course we were lucky, we already Queen B and Serena, but now that they are off the airwaves for good *sobs* The Carrie Diaries can FINALLY take centre stage.
It doesn't disappoint, Anna Sophia Robb is kinda perf as the young Carrie, the outfits are great, especially the scenes shot in New York (I mean, obviously), and at long last a TV show about young women who lose their virginity and, praise be, actually say that it hurts! Hoorah!
I look forward to my Bradshaw/Manhatten obsession kicking back into full swing, I look forward to being reminded exactly what it is I want to do, who it is I want to be and quite why Carrie is so important as a female figure within the public media. Because fictional as she may be, Carrie Bradshaw and the rest of SATC girl really have inspired and shaped countless amounts of women.
And who knows, maybe I will possess the writing skills of Ms Bradshaw, the edge of Ms Waldorf and their wardrobes combind and actually make something of myself... One day...
If I ever finish University!!
Much love xo
Sunday, 13 January 2013
The Real University Challenge
Motivation, for most students, is not something that comes to us all that easy.
Reveling in our freedom, and our seemingly adult lives, actually sitting down and writing the essay is never as simple a task as it seems.
Especially not when your department, nay, when a specific unit within your department is run by people who appear to have absolutely no communication skills, what. so. ever.
It has actually got the point now, where, I would rather not turn up to a single lecture or seminar and just email the head of the unit in regards to the coursework, seeming as each individual tutor has a different idea as to what the coursework entails.
It's not that freaking hard, people!
If we have to slug our way through 4 unit handbooks at the start of the year, then so can you! Hell, you should know what you're reading since you wrote the damn things!
I am aware that university is about individual learning, but I never signed up for mind reading. I cannot read your mind, Tutor dear. So for the love of ALL that holy can you lot please pay attention at your start of term meetings so that maybe, just, I dunno, maybe, come deadline week, you aren't bombarded with emails by students confused out of their minds and we aren't all ripping our hair out because our mates in the other class have been told something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?!
I don't know. I just seems that, for this much money, knowing what the hell is going on would be a good place to start... Don't you think!?
Reveling in our freedom, and our seemingly adult lives, actually sitting down and writing the essay is never as simple a task as it seems.
Especially not when your department, nay, when a specific unit within your department is run by people who appear to have absolutely no communication skills, what. so. ever.
It has actually got the point now, where, I would rather not turn up to a single lecture or seminar and just email the head of the unit in regards to the coursework, seeming as each individual tutor has a different idea as to what the coursework entails.
It's not that freaking hard, people!
If we have to slug our way through 4 unit handbooks at the start of the year, then so can you! Hell, you should know what you're reading since you wrote the damn things!
I am aware that university is about individual learning, but I never signed up for mind reading. I cannot read your mind, Tutor dear. So for the love of ALL that holy can you lot please pay attention at your start of term meetings so that maybe, just, I dunno, maybe, come deadline week, you aren't bombarded with emails by students confused out of their minds and we aren't all ripping our hair out because our mates in the other class have been told something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?!
I don't know. I just seems that, for this much money, knowing what the hell is going on would be a good place to start... Don't you think!?
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