Ok, a certain Center City Philadelphia ultra-fragrant soap store, which shall remain nameless because I don't want to give them the business (also which gives you that "you're probably going to get a yeast infection from using that soap feeling), had their employees stand outside the store handing out flyers completely nude, except for a little apron, in the name of publicity. Because you know, sex sells.
I was trotting down Walnut Street dodging through the normal hustle of the lunchtime sidewalk crowds, when I came across a larger, rowdier crowd. So, being the curious woman I am, I push through to get a look. Standing in front of the store completely naked aside from a little apron were about 5 or 6 women and one male handing out flyers and "getting attention." Bare asses in the August breeze.
Now let me explain where I come from first so that I don't lose myself before I get to how wrong on how many levels this is. I believe that naked is beautiful. I believe that everyone should be comfortable in their own skin and there's nothing dirty about the naked human body in all its glory. I believe every size is beautiful. Beauty radiates form within. I believe a healthy body image is one of the most essential steps to personal happiness. I especially believe the female body is intricately beautiful. This is why this store's blatant exploitation of it is particularly upsetting to me.
The women were all in their early to mid 20's, stereotypically thin and stereotypically good-looking. This brings me to the first point of exploitation: body image. I wondered if they would put one of their larger employees out on the street like that. Also, it occurred to me that all the girls, while ranging in height, were all very thin. Perhaps the business only hires "attractive" girls in terms of societal norms, for the sake of sales. It certainly wouldn't be the first time this happened anywhere, but it doesn't make it right. Then there was the token male. To me, this just screamed "see, we've got our guys out there too." It almost made it worse, for me. Then I noticed that the guy was also "attractive" and thin, no wait, lean. Then there was the fact that this was all done for the sake of promotion. A soap store... I mean, this is wrong no matter what, but for the love of Goddess, this is a soap store! I am an anti-capitalist as it is so the exploitation of their female employees was like a double whammy. I yelled at them, "What are you doing out here like this?! Don't you know you're employer is completely exploiting you?! What is your worth?! What are you getting paid?! Is that what you're body is worth to you?!" etc., etc.
I swear the only silver lining to this spectacle aside from being able to make this my first post on feministing, is that one of the women looked at me with a look of "you're right." on her face. I just hope she puts that thought into action. Now, they were only out there for an hour I'd say, but like I've said a million times, nothing makes this right. I don't even think it's satirically funny. I think it's more of what society doesn't need. It reminds me of (and here's my pop culture junkie moment) a "documentary" on MTV I watched that highlighted this woman who was a PETA activist, but of course, it wouldn't be good tv unless she was one of the ones who stood out in a bikini (which she was) for the love of animals. I'm a vegetarian and I hate the way PETA exploits women. It also reminded me of the posts I've read on feministing about the coffee shop whose female employees all wear bikinis while selling coffee. It's the same type of in-your-face, out-right, ridiculous sex-selling that happens entirely too often. And is accepted! But you know, sex sells... At least I know my body and soul are priceless.
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Philadelphia Soap Store Employees Go Nude in the Name of Publicity.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.feministing.com/cgi-bin/movabletype/mt-tb.fcgi/8918
Weekly Feministing Newsletter
Feministing RSS Feed
It was LUSH, right? That wasn't just in Philly, it was company-wide, at locations all over the country. I have no idea if the naked women were regular store employees or people LUSH hired specifically for this stunt.
Either way, it's appalling, and I'm thankful that I didn't choose to get my lunch on Walnut Street that day.
If you're anti-capitalist, you should be glad the store chooses such a trivial way to "exploit" its employees. It's not like showing tits and ass will cause the loss of a limb or black lung disease. Of all the ways businesses exploit workers, this is the least worrisome. If you do find the human body beautiful, it shouldn't bother you at all, except maybe on aesthetic grounds.
A business that exploits workers' bodies by using the workers' strong backs until they are worn out or broken is a cause of concern. This just sounds tacky, and tacky shouldn't cause outrage.