Comments on: American Apparel, Meet American Able

By: Sasha_feather

Sasha_feather — Thu, 13 May 2010 00:21:59 +0000

Awesome photos! Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

By: lilacsigil

lilacsigil — Wed, 12 May 2010 02:10:53 +0000

PharoahKatt – I agree that “women must be sexy” is a really complex and difficult trope, but I think this project works with it really well. The artist and model are directly referencing modes of “sexiness” in advertising which are meant to be the sole domain of the young, very thin, apparently able-bodied and, in these ads, white. It’s particularly important in this case because American Apparel presents their models as “normal girls”, their employees who just so happen to be very thin, very young, able-bodied white women. Jes Sachse is also thin, young and looks white…and is yet visibly different from their regular models.

By: PharaohKatt

PharaohKatt — Tue, 11 May 2010 23:26:38 +0000

Ok, I slept on it and… Well… I was thinking about this from a CND perspective. Sure, *abled* women are told to be sexy, but women with disabilities are told “Your body is something you should be ashamed of, hidden, ugly. You are worthless because your body is worthless”. And you know what? Fuck that! Fuck hiding, fuck denying sexuality because it makes CND people uncomfortable!

More of Jes’s work is here btw: http://crooked.zenfolio.com/about.html
.-= PharaohKatt´s last blog ..What’s the same about all these covers? =-.

By: Kef

Kef — Tue, 11 May 2010 18:23:51 +0000

I really enjoyed these photos, and, like abby jean, I don’t find the sexualization problematic at all. Jes obviously volunteered to be part of this project, so it’s not like she’s lacking agency.

As far as the “pressure” for PWD’s to appear sexual/sexy, I think it’s just another example of how we, like most other people, contain multitudes. We choose to fight for access to (and representation in) education, healthy diets, housing, employment, medical care, and transportation because we deserve equal access to those things as humans. Why not choose to own and express our sexuality in whatever way we see fit, just like many other (TAB) humans do?

By: PharaohKatt

PharaohKatt — Tue, 11 May 2010 12:27:51 +0000

I love it! I checked out some of Jes’s other work and it is simply beautiful. It’s so refreshing to see marginalised bodies presented sexually.

A part of mr wonders, though, about why they are sexy? I fully get the project, and I love it, I just wonder about the pressure to be sexual. It’s like, yes, marginalised bodies can be and are sexy, but it often seem like a requirement for “womanness” or something…
Sorry, I’m not being very clear. Feel free to deleat if it’s too derailing.

But I do love the project, not least of which because it’s not remotely mocking the PWDs, which I’ve sadly come to expect from a lot of people.
.-= PharaohKatt´s last blog ..What’s the same about all these covers? =-.

By: wtfmi

wtfmi — Tue, 11 May 2010 03:52:42 +0000

What amazing photos! Thank you for sharing these — and a transitive thank you to Ms. Sasche for sharing as well.