A reader associated with WOW/WGSGO, two feminist groups at Louisiana State University, sent in an image a friend took of a banner that is currently on display at an apartment complex near the campus in Baton Rouge, presenting two supposed LSU fans and one University of Alabama fan (in anticipation of tomorrow’s football game between the two teams):
As the sender-inner points out, the banner “is obviously sexist, fat-phobic, and caters to a male gaze and sports rivalry through objectification of women.” Individuals from WOW and WGSGO have repeatedly called the apartment complex to ask that the banner be taken down, so far to no avail.
It’s a perfect example of how fat bodies are both themselves stigmatized and used to stigmatize others. In this case, not only is this individual woman being mocked, but marking her as an Alabama fan serves to mock and denigrate all other fans by association. Because, as we all know, the campus with the hottest (according to conventional standards of attractiveness) chicks wins!
Comments 44
Sue — November 5, 2010
I thought it said "Obama Fans."
I love how all thin people are naturally tan.
Reggie — November 5, 2010
Roll Tide!!!
Hoop — November 5, 2010
Pfft. Everyone knows that Bama AND LSU both suck.
(although in my experience with LSU fans, this is fairly classy; I was once followed down the street in Gainesville by two guys in LSU t-shirts mimicking anal sex. Classy.)
Jenn — November 5, 2010
Was this picture staged or did they grab some unsuspecting Bama on the beach, have her pose for the photo, and then turn it into a banner for open ridicule. This banner is terrible on a sociological level, but I can't get past the fact that there seems to be a real girl out there who didn't agree to this poster and who is being openly mocked for the stupidest reasons.
anonymous — November 5, 2010
The Florida guy on YouTube before the Alabama game with the woman next to him in underwear is another example of the "hot chicks = good football" phenomenon.
Stephanie — November 6, 2010
Got my BA from LSU.
I think I know which apartment complex this is. The banner is obnoxious and terrible, but really does not surprise me.
There are many apartment complexes like this one around LSU. Their ads are full of skinny, tanned, laughing young people and don't bring any attention to the break-ins, vandalism, and rapes that occur there every semester, without fail.
It bothers me that the earlier commenters assume that the image was Photoshopped. What? Skinny people can't be friends with a fat girl?
Alice — November 6, 2010
I think I've seen that photo before, on a "humor" website or something. I think what might have happened was that they got the photo off the web and photoshopped the logos in. Which means some poor girl is not only being ridiculed for her weight and used as a tool for ridiculing arbitrary group rivalries, but it's being done without her consent or knowledge.
anon — November 6, 2010
It's not just 'hot' chicks needed to win, it's 'thin, white, young, compliant chicks that will remove all their hair but from their head, court skin cancer with tanning, take off most of their clothes to be photographed, and smile happily at your mean and sexist humor.'
I'm surprised nobody has just gone out at night and cut it down.
Anon — November 6, 2010
if they want it down so bad then rip the damn thing down. it wouldn't be that hard. come on people
Anonymous — November 6, 2010
The banner was cut apart. The apartment complex taped it back together.
shorelines — November 7, 2010
Hmmm - it seems those who have commented so far assume only the woman on the right in the banner would feel humiliated by having her image used in this way. Is the assumption that only the women in the purple suits would have willingly posed for a photo they knew would be blown up and plastered on the side of an apartment building - and so that is probably what happened (with the woman in red photo-shopped in later)? Or is the assumption that even if the images of all three women were lifted and used without anyone's consent, the LSU women in the ad wouldn't care anyway, because, you know, they're hot?
I get that the woman in red is the butt of the joke. But all three women are being objectified, and if their images are being used without consent, we shouldn't assume any outrage or humiliation they as individuals might feel is mollified in reverse proportion to their BMIs.
Sarah Caudill — November 7, 2010
Seriously people, stand up for what you believe in! If you see something like this, go get some scissors and cut it down. Also, post it on facebook with the name of the apartment complex and encourage friends to write letters to the complex condemning their behavior. Do not let things like this slide!
pg — November 9, 2010
I agree with shorelines, if I were any of the 3 women in the image and had my picture used that way without my permission, I would be taking action against whoever did it!
Rodney — November 10, 2010
I would bone all three.
Dave — November 11, 2010
Did anyone notice the cheez-its?
jsmith — November 12, 2010
Sheeeesh, I thought the crazy junk that happens between Utah and Byu was nuts.
Anonymous — November 14, 2010
hahahhaha get over yourselfs and get a life
Muscular Tanned Male — December 17, 2010
No fat chicks.
Blix — July 13, 2011
Aargh... people. Stop it already!
De Dragon — April 15, 2013
A few of cans of black spray paint would greatly improve that billboard.
Sunny — August 18, 2013
how has the apt complex NOT had this taken down yet?? super disappointing.
Meredith — May 4, 2014
"phobic"... you keep using that word, but I do not think it means what you think it means