when women's bodies are used for anything except...sharing about women

It's always bothered me that women's bodies have been fodder for advertising so many things that have nothing to do with them—meaning nothing to do with women or their bodies.

When I was a child, I was bewildered that women were used in ads for random things, like cars or hamburgers.
(Granted, only certain kinds of women's bodies. Not all were equally worthy.)

What bothers me as much, if not more, is how accustomed people are to this approach in advertising. When child-me asked adults why a woman wearing a bikini was in a used car ad, they said it's just what people do.

Have you noticed this? Maybe now it's not as common. I don't see TV commercials anymore, but on radio ads I hear sultry women's voices for microwave meals and sometimes ED medication.

Either way, I'm grateful to make art that contradicts this fixation on bodies and the use of them for unrelated purposes. I'm excited to use an image of my body to advertise an event about...women's bodies. About aging.

I participated in Empower 40 & Beyond, a project that offers a different narrative about women and aging. This was created by Emerald Dove, a brilliant portrait photographer in Chattanooga.

If you'll be in the Chattanooga area on March 8th, International Women's Day, you can see over 40 portraits of the 40 women over 40. I'm one of the youngest participants; the oldest is over 80.

A few early bird tickets are still available, and a portion of the proceeds will go to Chattanooga Room in the Inn, an organization that works with women and children who have been unhoused.

When I wrote this love note, I could tell that I was still accustomed to women's bodies being used for unrelated things – because I felt a lil' strange sharing the photo. Weird, right? I know what I believe, intellectually, and yet that gross conditioning goes DEEP.

So, I'm all the more grateful to decondition those associations.

Last thing, I promise:
This image has an accompanying essay, if you haven't read it already.


Toasting the feminine,
S.

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she / they
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