Stepping on a Soap Box

Go read this blog post: Op-Ed Wed: Dear Reebok

I loved this part:

We know what you’re selling, and it isn’t fitness, or even a firmer ass. You’re trying to sell us insecurity. And we aren’t buying.

And:

We shape our bods with interval repeats, not lame toning crap shoes.

Just wanted to share this because lately I’m getting increasingly angrier with the messages in media that women are not good enough and that we need to be a certain weight or size or shape; that we have to lose X pounds in a weekend and X inches by Friday as opposed to living a healthy lifestyle overall. Granted, I have fallen victim to the preaching that everyone has to fit a certain mold to be beautiful and respected, and that thinking has only been damaging to my mental and physical health.

Remember, we are allowed to rest or relax when we’ve been sick or pushing hard, have treats from time-to-time, and the true beauty of people comes from the fact that we are all different.

I’ll step down… for now!

8 comments

  1. I was SO happy to see Kristina’s post as well . . . couldn’t have said it better myself! I have been seething with anger every time one of those stupid ads comes on tv. Everything about them just makes my skin crawl. Good to know I’m not alone!

  2. step up all you want! originally i didn’t like those commercials because they were lame. oh wearing these shoes is going to make my legs look like hers? yeahh riiight. now that you’ve opened my eyes to this side of things, well, i like it less.

  3. The more women that speak up about the fact that those commercials aren’t advertising HEALTH, the more the industry will eventually take notice. Keep talking, keep expressing your outrage, and the message will get through.

  4. Reebok is now on my my list of companies that I’ll never buy from again (oh and Carl’s Junior for the Paris Hilton pretending to sell burgers while pretending to wash a car in some S & M getup…now how was that selling a burger?).

    I do have to wonder if that matters to them? But you’re right, it disgusts me. And as a mother of a 14 year old daughter, even more so.

  5. It’s so good to hear that everyone feels similar on this issue. Hopefully more and more outrage will be expressed and soon the imagery we’re confronted with will more closely mirror real life.

  6. Thanks for sharing this, I hadn’t seen it. Media messages are so frequently just horrible. Did you hear Kate Moss’s quote this week ‘Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels’? Another good move.

  7. I watched those commercials with my boyfriend and we both cracked up laughing. But then it came on again and I started to wonder a bit. I’m no where near where my ass supposedly should be but he grabbed my calves and my quads and said, “You’re strong where you should be.” *happy sigh* 🙂

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