issue 02 // volume 41 news // 5 Britain bans ‘sexist’ American Apparel schoolgirl ads » Not the first controversy for the American company , Angela Espinoza News Editor Mi news @theotherpress.ca a va n August 7, a Back To School ad campaign by American clothing company to a viral uproar. The campaign was banned from Britain as of September 2, as an image from the campaign, shared by social media user Emilie Lawrence, brought attention to an up-skirt shot of a woman ina plaid skirt. American Apparel has a reputation for sporting hyper- sexualized images of women when promoting their clothing line. The ads are criticized for featuring women who often appear (but rarely actually are) young, and who suggestively pose in ads exposing their breasts, their rears, and occasionally their genitalia. In contrast, American Apparel’s clothing ads for men do not feature any nudity or suggestive Most of these ads are found on American Apparel's website. Store and billboard ads, however, while presenting women in more clothing, still see women posing suggestively, or are focussed on specific female body parts. This Back To School or School Days campaign has been particularly controversial, as it seems to be targeting underage women while also hyper- sexualizing them. Photos from the campaign were slammed by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority, which told the Daily : Mail, “We considered the images : imitated voyeuristic ‘up-skirt’ : shots which had been taken : without the subject’s consent or : knowledge which, in the context : of anad fora skirt marketed to : young women, we considered : had the potential to normalize a : predatory sexual behaviour.” American Apparel was launched : Social media users have : also called the ads out on : issues ranging from being : pornographic to blatantly : sexist to having pedophiliac : implications. Lawrence, who brought : attention to the ads, spoke : to izoo (a subsidy of the : Independent) about her views on : American Apparel. “The way in which American : Apparel objectify and sexualize : female bodices is damaging and : rooted in patriarchal notions : about a woman’s worth,’ said : Lawrence. “Adverts like this : reduce women down to little : more than body parts to be : claimed, and reinforce ideas that : Our primary purpose is to be : appealing to men.” poses, even for their underwear ads. In addition to American : Apparel’s image regarding : their advertising, ex-CEO Dov : Charney was fired from the : company back in June—but has : since been rehired to a smaller : role. Charney was charged with : misconduct after allowing nude : photos of former employee : Irene Morales to be released : online. In 2011, Morales alleged : that Charney sexually assaulted : her for years following her : 18th birthday in 2008 before : eventually quitting her job. : Charney has a long history : regarding allegations of sexual : harassment of female staff. BC Teacher’s strike continues after failed mediation » Are teachers asking too much, or is government giving too little? , Angela Espinoza News Editor Mi news @theotherpress.ca espite continued efforts by both the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) and the BC Liberal government over the past week, both parties have still : : “Unfortunately, the government : did not indicate they were : willing to make any meaningful > moves in return.” failed to come to an agreement. During the last issue of the Other Press, the BCTF and members of BC’s Liberal government had started talks with mediator Vince Ready. On August 31, Ready walked away from the table, saying to CBC, “T don’t see a resolution here before : : on August 30, Fassbender ; the start of school given the : positions of the parties ... They : area long, long ways apart.’ Prior to Ready’s departure, : associated press revealed that : the BCTF were willing to drop : roughly $125-million in demands : : regarding wages and benefits : in an attempt to end the strike. : However, BCTF president Jim Iker said to the Globe and Mail, In response, BC Education : Minister Peter Fassbender has : stated that the BCTF are the : party that will not meet halfway. Ina public statement released : stated, “Unfortunately, the : BCTF leadership has stubbornly : : refused every effort to reacha : fair deal” Fassbender added that : legislating the teachers back to work is in no one’s best interests: : “It would only keep us on the : same dysfunctional treadmill : that we've been on for the past : 30 years. As hard as it is, we : have to stand firm and hope : the union leadership comes : around to getting serious about : negotiating a fair agreement.” As reported by the National : additional $225-million, to be : spent over the course of five : years, was requested regarding : the BCTF’s two Supreme Court > wins against the BC government. : In an interview with the : National Post, Fassbender : stated that, “There is still over : $300-million of gap between [the : : BCTE and] what the government : has put on the table.” : On September 5, in an : attempt to end the strike, : Iker made a public statement : indicating that teachers would : : be willing to return to schools : Post, the BCTF has requested an : : annual $225-million regarding : class size, where the amount : would partially be spent on : hiring more teachers. An if the government agreed to : arbitration, contingent upon the : government dropping E80—one : of the main contention points in : the dispute. > us. I don’t see a resolution here before the start of school given the positions of the parties .. They area long, long ways apart. — Vince Ready Fassbender responded : at his own press events that : same afternoon, reiterating : the government’s stance on : binding arbitration: “We are not : prepared to say to someone else, : well you make our decisions for ”