(no subject)

[theweaselking]

Scarborough MP Rathika Sitsabaiesan, on her campaign website:



Scarborough MP Rathika Sitsabaiesan, on parl.gc.ca:



Once again, side by side:



I kind of REALLY want to know whose decision that was, and what the fuck they were thinking. If it was Ms Sitsabaiesan, why not just take a new picture? If it wasn't her, WHAT THE HELL, PEOPLE?

Comments

[ashbet]

Yeah, I'd really like to know whose bright idea that was.

If it *wasn't* her, I sincerely hope they catch hell for it.

Talk about fucking *erasing* visible signs of womanhood . . .

-- A >:(


(Yes, I know that not all women have cleavage, or breasts, or a vagina, or two X chromosomes -- but *erasing her breasts* seems like a really gender-hostile act to me. And if it was her -- fuck, woman. Own your body!)

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

I can UNDERSTAND an MP wanting to not have visible cleavage on her official portrait photo. Not necessarily agree with the reasons, but certainly see why she might feel it was necessary.

But seriously, NEW PICTURE.

[ashbet]

I'm totally fine with her saying "I don't want cleavage showing in my governmental workplace photo." But, in that case, why would she have it on her own website? And I'm with you -- why not just take a new picture in a higher-necked top, if she felt like visible cleavage made her look less professional?

Which is another thing that drives me crazy -- I ran into that issue when I was working in conservative law firms. Given the way I'm endowed, a top that's modest on some people is positively indecent on me . . . but even if I only wore high scoop-neck tops and button-up shirts, I'm still going to have cleavage if I'm leaning over or my arms are pressed against my breasts. I had a few people, all women, make snitty remarks to me about dressing "professionally", when I was actually dressed in a very conservative outfit that simply failed to hide the fact that I have curves.

It's something that a lot of fat women have to deal with, as well (at the time I was being criticized, I didn't fall under that category -- I was a size 10-12) . . . clothing that is considered "professional" on thin women is open to criticism on fat women -- either they're told that fitted clothing is too tight (meaning "I can see your body shape", not talking about clothes that are actually too small), or they're told that loose concealing clothing looks "sloppy." Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

And that doesn't even BEGIN to address the inequity in the clothing available to smaller women vs. larger women -- it's really hard to find classy professional clothes in a size 18, and I don't have ANY issues compared to women who are a size 28.

(Sorry, tangent -- but this thing actually OFFENDS me, which is a pretty rare occurrence.)

-- A <3

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

Or if you're going to all the trouble to photoshop, 'shop up the neckline rather than erasing cleavage!

thems'll poke ya eyes oot!

[maelorin]

if it were her, surely she'd have it done to the picture on her own site?

methinks this was done by someone in pr in parli. it looks like some other 'subtle' touch-ups have been done as well.
(note that the two pictures have the same dimensions 142x230px, but you can see more of her left shoulder/arm, and her face is slightly narrower.)

makes me wonder if this has been done to/for other mps?

Re: thems'll poke ya eyes oot!

[maelorin]

alternatively, a second picture from a series, then altered?

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

She's clearly "lost" 10kg in addition to the uniboob in the photoshopping, yes.

[unnamed525.livejournal.com]

"uniboob" lol

Re: thems'll poke ya eyes oot!

[dianavilliers.livejournal.com]

Apart from the clevage-erasure in the second image (WTF), I think it's just a different crop of the same image, and not a change in proportions. I am suspicious enough to stick them in GIMP and actually make some measurements when I get home though.

Re: thems'll poke ya eyes oot!

[ashbet]

I think it's a different crop of the same image, too.

Her face may also be marginally lighter, but that could be an effect of compression.

-- A <3

Re: thems'll poke ya eyes oot!

[swwoodsy.livejournal.com]

I think the cleavage picture is just ever-so-slightly closer-up.

[cmattg.livejournal.com]

Huh. And here my first assumption was, they'd 'shopped cleavage IN.

[the-trav.livejournal.com]

that was my assumption, now I'm confused and don't know what to believe!

[ice-hesitant.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure the Parliament picture is the before and her website picture is after. The bosom was enhanced and the head was enlarged, unless you have contrary evidence. No one would ever Photoshop a head smaller. People like kawaii baby proportions. Big heads == good.

[dianavilliers.livejournal.com]

I would have bet the other way round, but the fact that the EXIF data is intact on the parliment (non-cleavage) image and not on the other (cleavage) image suggests that you are right.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

The original campaign site has been removed now that the election is over. The "original image" was pulled off google, which means anyone along the way might have touched the metadata, while parl.gc.ca would have received the original from the campaign.

[mejoff.livejournal.com]

If you look at the comparison .gif above, the proportions of her head remain identical, the images were presented in different sizes.

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, rather than Scarborough, Yorkshire, UK!

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

You have one of those?

[maelorin]

the british isles are home to many of the originals from which the colonies copied ^_^ :p

also, there is that song "scarborough fair" ...

[drcuriosity]

Just the right level of incredulity. Well done.

[almostwitty]

*disclaimer* I couldn't spot the difference till I read the comments. And I'm boob-friendly, so no idea why I didn't spot it ...

People (especially politicians and the like) often labour on the pretence that any official photographs of them must be done by a professional photographer with all the studio set-up, as opposed to taking an equally good natural shot. So it may well be that she opted to just get it Photoshopped rather than hire a photographer, set up a studio, do all the hair and make-up, find a nice top, wear nice ear-rings etc.

[hwrnmnbsol.livejournal.com]

YOUR politicians are HOT.

OURS are 1) old white men, 2) batshit crazy, or 3) both.

It's not FAIR.

[biomekanic.livejournal.com]

Damn straight it's not.

Though I admit, I am very pleased that I never saw a picture of Newt's cleavage.

[lafinjack.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it's out there somewhere, though.