The Problem of the Woman Without a Head

A few years ago a man in my neighborhood organized a community day of service. Taking initiative, trying to bring people together, helping others- these are positive intentions. Then I saw a flyer advertising this service event. The flyer featured a woman holding a shovel. The woman’s head was not shown. 

This bothered me significantly. Women’s bodies are often used in advertising as parts and pieces; showing only portions of a body is an effective way to turn a person into an object. Using a photo of a woman holding a shovel but eliminating her head, especially not showing her eyes, turned this woman into an object. An object whose purpose is to serve others. 

This photo sums up the way I suspect many men in the church view women as well as the way many women have been taught to view themselves. 

What to do about this flyer? I wanted to say something to the creator; to point out the message about women that he likely did not realize he was sending. I didn’t say anything though. I figured it was a one-time event and I shouldn’t ruffle any feathers over this flyer.

I was wrong. Now a few years later, this same flyer has once again landed on my doorstep. What to do? Do I continue to remain silent? This flyer is now not just a flyer; it also a lawn sign, poster, and ad in the local community newspaper. What message am I sending to my daughters if I don’t say anything or try to change the status quo? Do I have a responsibility to my community to stop harm? A flyer of a headless woman may seem negligible. However, as I once again look at this flyer, I realize it is one of a thousand paper cuts that accumulate to cause significant harm.  

For context, the person who created this is a member of the church living in an area with a high concentration of church members. This person is now also serving as a bishop which is a role that means some people will give increased significance to what he says and does. It is standard in the church to talk about women’s bodies but that doesn’t mean that it is acceptable to reduce women to objects. There is not an adequate way for me to express the feelings of despair and shame that I have battled living in a church and community where the majority of men see me and other women as objects. Where boys are taught to view my daughters as objects. I want to create change yet how to do it in a way that this man will hear and understand the harm perpetuated by this seemingly simple flyer?

Exponent II readers, please share thoughts and advice.

Not the actual flyer; both to protect the creator and because I tossed it into the recycling bin. Compare this photo showing this woman as a whole person as opposed the photo at the one at the beginning of the post the crops out her head.

Also, this woman does not have a shovel, is not doing dishes, is not folding laundry, is not serving in any way. She exists as a human being.