Cowabunga!
That’s what we’re shouting after hearing about this letter that this super awesome 13-year-girl wrote!
Olive Bowers was pretty upset while reading Tracks Magazine, an Australian surfing zine, because of its portrayal of lady surfers. So she decided to write a letter to the magazine’s editor Luke Kennedy to express her dismay.
And unlike most letters to the editor , this one was totally amazing!
She dissected the magazine’s portrayal of women surfers in such a brutal and efficient manner, we’d be very surprised if the magazine doesn’t incorporate some major overhauls.
She started off the letter with:
“I want to bluntly address the way you represent women in your magazine. I am a surfer, my dad surfs and my brother has just started surfing.”
And then listed the problems of the magazine by writing:
“I clicked on your web page titled ”Girls” hoping I might find some women surfers and what they were up to, but it entered into pages and pages of semi-naked, non-surfing girls.”
She finished the epic letter off with a crazy cool promise that said:
“My posse of female surfers and I are going to spread the word and refuse to purchase or promote Tracks magazine. It’s a shame that you can’t see the benefits of an inclusive surf culture that in fact, would add a whole lot of numbers to your subscription list.”
Such a rad letter, young lady! Way to hang ten on those old fashioned jerks! We hope they change their ways — if not for this letter, then for the mass of people who TOTALLY agree with what was written!
Check out the full letter (below) !!!
“Dear Tracks Surf Magazine,
I want to bluntly address the way you represent women in your magazine. I am a surfer, my dad surfs and my brother has just started surfing.
Reading a Tracks magazine I found at my friend’s holiday house, the only photo of a woman I could find was ”Girl of the month”. She wasn’t surfing or even remotely near a beach. Since then I have seen some footage of Stephanie Gilmore surfing on your website, but that’s barely a start.
I clicked on your web page titled ”Girls” hoping I might find some women surfers and what they were up to, but it entered into pages and pages of semi-naked, non-surfing girls.
These images create a culture in which boys, men and even girls reading your magazine will think that all girls are valued for is their appearance.
My posse of female surfers and I are going to spread the word and refuse to purchase or promote Tracks magazine. It’s a shame that you can’t see the benefits of an inclusive surf culture that in fact, would add a whole lot of numbers to your subscription list.
I urge you to give much more coverage to the exciting women surfers out there, not just scantily clad women (who may be great on the waves, but we’ll never know).
I would subscribe to your magazine if only I felt that women were valued as athletes instead of dolls. This change would only bring good.
Olive”
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