Poor taste? A photo of a food fight sparked a debate about female representation

A picture that shows five chefs in a staged food-fight for a photo shoot sparked concern online — and prompted a P.E.I. magazine to select a more standard cover for its latest issue.

PEI Living, a lifestyle magazine that focuses on Island businesses and culture, recently posted to their Facebook page, a possible version of the cover which featured local chefs Lucy Morrow, Andrew Smith, Seth Shaw, Kyle Panton, and Sarah Forrester-Wendt engaged in a food fight.

"We wanted it to have some movement, we wanted it to be sort of impromptu and really fun," said Story Sheidow, editor-in-chief of the magazine, adding the chefs weren't posed in that specific way. "The whole thing was very fluid."

But despite the magazine's light-hearted intentions, comments on its Facebook page showed some readers felt the image put the female chefs in a degrading position.

"It was interesting for me because I do have a background in women's rights and I am an activist in that community," she said. "I didn't actually notice it right away until someone pointed it out. But obviously as soon as someone points something like that, you can't just not see it anymore."

'Underlying feel'

Sheidow says the theme for the cover photo shoot was an attempt to highlight local talent in a fun way.

But after the magazine posted the photo, several online commenters wrote that they felt having all the men standing over the women seemed demeaning.

After the response the magazine decided the cover they would go ahead with would have all five chefs standing side-by-side.

"As soon as it was pointed out, it was very obvious there was this underlying feel that wasn't at all [what we] intended," Sheidow said.

Mindfulness of representation

Phillip Homburg, owner of the Kent St. Market and co-owner Satellite Pizza in Charlottetown, voiced his opposition to the original cover after it was posted.

"When I think of some of my friends and people I respect … all pretty strong female chefs, the image rubbed me the wrong way," Homburg said.

He said he understands the tone wasn't intentional, but feels it's important for publishers to be more mindful of the way they represent women.

"I can totally understand everybody was having fun on the day maybe, and it seemed like a fun image, but in those moments it's important to get a second opinion."

Homburg said he's happy that the editors have since changed the photo.

'Opportunity to learn'

PEI Living is run exclusively by women — and Sheidow said female representation in the magazine is important to their team.

"We try very hard to focus on women in business," she said. "So obviously for us, the last thing we would want to do is imply anything, even if it was accidentally."

But she says the scenario was a lesson, even for female magazine editors and photographers, to be mindful of balance in their photos.

"I'm new to the magazine industry and so these sorts of things, when they happen, it's a really great opportunity to learn something and apply that in the future," she said.

"Whether we're using it in terms of … women or whatever the case may be, to make sure there's an equal balance."

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