{"id":6947,"date":"2015-05-29T13:50:05","date_gmt":"2015-05-29T17:50:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/posturemag.com\/online\/?p=6947"},"modified":"2015-06-10T10:49:18","modified_gmt":"2015-06-10T14:49:18","slug":"double-mastectomy-underwear-models-challenge-gender-norms-in-play-out-ss15-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/posturemag.com\/online\/double-mastectomy-underwear-models-challenge-gender-norms-in-play-out-ss15-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"Double Mastectomy Underwear Models Challenge Gender Norms in PLAY OUT SS15 Campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"

Unisex underwear brand\u00a0PLAY OUT<\/a>\u00a0continues to challenge gender norms in a conversation-starting campaign for Summer 2015. This body positive photo series features three bilaterally flat breast cancer survivors including Emily Jenson, Jodi Jaecks\u00a0and\u00a0Melanie Testa\u00a0(who goes by\u00a0\u201cMelly\u201d) who have undergone double mastectomies and purposefully chose to live without prostheses. Clad only in PLAY OUT underwear, the series challenges the normative assumptions of gender presentation, femininity and what it means to be \u201csexy.\u201d The series is held in collaboration with FlatTopper Pride, a recently launched breast cancer support community dedicated to unilaterally and bilaterally flat LGBTQ individuals choosing not to undergo breast reconstruction or to wear prostheses.<\/p>\n

Rain + Melly<\/strong><\/div>\n
Androgynous model Rain Dove + bilaterally flat breast cancer\u00a0survivor\u00a0Melanie Testa in PLAY OUT, \u00a0photo credit Nomi Ellenson<\/em><\/div>\n
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Melly<\/strong>
\n Melanie Testa in PLAY OUT, photo credit Nomi Ellenson<\/em><\/p>\n

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Emily & Jodi<\/b><\/div>\n
Bilaterally flat breast cancer survivors Emily Jensen & Jodi Jaecks in PLAY OUT, photo credit Candace Doyal<\/i><\/div>\n
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“As a core mission since the brand\u2019s debut in 2014, PLAY OUT wishes to push the boundaries and continue the conversation on gender norms. This mission is further presented in their SS15 campaign film, featuring androgynous model\u00a0<\/b>Rain Dove\u00a0engaged in a gender-blurring kiss with female model Nora Sommerkamp. Open <\/span>to viewer interpretation whether they\u2019re seeing a male-female couple or a female-female couple, PLAY OUT asks viewers to re-evaluate how individuals are labeled and to embrace a landscape without gender borders.”<\/p>\n