I don't see what good will come of this, but I will try genuinely to help you nonetheless.
Would you be happy (rather than surprised) to see a photo of two male models on your invite to this event in the same style? Maybe with their shirts undone to their waist, sharing a kiss, anything that's approximately equivalent?
If not, you might like to consider why that choice of image would be uncomfortable for you and that this particular choice of image might be uncomfortable for others.
If you bite the bullet (well done!), there are further problems. This is an event to launch a high school seniors employment initiative. High school and sexualised imagery don't belong together.
First off, those women don't have any thing undone. In fact, their shirts go all the way to the neck. No cleavage. One pic has one of the women showing a little (tiny, tiny) midriff but the image cropping really minimizes the amount of skin shown. They are dressed in a "fun take on the black tie affair" kind of way... not half nekkid. So your comparison on the men with shirts undone to their waist is quite a bit extreme.
sharing a kiss
Second, call it a crazy double standard or what have you but the fact is, many girl friends do stuff like this while not many guys do. When my wife is hanging out with her girl friends it is not uncommon for one of them to lick another at some point in the evening. I can honestly say that I don't recall ever being involved in a licking with another guy. I also don't accompany my guy friends to the restroom but that seems to be popular with the women. Men and women are different after all.
> Would you be happy (rather than surprised) to see a photo of two male models on your invite to this event in the same style? Maybe with their shirts undone to their waist, sharing a kiss, anything that's approximately equivalent?
That actually touched on a very different issue, especially the "sharing a kiss"-part. While nobody seeing the pictures of the two girls is thinking of them as lesbians, a lot of people would consider two guys doing the exact same poses "gay". Just goes to show that gender inequality cuts both ways :(
Personally I wouldn't have a problem with that all though. I REALLY disagree that we should hide images like that because a lot of people (even people who support gay marriage) are uncomfortable with things that "are gay".
> High school and sexualised imagery don't belong together.
WHAAT? They're 17/18 for gods sake! There's hardly a time where it is more appropriate.
1. The fact that you/others expect women to behave in a sexually titillating way for men is not 'cuts both ways' discrimination, except that it degrades everyone.
1. Huh?! Where have I said anything of that sort, or something even close to it? Are you sure you even read my comment?
2. Yeah, they do. Forcefully repressing their sexuality is not respectful. At all.
I think it's pretty stunning that you find my comment, in which I highlighted a gender inequality issue and being honest with youth about their sexuality, disgusting.
No answer to my question but you ask your own? IMO you're wilfully avoiding the point about the appropriateness of sexualised imagery in general, but nonetheless I'll answer your question: from the original source.
"Gather with us as we celebrate the launch of our charity initiative with Urban Alliance, the only year long employment program for under resourced high school seniors in Chicago." Excuse any transcription error.
Your question seems incredibly irrelevant. Yes, putting partying people on a party invite seems like the most natural thing to do. The women are clothed, so I'm not sure why you think a shirtless guy is equivalent. But more to the point, I think putting sexy guys having fun on a party invite would make exactly as much sense as this one. But it would have the disadvantage of not showing women that they can show up and have a good time too.
Would you be happy (rather than surprised) to see a photo of two male models on your invite to this event in the same style? Maybe with their shirts undone to their waist, sharing a kiss, anything that's approximately equivalent?
If not, you might like to consider why that choice of image would be uncomfortable for you and that this particular choice of image might be uncomfortable for others.
If you bite the bullet (well done!), there are further problems. This is an event to launch a high school seniors employment initiative. High school and sexualised imagery don't belong together.