The image of a super model has always been tall, thin, long legged women, height ranging between 5’10 - 6’2 and weighing between 90 - 120 lbs. Any Victoria’s Secret model or fashion magazine you pick up (Glamour, Vogue, W) will show proof of these requirements. These unrealistic physical characteristics seem to seep into the minds of young women breeding insecurity and emotional trauma well into their adult lives. Its this deep-seated obsession, implanted in us to think we have to be anorexic in order to be beautiful. How has this become the physical goal for women? How can we be so easily influenced? What is this “pressure from society” that is all consuming, this perfect body image? We are so insecure as women.
Then theres the whole flip side of the situation, why aren’t there more plus size models??
Tess Holliday 5’5 and a size 22, makeup artist in Los Angeles, has signed her first modeling deal. She is a “feminist” (of course) and she has started the #effyourbodystandards movement and they call her a “Body Positive Activist.” How is this different? So now the requirements to be a model are you have to be 90lbs or 300lbs? This nation is fucking ridiculous. First of all, you are not starting a movement, you simply write a blog and someone is paying you to sell clothes to other fat girls. Because she isn’t 90lbs, she’s a fucking hero! What about heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, cancer? Are we throwing in the towel on health concerns? Setting a new example for the youth that its fine to eat fast food and you don’t have to exercise or ever push yourselves because society says its ok. We need to be teaching our youth to be healthy and active, be grateful for having movement of your limbs and be living without disease. Leading by fucking example. It’s time to acknowledge the actual problem, the lack of mental health care support in this country and the miseducation of physical fitness.
Mental health is one of the biggest problems in this country yet for some reason, is the most ignored. We cannot blame these insecurities, diseases, food addictions, body image obsessions on the fashion and entertainment industry alone. That’s the easy way out. It’s much easier to support a corporate created feminist movement then to face the demons in our own minds. Perhaps our parents infused these insecurities into us growing up. And maybe the Kohls catalog that comes in the mail every Friday may always be full of smiling, thin women. And yes, the skinny cheerleader in high school did call you fat that one time. Regardless, we should be capable and mentally confident to face the challenges we encounter without following or giving in to the “acceptance” of being over weight and unhealthy.
When I was in high school I think my gym teacher was also the drivers ed teacher…We could start there. Physical Education in school needs to be taken more seriously. Teach our children the difference and benefits of cardio and strength training and how to eat a balanced diet. Ingrain it in them as they grow, maybe they mature into secure people with a grasp on how to live a healthy lifestyle. Hire nutritionists and trainers, physical therapists - I mean, our math teachers aren’t also serving us lunch!
Corporate companies are targeting the insecure to make a profit, and its working! However, the Dove company does not care about your health or mental well being, they only care about selling more soap. Tess Holliday and Lane Bryant #imnoangel aren’t trying to encourage you to become a model. They don’t care about your physical health or your mental health. In fact they are banking off of your insecurities and ignorance. These are corporate companies selling clothes. This is simply a new marketing technique, nothing more.
In the defense of fashion I can see the visual aspect, a tall slender figure most accurately displays the designers art form. A blank canvas in a sense, nothing distracting or taking away from the focal point. For the same reason, they don’t have voluptuous supermodels either. They desire and seek out that boring, straight form for the purpose of not intruding on the fashion. This form shouldn’t cause young girls or even women to feel insecure, it’s a display rack.
Super models will always be thin and young girls will always have eating disorders and we can go around and around blaming one on the other. Or, we can change the pattern. We can’t control Hollywood but you can educate yourself - don’t be controlled or so easily swayed. Just because Starbucks markets their new coffee drink as a protein drink doesn’t mean it’s a post workout drink. Look how many years it took everyone to learn that Vitamin Water is just another sugary juice drink. No Shit! Take control, if you want to feel good about yourself , if you are struggling with body image insecurities, try being proactive. Join a gym, see a therapist, don’t feed into this we care about you, #imnoangle money making corporate bullshit scheme, its for the birds. We as women shouldn’t have time to be insecure, you are beautiful and all powerful and you only need to prove it to yourself.
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