In a recent article By Fashion The Shine, it was shown that models shown in sixes smaller than the vast majority of America’s women. I am not one of those people with a figure smaller than a size six, but I also don’t consider myself to be overweight. I think it is sad how women always seem to look to the media for guidance on what they wear and how they look.
I think the problem is not just the fault of advertisers and marketing teams. The fault also lies with society. True, models today are 23% smaller than the average women, but the average women today is also larger than the average women 20 years ago. I am just as annoyed at the size zero models as the next person, but unless we do something about it, we are no better for our complaining.
Most people today, not just women, want to feel good about how they look, but the average person no longer feels comfortable in their size, but does all the blame fall to those people in marketing and clothing design? I don’t think so. Over the past few years, people have become more and more aware of how they look, both in terms of size and presentation, and let’s face it, most people will judge our ability to perform tasks based on our weight and size. Women who wear makeup are seen as more trustworthy, and women who don't stay fit and active are seen as lazy, or unmotivated. Even magazines that terget the plus-sized women shows models size 12 or smaller, not the realistic size of most plus-sized people.
In an article found at career-intelligence.com, a study was done showing that women are paid, and perceived as competent based on their weight more than their capability in the workplace. Nobody wants to admit that appearance effects decisions, but it does, so something needs to change. I do not believe that the entire fault lies with the media; some at least in part lies with us. We the people have allowed the media to determine what is right and acceptable, and if this means having a size 2 body makes you a more efficient worker, then so be it.
I find it sad that a woman is society can’t be seen as successful unless she has it all, the perfect house, car, and size. Market everywhere caters to people who want what society says is good for them, and that includes clothing that is made for models size 00 to 4.
In the article found at career-intellignece.com, author Robin Madell writes:
“Regardless of whether looks are a hidden persuader or a more overt one, many women are aware of being judged by them in the workplace. If you want to know whether women think their looks are important at work, ask a dermatologist. Debra Jaliman, a board-certified dermatologist and author of Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist, says that many of her patients spend substantial sums of time and money to try to look younger and better, specifically because they believe it affects their chances for job advancement.”
People are no longer satisfied with just trying to stay healthy and happy, it has become more about conforming to societies image of what is acceptable, but is being the smallest size you can be really good? I think that as long as you are happy, and not putting your health at risk, it is fine to be whatever shape you want. I decided several years ago that being a size 4 was not for me, but not paying attention to my health was not an option either, so I made some decisions, everything in moderation, not eating too much of a good thing, and whenever I overindulge, I compensate somewhere else. So for example, if I eat a big breakfast, I have a smaller lunch, possibly just a salad and some juice. I do not allow myself to get hungry, but I don’t overeat, I am not perfectly satisfied with my body, but I am not trying to conform to another person’s idea of what is right for me.
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You are talking about something that I believe affects every woman in America and maybe in the world. It’s amazing what lengths we’ll go to in order to “fit in.” Fit in to what though? I doubt that any one of us had a mother or a grandmother or an aunt or a sister who wasn’t on a diet of some sort most of our child hoods and what did that ultimately do to us, well, we are where we are today aren’t we. It’s very sad that so much is placed on the way a woman looks. It is very true in school, business, and everyday life for women that what you look like affects so much. Unfair as it is, you’re right, we need to try to be happy with ourselves in order to teach the next generation that there is no "perfect" in our our world, but we can be happy - let's teach that.
ReplyDeleteIt is so sad and so true that the way a woman looks (and men for that matter anymore) affects how they are perceived all around. But really, it's always been this way... the difference is really media. Women were forced to wear corsets to look like what they were expected to look like, and it has just evolved into Spanx. Although we all have a part to play in how we are perceived, media and the fact that we allow it to control how and what we think do play a large role in the issue. But I do think that if, as a nation, we got off the couch and did something every day, we would all feel better about ourselves and not care as much that the models are a size 00. My weight is something that I have always struggled with, but I know that I feel better about myself, and life in general, when I am eating right and exercising daily. That's just my take...
ReplyDeleteMost runway models meet the body mass index criteria for anorexia, according to an editorial pictorial in the January issue of PLUS Model magazine. Twenty years ago, the average fashion model weighed 8 percent less than the average woman. Today, the average fashion model weighs 23 percent less. Fifty percent of women wear a size fourteen or larger; however, the majority of stores stock sizes fourteen or smaller. The PLUS campaign is aiming to encourage plus-size shoppers to put pressure on retailers to stop promoting a skinny body ideal, and cater better to bigger women.
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