The pictorial above is from PLUS model magazine. The story in full, and where I'm getting my information, is covered here. I'll give you the bullet pointed gist though, for those short on time ... (or rich in time and just short in attention span like me).PLUS magazine quotes some unreferenced statistics at us:
- "Twenty years ago the average fashion model weighed 8 percent less than the average woman. Today she weighs 23 percent less."
- "Ten years ago, plus sized models averaged between size 12 and 18. Today, the majority of plus-sized models on the agency boards are between a 6 and 14."
What we DO KNOW for sure:
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1/3 of Americans are obese.
- The National Institue of Mental Health acknowledges that a small percentage of us do indeed have eating disorders.
- Models go to extreme lengths to cling to the unrealistic standards expected of them. Think all liquid diet and twice daily workouts.
- Stick-thin models are then photoshopped down to needle-thin, thanks to picture editting software.
- Some companies don't even USE models from real life, their ads are COMPLETELY computer generated.
As Salon.com says, "the fashion and publishing industries peddle increasingly impossible ideals of feminine perfection." So what do we do?
- We can start by using referenced and validated statistics from accredited institutions to make a point, not just captioning saffic pictures with dubious ones.
- It's laudable that PLUS model magazine would speak out on issues of body image, but at the end of the day, it's still a bit like the pot calling the kettle black. Don't tell me no photo editting, lighting tricks, or lavish makeup sessions go on behind the scenes to create their photo spreads.
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