Nowadays, it seems like we've all caught the anti-body shaming bug. Which was really great until the whole idea swung to the other extreme. We celebrate and encourage obesity in an effort to be inclusive and supportive of all body types. What we don't imagine, however, is that we are doing more harm than good.
In no way am I saying that you should hate the way you look, because that type of thinking is self-destructive and dangerous. What I am saying, though, is that there is a vast difference between being ok the way you look right now whilst aiming to change it, and not wanting to change because society has now told you that fat = beautiful. For the purposes of this blog, I'll call this tolerance vs. acceptance.
Recently, Yves Saint Laurent were banned from publishing an advert where the model involved was severely underweight. On the other extreme, the internet blew up over Tess Holliday, a 'plus-sized' model who encourages self-acceptance. These two models are worlds apart in what they look like, but unfortunately, are oh so similar in what they represent. The ASA (Advertising Standards Agency) called it 'irresponsible' for YSL to show this advert as it enforces the idea that the thinner you are, the better you are, and that this is the ideal body. Here, it is not the model's fault, she was chosen by a larger corporation.
Why, then, is it not considered irresponsible for models etc. such as Tess Holliday to instil in young people that being obese or overweight is acceptable?
Holliday is a size 22 (UK 26). It is inconceivable to me that she has been allowed to become a symbol of beauty - instead she is encouraging death. A bold statement I know, and many will point out that being too thin is just as dangerous as being too fat but in today's day and age, society is much more aware of the risks of being underweight. What isn't as widely known is that obesity carries with it serious health risks; strokes, cancer, and heart disease are all strongly linked to obesity, along with weakened joints and limited mobility.
In my unpopular opinion, I would rather that young, obese girls feel just a little uncomfortable about their bodies and become healthier, than feel supremely confident in themselves and remain dangerously unhealthy for life, or at least until they have a health scare and wish they had made some changes earlier.
TL;DR : People like Tess Holliday are slowly killing themselves, and society, with too much self-love.
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| This YSL advert was banned by the ASA as the model is 'unhealthily underweight' |
Recently, Yves Saint Laurent were banned from publishing an advert where the model involved was severely underweight. On the other extreme, the internet blew up over Tess Holliday, a 'plus-sized' model who encourages self-acceptance. These two models are worlds apart in what they look like, but unfortunately, are oh so similar in what they represent. The ASA (Advertising Standards Agency) called it 'irresponsible' for YSL to show this advert as it enforces the idea that the thinner you are, the better you are, and that this is the ideal body. Here, it is not the model's fault, she was chosen by a larger corporation.
Why, then, is it not considered irresponsible for models etc. such as Tess Holliday to instil in young people that being obese or overweight is acceptable?
Holliday is a size 22 (UK 26). It is inconceivable to me that she has been allowed to become a symbol of beauty - instead she is encouraging death. A bold statement I know, and many will point out that being too thin is just as dangerous as being too fat but in today's day and age, society is much more aware of the risks of being underweight. What isn't as widely known is that obesity carries with it serious health risks; strokes, cancer, and heart disease are all strongly linked to obesity, along with weakened joints and limited mobility.
In my unpopular opinion, I would rather that young, obese girls feel just a little uncomfortable about their bodies and become healthier, than feel supremely confident in themselves and remain dangerously unhealthy for life, or at least until they have a health scare and wish they had made some changes earlier.
TL;DR : People like Tess Holliday are slowly killing themselves, and society, with too much self-love.
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