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| Cindy Crawford |
If you thought models were thin twenty years ago, have you notice them lately? They used to be real people, only 8% smaller than the average American women. Today they are 23% thinner—so tiny that Cindy Crawford and Christie Brinkley would be plus size models today.
Plus sized models? Plus sizes are now sizes 6 to 12, and the average woman in America is a size 14.
What’s happened to our thinking? Things have gotten so skewed, so entangled, we can't think straight any more. If we saw a couple of those models coming down the aisles of our supermarket, we’d swear they’re anorexic and want to drag them to the closest hospital and hook 'em up to the nearest I.V. But on a runway they’re gorgeous? Come on, what's so beautiful? There isn’t any beauty around.
The top models are all size ZERO. That means nada—nothing, like no fat on the bones, or a mushy pound of flesh to squeeze. At the same time, we're all bombarded by videos of pour souls from Africa dying of hunger, and some celebrity begging us to send money to save these people from dropping dead on the spot.
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| skinny models |
How about the models? They’re getting sick too.
Luisel Ramos, a 22 year old South American model dropped dead of a heart attack after stepping off a runway in 2006. She had been on a three month diet of green leaves and diet Coke after being told she could be an international sensation if she lost weight. Six months later, Luisel’s sister Elana, also a teenage model, was found dead in her bathroom. She, too, suffered a heart attack.
But American culture won’t let go of its vise-like grip. Researchers report that women’s magazines have ten times more ads and articles promoting weight loss than men’s magazines do, and three-quarters of the covers on women’s magazines include a message about changing a woman’s body by either: diet, exercise, or cosmetic surgery. Is this self-improvement or self-destruction?
These non-stop messages about thinness make women constantly doubt themselves because they continually remind us that we're never quite right, that we're always in need of adjustment. According to Jean Kilbourne, educator and author, the overwhelming presence of painfully thin women means that real women’s bodies have become invisible in the mass media.
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| Callista Flockhart |
Stand her next to a broomstick, and you can’t tell them apart.
Harrison please, I’m telling you, there’s others… Let us all send a donation to Callista. Maybe she’ll take a nibble.
I enjoyed your article until the end. Am I the only one to see the irony? Pasted below:
ReplyDelete"Do women realize that these models and many celebrities have eating disorders? Have you seen Callista Flockhart, the actress engaged to Harrison Ford? You telling me he still gets excited pressing his hands to her bones?"
"Harrison please, I’m telling you, there’s others…"
1. The name is Calista.
2. Your message size, physical appearance, etc., should not define women. Then you add the asinine remark Harrison could do better based solely on Calista's physical appearance. Once again, social media adds to a highly complex illness.
3. You correctly pointed out they have eating disorders
4. Eating disorders are a serious mental illness with physical ramifications. People do NOT CHOSE to have an illness! Yes, these stupid "pro-ana" sites exist. Yet, I can't recall seeing one physically healthy weight-range girl lose enough weight meeting requirements guidelines set forth by the AMA for anorexia or EDNOS. I'm sure some have. I'm sure some actually have eating disorders, but they're in the minority. Ask someone in treatment and likely you will find their life is a living hell. However, most members of "pro-ana" sites stop once they reach a "low normal BMI" Most have low self-esteem desiring notoriety of the characteristics accompanying anorexia: "good" intelligent individuals, perfectionists, etc. If those "personality" traits accompanied Schizophrenia, most likely "pro-schizo" sites would emerge. Your comment "Harrison.. there are others" and making a comparison between Calista and a broomstick only put your article in the same category as others comparing a person to an object they consider beautiful or ugly. Perhaps Harrison finds Calista beautiful for her inner self, esp. now, since she's considered a "healthy" weight, aged gracefully AND they're still together after many years. A number of yrs. most average American couples never reach and certainly only a rare few in Hollywood.
You really need to check your facts. The average runway model is size 4. A size most agree is still unhealthy. I've never seen a "Plus-size" runway model size 6. Another factor includes photoshop. I'm amazed people can't tell the difference. Some are so horrific, the bone structure is anatomically incorrect. My facts are based on college degrees, 2 decades studying eating disorders that are not a new phenomenon. Bulimia dates back to the Roman feasts. Anorexia cases have occurred since the 1800's. My personal struggle from age 6 lasting more than 2 decades. Medical training and treating hundreds who struggle. I accidently clicked on your site. I don't know if you're writing for a more tabloid type reader. If so, I understand. If you consider yourself a serious writer/journalist, your article fails miserably.
ARTICLE QUOTE: "These non-stop messages about thinness make women constantly doubt themselves because they continually remind us that we're never quite right, that we're always in need of adjustment."
ReplyDeleteDo you ever RESEARCH your statements? Eating disorders have very little to do w/ beauty. Contrary to the uneducated public "opinion" eating disorders as bulimia date back to Roman Feast, The first cases of anorexia nervosa were documented in the 1800's. Ironically, your article is hypocoristic. The sole comment Calista, NOT Callista! is unworthy of Harrison Ford's love due to her outward appearance, leaves me with one opinion. Either, you seek readers who find tabloids more informative than "Time" magazine or honestly believe your views, regardless if based on actual facts. I left a previous comment which never was added. I'm curious if this will be approved or deleted due to criticism.