Nonplussed: Study Says Even Full-figured Models Damage Self-esteem
(^the source of the article)
Damned if you do … According to a new study conducted by a team of researchers from the U.S., Germany, and the Netherlands and published in the Journal of Consumer Research, magazine photos of models, be they magically emaciated or plus-size, make overweight women feel worse about their bodies and, conversely, “underweight” women feel better about themselves. So unfair, right? A serious blow to the growing interest in “plus-size” or “full-figure” spreads, the study suggests that redefining standards of shape across the editorial and commercial side of print fashion won’t be some sort of panacea for the already fragmented self-esteem of women who fall outside of our modern understanding of beauty. “Overweight women’s self-esteem always decreases, regardless of the model they look at,” says the study, implying that it’s not the particular image someone looks at that’s damaging, but rather the presentation of beauty, in any form, that troubles many readers. Anna North over at Jezebel breaks it down for us: “The fact is, images whose purpose is to sell women shit — whether those images look more or less like them — are probably never going to be on the forefront of social change. Including plus-size women in ads and fashion spreads is an important step not just for social good, but for aesthetic value — magazines would be more interesting if they contained a greater diversity of models.” The takeaway? Crystal Renn and all the size 12 sweethearts in the world aren’t going to make you feel any better if you don’t already maintain a healthy distance between the fun and fantasy of fashion imagery and the real, live girl you see in the mirror.
Women’s Self-Esteem Affected By Magazines [UPI]
By: Gabriel Bell
- all five foot nine inches, 161lbs, size 10 of me is torn. I want to see real women represented in advertisements……but……damn this is hard. I think what happend to the sz 4 RL model was cruel, but I adore Crystal Renn.
on a side note….my mom came to visit me and showed off a sz 8 ann taylor (leather) skirt (knowing I am a 10) and said, “I’m not sure you can fit into this, but let’s see….” I put it on and I looked like Jessica Rabbit (sure, I had put texas in Rhode Island) but I won. I said “hmph!” and sashayed (sp) around like Carmen Jones.By thegreatdanadane on 10/15/2009 at 5:22pm
- Thegreatdanadane: Please refrain from using the term “real women”. I don’t think I have to explain why. Thanks!
By ecovert on 10/15/2009 at 5:35pm
- For me, i just wish models would look healthier because if you are a naturally skinny person (and I mean size 0 and 2 as well), your chest bones will never show. It just disturbs me to know that girls put themselves through that for a job that won’t last that long and promises them nothing. Consequently, when I see a “plus size” model in a magazine I feel like it was only done to make a point, almost as if the whole ordeal is a joke: “Hey look at us, we have the real girl. She’s fat, and look, no makeup: au natural! Don’t we connect with you?” Another thing i notice is that when they do put these “plus size’ women (or girls) in spreads they make a point to tell you that they’re plus size models (because they’re so damn fat we thought they were props!). They run titles like “Real Women Have Curves” and “Beauty Doesn’t end at 120 lbs”. It’s ridiculous, and the saddest part is that in this climate, magazines are doing whatever they can to get subscriptions, and if that means rolling out the “fatties” then so be it.
I of course believe obesity is dangerous, and that no one should be trying to tell them that it’s okay to be that way. I also think that if you know you’re 50 lbs overweight (and it’s not b/c of pregnancy or a weird side effect medicine) then you should slim down for your health. No one should give in to the notion that above size 6 is fat. Appreciate your body; you know you are healthy and you know you look good. Confidence is beautiful.By amirak101 on 10/15/2009 at 6:18pm
- I’m a real woman because I have a vagina and tits.
By sarcasticmeow on 10/15/2009 at 6:30pm
- Interesting. Did the editors of Bazaar get this memo? Now when we’ve established that “real women” and plus size models in magazine editorials have no significant positive effect on overweight women’s self-esteem, maybe Ms Bailey would like to reconsider the November (subscriber) cover and give us a fashion model for the next one?
http://thecouturecookie.blogspot.com/By CoutureCookie on 10/15/2009 at 6:37pm
- Ecovert: Please refrain from censoring other commenters. We’re absolutely positive that you know why. Thanks!
By anewman102 on 10/15/2009 at 6:53pm
- Maybe the constant scrutiny and criticism models face is somehow making its way into the photograph, and the reader internalizes the subtext of the emotion portrayed. I think a large part of it could be age, since models tend to be 16-20 years old, anyone that feels and looks older than 21 holds the potential to be called ugly and past their prime. And honestly, people who aren’t that photogenic can be perfectly stunning and confident in themselves in person. The point is it shouldn’t matter what a person looks like in a magazine, and we need to teach our children! Wear what makes you feel good about yourself, not what looks good on an arbitrarily selected 18 year old girl.
By boredasfit on 10/15/2009 at 7:15pm
- i can see this. it’s like - if a woman is looking at a spread of “real women” (mag’s words, not mine, ECOVERT!!), and is bigger than those women in the spread, it kind of says - you’re so fat that you’re not even a “real woman”! that’s horrible. but, what’s the answer? because magazines don’t want to glorify being overweight either, re AMIRAK101’s comment. lose-lose. hmmmmmm.
By lilylou on 10/15/2009 at 8:08pm
- unrelated: NYMAG your drop-down banner ad is going to drive me to the edge.
By lilylou on 10/15/2009 at 8:12pm
- Super fat people are gross. Super skinny people are gross too. END OF STORY
By sarcasticmeow on 10/15/2009 at 8:15pm
Ok, Ladies- I know you have something to say about this! What is it?!?!
