Thin: To Be or Not to Be?

Thin: To Be or Not to Be?

Over the past few years, the incidence of eating disorders and anorexia has dramatically increased in young women across the country. This epidemic not only affects their quality of life and deteriorates their health, but for many, it can kill them. Young girls in our society look to fashion models and celebrities as the standard for what a woman should look like: beautiful, outrageously thin, and perfect. These are the images that are streamed into their homes everyday through the television shows that they watch, the magazines they read and any other form of media they are exposed to.

While international cultures have taken initiatives to try and correct this issue with body type idealism taken from the media, American society has not while young girl continue to be afflicted and the media continues to profit. The Madrid Fashion show in 2006 banned models that were too thin from walking in their show, a bold and highly discussed resolution. The models were required to have a BMI index of no less than 18, which was shocking within the fashion industry because it did not fit in with the industry’s and the media’s standards of models and the ideals of beauty they are supposed to represent.

Kilbourne explains that “the quest for a body as thin as a model’s becomes a prison for many women and girls” (Dines 263). Because the media is so inundated with images of unhealthy ideals of body type, it constantly reminds women that they may not fit that ideal. This has deep psychological effects on young women who are already trying to find their identity. Kilbourne continues by explaining that “Advertising is one of the most potent messengers in a culture that can be toxic for girls’ self-esteem (Dines 258).

In stark contrast, and in an attempt to combat these media-driven ideals, American society tries to convince young women to love their bodies. Higginbotham suggests that “ Girls are encouraged to love their bodies, no matter what they look like, by magazines with fashion spreads featuring only stick-thin, flawless-faced white models in expensive outfits”(95). However, many magazines and new advertising campaigns featuring images of the “fuller” women and the “happy with yourself” ideals, advertisement is often followed on the next page with a new diet plan, which again reinforces the “skinny” ideal.

Young women are bombarded with conflicting images and messages that tell them to love their bodies but are given advice on how to lose extra weight. In the choice between loving oneself and what they think will make others love them, young girls turn to eating disorders to reach their ideals and be like the models they see in the media. Young girls in our society take the risks of ruining their health and their quality of life because they also see that the skinny models are given money, praise and attention. As these images continue to last within the media, without earnest attempts to change these ideals for young women, the incidence of eating disorders and anorexia is likely to continue rising.

Works Cited

Dines, Gail & Jean M. (McMahon) Humez. Gender, Race, and Class in Media: A Text-Reader. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications: 2003.

Fernanda Tavares. Photograph. 19 May 2009 .

Higginbotham, Anastasia. "Teen Mags: How to Get a Guy, Drop 20 Pounds, and Lose
Your Self-Esteem." Essay.

Jaslene Gonzalez. Photograph. 19 May 2009
.

"Madrid bans waifs from catwalks." BBC. 19 May 2009 .

Model's Back. Photograph. 19 May 2009 .

Model Pose. Photograph. 19 May 2009 .

Model Skeleton Ribs. Photograph. 19 May 2009
.

Nicole Richie. Photograph. 19 May 2009 .

Tara Reid. Photograph. 19 May 2009 .

Waist Size. Photograph. 19 May 2009 .