Phat
February 7, 2007I have a really big problem with the media today for this reason. I got online today and saw this ad:
It kind of made me sick a little. These were the models that mercedes benz used for their fashion show this week. First of all, why is mercedes benz making clothes, and second of all I have such a hard time with the media and the way that they portrey the female image right now. With all we know about women and the way that they function, and how distructive the media influence can be, Im shocked that this crap is still happening. Although there are some people, and some companies that are working against this image it is still very strong. I do a lot of work with teenagers, in the schools and I used to work out at summercamps, and every year I see the same thing. You always wind up with a group of girls that stand around and complement eachother, and at the same time they are putting themselves down because they are not the ideal shape, or they are not pretty enough. I was looking around thismorning and I found this clip of the Tyra show that I really liked Ill leave it for those of you who want to check it out:
I would also like to commend companies such as Baby Phat and Dove for campaining for real women. Baby Phat just launched a “plus size” line for women who dont fit into the 1,3,5,7 mold.
I hate to be such a media downer, but this kind of crap is what makes our world so much harder to live and be happy in. As far as I am concerned, life is far to short to be unhappy, and most people who are unhappy are that way because they have internalized all fo this shit, and cant be content with the way that they are. As a future counsellor I find it intimidating when I think of the fact that I will be up against these images when promoting healthy families and healthy lifestyles. Im sorry Im just so fed up with it today, and I wanted to rant about it.
YOU UPLOADED A VIDEO!!! AND I DIDN’T HAVE TO HELP YOU!!! i’m so proud right now. good girl! i saw that Tyra clip a couple days ago and frankly I find her a little scary. Tyra’s a little whacked out. Or cracked out. HA. i smell an internet rumour……. i hope your paper is going well. i’m thinking about napping. so i might go do that before class so that i don’t do it during. hahaha. go team! hmm that dress on the right is cute! and mercedes didn’t have a fashion show. they just sponsor New York Fashion Week is all. As far as I know, they still make pretty cars that I want to own.
bye!!!
I posted a blog the other day about Tyra. You should check it out, I’m at “For Better or For Worse”.
She doesn’t scare me at all, I think she’s great. She must really know the pressures to be thin considering she was a supermodel for almost 20 years. As for the pictures you posted, I am shocked that this is still happening. There is NO way that those girls are eating a balanced diet, and IF they are they are working it all off and some at the gym. Gross.
Good post though. This sort of thing amazes me and disgusts me at the same time.
Looking at images of how the media portrays “beautiful” women truly repulses me. The picture of the model you posted was a perfect of why girls today are unhappy with their bodies. More designers need to be banning too thin models for the safety of girls everywhere and frankly for their own good.
Finally I will agree that what Tyra is saying on that video is empowering I feel that she has a very two sided approach to this issue. I have heard her many times telling the model on her show that they aren’t thin enough or how to hide those “trouble” areas. Now she is coming out on her program saying that people are critizing her weight and that it’s bad for the female self esteem.
I think that Tyra is doing a good thing now by addressing the issue but I can only image how her opinion is going to change when America’s Next Top Model premieres.
I really applaud Tyra Banks on her views and actions. I presume it isn’t easy to be a minority (not size 0) in the world on modelling, as a ‘heavier’ (according to their standards’ girl. I’m not going to lie, I was tearing a little during that clip, she really put everything out there and meant it.
I read somewhere that many fashion designers are banning models that are too thin from their runways. But I am still pissed of because while they may be banning everyone size 0 and under, every single model they DO have is a size 2. Oh yeah, much better. While watching Access Hollywood, a designer was asked ‘why the choice to ban too thin models?’ the response given was that their ‘extreme thinness is distracting’. It’s DISTRACTING?!?! Not that they are unhealthy themselves, promoting that image as ideal, creating negative body issues for young women, etc, etc. Nope nothing like that, but even so, at size 2 not many real women can relate to their models anyhow.
The funny thing is the person criticising Tyra’s weight in US Weekly is probably some old, fat man who sits at his desk all day and writes sarcastic/cruel captions for pictures of people that are actually doing something meaningful with their life, like Tyra Banks.
First of all, I’m surprised that the girl in the first picture is still alive. Second, I’m glad to see someone so well known, like Trya, to speak out. She had a strong message and got emotional about it which shows viewers that she meant what she is saying. Another sad thing however, when you mentioned that Baby Phat came out with a line for “plus size” women, it’s just to bad that people are considered plus size when 30ish years ago they would have been the “normal” size.
Hey, I loved your blog, I haven’t seen the Tyra video before, that was cool…a little bit scary. I’m wondering if you remember where you saw the mercedez ad because I think I want to use it for another class. I admire how Tyra is standing up for herself and her weight, but I have heard her on america’s next top model telling girls that they are too big or that they can be plus size models, and its like WHAT!!??! plus size, she’s only a size 7 or 9. Also, some of the girls that win look underweight and she has never said anything about that, I remember twins from one season who liked like they were dying but she never remarked on them being underweight…I wonder what she thinks about women her size modelling.