Posted on 03/25/2012 11:16:13 AM PDT by nickcarraway
From super-skinny celebrities to models with low BMI, people are speaking out about women they perceive to be too thin. But some experts worry this behaviour makes things worse.
This week, Israel passed a law banning models from advertisements or fashion shows if they measure less than 18.5 on the body mass index (BMI). It's part of an effort to promote health for women of all sizes, and to stop glorifying the ultra-thin.
"Beautiful is not underweight," says Rachel Adato, one of the creators of the bill.
In recent years, much attention has been paid to how women are portrayed in the media, whether it's an overly airbrushed magazine model with an impossibly slim waist, or a TV starlet with protruding collar bones.
In an era when pro-anorexia communities congregate on social media sites like Pinterest, it's no wonder that lawmakers are concerned with women's body image.
For sure, reducing the number of images that portray women as very thin is beneficial, says Claire Mysko, director of Proud2BeMe, a website created with the National Eating Disorders Association (Neda) to promote healthy body image.
"There is a danger in being constantly exposed to one image of beauty," she says. "There is a serious lack of body diversity in the media. People are not seeing themselves and their bodies reflected."
Israel's law may be the catalyst needed to help make change. But others say it could make things worse.
'Arbitrary' system Many magazine editors, modelling agents and casting directors say they want to use more diverse models, but can't because of industry expectations - with each blaming the other group for setting the tone.
"They all feel trapped into producing what nobody individually espouses," says Amanda Mears, author of Pricing Beauty: The Making of a Fashion Model. "Everyone felt individually powerless."
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
I don't think she's a size 0. ;)
This thread is trending curvy-Hottie-pingworthy.
Holy crap that looks like my sister in the background!
BTW, I always liked Monica Bellucci better than Catherine Zeta Jones.
If you fall for the curvy 21 year old, chances are she's going to overshoot the mark and have weight issues most of her life. Not set in stone by any means, but aging and children tend to round a woman out a bit. I'm thinking it's better to start a little light so you can settle into perfect.
GenXteacher says it’s worthy, it’s worthy.
Hottie Ping!
To be on or off the Hottie Ping List please FReepmail me.
+100000000
Bet she feels exactly the way a women is suppose to feel...soft.
Dork husband of hers is a lucky bastuhd.
I’d hit that so hard I’d be speaking in tongues.
Smoking!!!
I submit that fashion both reflects and establishes acceptable body image ... it's a positive feedback loop.
Part of it may be because they like adolescent boys, but probably more because it's just easier to create a dress to fit on a straight cylindrical figure. Curves are complicated to cut a dress for.
On the other side, the women who complain the most about the fashion industry not designing for "women with curves" are not what I would consider curvy. Sophia Loren in her prime was curvy. Raquel Welch was curvy. Most of the complaining women are just fat.
Runway models are walking clothes racks. Female curves distract from the line and style of the clothes and lead viewers to watch the models instead of the product.
Fashion shows aren't intended to make men excited or make average women feel bad about their weight. Their purpose is to sell a wholesale product to retailers. That product needs to be on a woman whose body fades into the background and displays the product to maximum advantage.
wow, where did you find that pic???
If that’s monica, she was VERY young there. I’d say 20 years old. Maybe younger.
Phone number, please?
I always suspected you were a cunning linguist...
To find the the pic, I went to Bing, plugged in Monica Belluci and after searching selected "Images" from the bar up top left. Lots more there - just be careful because some would be considered NSFW. ;-) Once in images you can filter by image size to cut down on thumbnails ... Have fun! ;-) BTW, recommend you don't click through any pics with Eastern European extensions like .ru, .cz, etc. unless all your anti-virus stuff is solid and up to date ...
ha!
she’s married, lives in Kalifornia, and is turning quite liberal these past years.
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