"Heroin Chic": How Racism Created the Thin Ideal

WNYC ^ | 12/5/22 | WNYC

[DallasBiff]

A recent headline declared "bye bye booty, heroin chic is back," referring to a fashion look in the 1990s and 2000s that glorified women with ultra-thin figures. But the backlash to the headlines from people recalling how this trend harmed their relationships with food and their bodies, shows that plenty of people are not interested in going back. So what really makes a "trend" go in and out of fashion?

Professor Sabrina Strings says that while we may have had a few years in which having curves was considered fashionable, the thin ideal has never truly gone "out" of style. It's older than America itself — but just like America, it’s rooted in racist hierarchies.

[DallasBiff]

WTF? Now I see obese white and black women on commercials.

Heroin chic was a NYC advertising campaign, and 99% of the pictures were of anoerexic women.

[outofsalt]

"It's older than America itself — but just like America, it’s rooted in racist hierarchies"

ESAD WNYC

[Eagles6]

It must be exhausting, looking for that Cracker in a white hood and robe, everywhere, every waking moment.

If racism is so pervasive and overwhelming, why don't they, just, go to the utopia of Wakanda?

[EvilCapitalist]

Thin is ok, but anorexic is just wrong.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Victor Hanson is always expressing surprise that so many people from all over the world want to come to this racist sh!thole of a country. It is so puzzling, isn’t it?

[Liz]

Woke victoria's secret ad.

[Eagles6]

VDH is always awesome.

[ComputerGuy]

Being thin is where it's been,
but being fat is where it's at.
Victor Buono

[DallasBiff]

Well Whitney Houston was not fat.

[dfwgator]

Everything is Racist!

[dfwgator]

[sit-rep]

I made myself a vow when I was a teenager... I'd never do a chick who's ass is bigger than mine. Maintaining my body and 32” waist, I can still fit into my plaid Bell Bottoms from the 70s!! No room for fat broads in my life!! Cheers to no cellulite!!!

[DeplorablePaul]

“the thin ideal has never truly gone “out” of style. It’s older than America itself — but just like America, it’s rooted in racist hierarchies.”

Wrong. American culture associated the zaftig figure with being rich. Thin was associated with being poor. Black academics like racist string bean are a joke.

[EvilCapitalist]

That’s a dude on the right side, isn’t it?

[ronniesgal]

i’d rather be skinny than fat

[Robert A Cook PE]

“Heroin thin” was a NY-London-Paris “fashion trend” but invented and nutured by the homosexual woman-despising fashion industry. How many fantasize young boys’ figures when they drape skinny teenage models?

[Robert A Cook PE]

Plug-a”e ugly.

[Liz]

Who knows?

[EvilCapitalist]

The turtleneck sweater makes me think “she” has an adam’s apple to hide.

[ClearCase_guy]

I would never say anything hurtful to a woman who carried some excess pounds. I am not rude.

But holding fatties up as symbols of beauty? Don’t insult me. They are not attractive. That industry trend really annoys me.