It's no wonder women feel body image pressures

Skillmister · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:05

Wej said:
Yes, and they will be under normal weight and BMI, i.e. in an unhealthy region.

I'm going to keep quiet now. I'm obviously in the minority of blokes who don't think this is a) helpful or b) responsible but c'est la vie.

Probably because you're wrong

What difference does it make whether they are real or not, those cgi women are no where near as skinny as some real models that are more likely to make your daughter think shes a fatty.

RopAyy · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:08

Wej said:
No, you're absolutely right, but it has long been considered to be a contributing factor. And it doesn't matter if someone is predisposed to something, if there is a trigger factor that pushes someone one way or another then surely that's not a good thing.

Maybe it's just me with kids who see billboard and tv adverts everyday with skinny models in lingerie, or tv programs (mostly American) with skinny actresses being paranoid. But I hear what my kids say and my youngest particularly (who's six) wants to be thin and beautiful when she grows up apparently. Not healthy, but thin. There's a lifestyle choice....

The last bit, surely then at 6 its your job to properly educate her on the differences between healthy and too thin?
If we all left our kids to the media and TV to educate then we would have a load of right wing, racist, anorexic, thick, common idiots walking the streets.

NeverWinter · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:09

RopAyy said:
The last bit, surely then at 6 its your job to properly educate her on the differences between healthy and too thin?

I completely agree.

cm1179 · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:11

RopAyy said:
The last bit, surely then at 6 its your job to properly educate her on the differences between healthy and too thin?
If we all left our kids to the media and TV to educate then we would have a load of right wing, racist, anorexic, thick, common idiots walking the streets.

exactly. the same way as you'd protect them from drugs, smoking alcahol etc i'm not a parent but still feel i have a right to comment when i say that these are givens. eating healthily and keeping fit is one of the simplest things a person can do.

Wej · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:12

Skillmister said:
Probably because you're wrong What difference does it make whether they are real or not, those cgi women are no where near as skinny as some real models that are more likely to make your daughter think shes a fatty.

My daughter is underweight, both of them are, particularly my youngest who is a real worry. Yes, I understand you get real women can be thinner, but if they are they are seriously into problem BMI values.

I'm going to leave this as I can see I'm in the minority of one as far as thinking that this is the thin end of the wedge. It's the same as airbrushing cellulite/blemishes out of pictures and only employing six foot size zero models, but I just found it scary that it's got to this point. For all those who think it makes no difference, that young girls aren't affected by it, I just hope you don't have a kid with eating issues...

Wej · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:12

So is tobacco advertising acceptable?

Sindri · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:13

RopAyy said:
If we all left our kids to the media and TV to educate then we would have a load of right wing, racist, anorexic, thick, common idiots walking the streets.

Evidently a lot of people of the younger generation need to be educated by the TV/media more, i see a lot more pie masters than people verging on anorexia walking the streets.

Bloomfield · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:14

Wej, do you also agree that violent video games should be banned because some crazy person played GTA before going on a killing spree?

Wej · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:15

RopAyy said:
The last bit, surely then at 6 its your job to properly educate her on the differences between healthy and too thin?
If we all left our kids to the media and TV to educate then we would have a load of right wing, racist, anorexic, thick, common idiots walking the streets.

Yes, because I don't bother teaching my kids anything. I sit them in front of the tv and let them learn from that, rather than doing it myself.

I'll try not to take your comments as a personal insult, despite the fact that that's how they come across...

elmarko · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:15

I've got more of the problem with the media portraying a false image of what men find attractive.

Far more men prefer women to look like women, not have the bodies of 13 year old boys - but media promotes an image with the deliberate intention of making girls feel self conscious .

Why you ask?, because self conscious image obsessed people spend more money on clothes, cosmetics & diet fad magazines.

It's capitalism creating demand - nothing more really.

Street · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:16

Wasn't there a report the other day saying we have the fattest girls in Europe anyway? Maybe more girls should take notice of the mannequins!

Nitefly · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:16

I think I was saying the other day to Zefan:

Earlier in the year I went out with a group of friends and there was one girl who was quite a lot larger than the others. She spoke with the other girls but the guys almost didn't notice her, myself included. At the end of the night I felt fairly bad that she was so neglected - subconsciously we couldn't even be bothered to get to know her.

On one hand, it just goes to show how shallow men are. On the other, she shouldn't have been fat *shrug*.

Wej · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:16

Bloomfield said:
Wej, do you also agree that violent video games should be banned because some crazy person played GTA before going on a killing spree?

No, and that wasn't my point. I never said ban anything.

Would you let a 6 year old kid play GTA? No of course not, there is a whole ratings system designed to prevent that.

What about billboards? TV adverts?

I'd like my kids to not have to be subjected to 40 foot high billboards showing super skinny models in lingerie. Unfortunately I don't have that choice...

RopAyy · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:19

Sindri said:
Evidently a lot of people of the younger generation need to be educated by the TV/media more, i see a lot more pie masters than people verging on anorexia walking the streets.

Its just posts and articles like this that grind me a little.
Thin models create anorexic young girls or other eating disorders or violent games create psychopathic teens.

Im not having a dig at the OP's parenting but issues of these sorts can be resolved in the home or school with proper education and awareness.
Obviously there will be cases where this does not work and a child does make up their own mind on what they deem right or acceptable.

Freefaller · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:19

cm1179 said:
exactly. the same way as you'd protect them from drugs, smoking alcahol etc i'm not a parent but still feel i have a right to comment when i say that these are givens. eating healthily and keeping fit is one of the simplest things a person can do.

I agree with those sentiments.

However, unfortunately modern media and exposure to "what's deemed right" filters to young girls and women and somehow feel pressured into doing silly things, like crash diets, starvation etc...

The industry does need to take more responsibility though and showcase clothes of a broader range of bodyshapes. We shouldn't be glorifying anorexic bodies however, neither should we be saying "being obeses is ok" either. We need to get that healthy balance and range.

The problem is, there are so many body types, catering for what people perceive as "normal" is a night on impossible task.

Bloomfield · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:20

Super skinny? The picture you linked isn't super skinny :confused:

.

RopAyy · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:20

Wej said:
Yes, because I don't bother teaching my kids anything. I sit them in front of the tv and let them learn from that, rather than doing it myself.

I'll try not to take your comments as a personal insult, despite the fact that that's how they come across...

Sorry, i was still typing another response, look above, i was not having a dig at your parenting at all so cannot comment or fire any digs your way in regards to it, nor would I. I was just making a statement.

Freefaller · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:21

Bloomfield said:
Super skinny? The picture you linked isn't super skinny .

Super skinny, perhaps not, but certainly very slim.

Wej · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:22

RopAyy said:
Im not having a dig at the OP's parenting but issues of these sorts can be resolved in the home or school with proper education and awareness.

And this isn't a dig in what way? I'm a single parent who works full time and has two little girls. I spend as much time teaching them as I can but they interact with other kids as well as seeing what's on tv, in magazines and on billboards. I can tell them until I'm blue in the face what's healthy and what's right and wrong, but peer pressure and media pressure is significant.

EDIT: I think the problem is a lack of media and retail responsibility, particularly with regards to advertising. It's not the specifics of this case that bothers me, it's the whole 'we can advertise however we like, regardless of the realism and who may get to see this'. It's a complete lack of moral responsibility from the firms involved, because it's all about money...

aardvark · 7 Dec 2011 at 14:23

i don't see the problem - its a normal healthy figure.