It’s a common perception that the media and society as a whole promote an unhealthy image of women.
I agree wholeheartedly with this and it angers me when I see publications drawing attention to the fact that a certain celebrity isn’t looking as trim as they usually do. They eat. They put on weight. They are like everyone else on the planet. Leave them alone.
However I have noticed that there is a glaring double standard within this debate: that the same principles applied to women who are overweight are not the same as those applied to people who are underweight. That it’s not okay to call someone fat but it is okay to call someone skinny.
You always hear about magazines and advertising campaigns being criticised for “imposing” the size zero model stereotype onto normal women and that’s a disgrace, but it is also a disgrace at the other end of the spectrum. Sure it’s great that someone is proud of their body, flaws and all, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a positive image to project.
Those that celebrate women who are unhealthily overweight and say that they are healthy is just as harmful as those that celebrate underweight women and say you should look like this.
I don’t believe that all of those women in the public eye must be a size zero or even a size twelve but they should look and be healthy. The same approach should be applied to people who are overweight as those who are underweight.
Promoting an overweight ideal is exactly the same as promoting an underweight one except the health risks don’t include nutritional deficiencies but rather heart disease.
I like to see real women with realistic figures just as much as the next female but excusing someone for being overweight because you think “well at least they’re not too skinny” is wrong. Speaking of the term skinny, it is just as offensive as the word fat and does have negative connotations.
If you abolish one and call one unhealthy, the other should be treated in the same manner. Skinny-shaming is just as bad and damaging as fat-shaming.
And yes, I am saying this as a size eight/ten but I am also saying this as someone who tries to live a healthy lifestyle. I eat chocolate every day. I do regular exercise. I drink wine at the weekend. I don’t diet. I don’t have weight that fluctuates. I don’t have a family history of health problems.
I try to be healthy and I think that those who look and are healthy are good role models. I don’t think people who are underweight should be idolised. I don’t think people who are overweight should be idolised.
And I’m not saying that anyone or everyone has to adhere to a certain shape or size. I’m simply saying that we as a society shouldn’t excuse one and shame the other. Essentially they are one and the same.
