If Plus-size Modelling Is Glorification Of Obesity, I'll Eat My Hat | Arwa Madhawi
According to some journalists and doctors, permitting curvy girls on the catwalk is irresponsible. When will we stop this oppression of the thin minority?
We need to talk about fat privilege. Its not fashionable to say this, but OMG thin girls are in danger of becoming an subjugated minority! While society used to have an unhealthy preoccupation with skinniness, the tables have turned and were now seeing a widespread glorification of obesity.
Take, for example, the death of the diet. For decades, counting calories has been an integral part of the western girls way of life. Lately, however, it has become deeply uncool to admit you might be trying to lose weight and everyone is now practising clean feeing instead. Even Barbie no longer wants to be thin; Mattel started selling a curvy Barbie last year. Then youve got the fashion industry. Earlier this year, British Vogue set Ashley Graham, a plus-size model, on its encompas a historic first. And now weve reached a point where people are actually starting to procession bigger bodies on the runway. A recent Sports Illustrated swimsuit catwalk show featured models of diverse body types, including plus-sized models.
Naturally, some misguided buffoons have tried to see the positive side. Indeed, Sports Illustrateds editor MJ Day said that some people in the audience were endeavoured to tears because they assured themselves represented on the runway, which they never thought they would. However, once you get past all the touchy-feely stuff about breaking down stigma and democratising fashion, you start to realise just how dangerous inclusivity and body positivity can be. Yes, really! As Soraiya Fuda, a columnist for Australias Daily Telegraph, pointed out, in a piece that speedily went viral, Sports Illustrateds move to parade curvier women on the runway[ is] irresponsible. Because proving women that you can wear a swimsuit at different sizes is basically a slippery slope to an obesity-triggered death.
Dont believe me? Various physicians have chimed in to subsistence Fudas argument. Dr Brad Frankum, the president of the Australian Medical Association in New South Wales, told the BBC that if we send very overweight or obese people down the catwalk modelling clothes, what it is saying, in a manner that is, is that we are celebrating obesity. I think that is dangerous because we know it is a dangerous health condition.
Of course, pointing out the dangers of obesity tends to inspire a predictable counterargument that society skews far more towards fat-shaming than the celebration of obesity. A 2016 study for LighterLife found that virtually 40% of obese adults in the UK have been mocked by strangers, for example. The argument is also often stimulated that stigmatising obesity can have a hugely detrimental impact on peoples physical and mental health. One analyse, for example, found that people who think they are overweight are more likely to stress-eat in response and become even more overweight. Recent surveys also show that fat-shaming by physicians is rife and damages the physical and mental health of overweight people. In some instances, obese people even avoid trying medical help when they are ill because theyre afraid of disrespectful treatment.
I dont believe a word of it, however. Ultimately, I think that we need to forget the facts and focus on the real issue: political correctness! As Fuda explains in her column: Weve worked our society up to have a heightened sense of sensitivity around overweight issues where the word fat is now frowned upon. In turning it has created a taboo look-away culture in dread of offending person even if the intention is to urge them to seek help. Political correctness is so pervasive that, tragically, it has even stopped Fuda from saving her fat friends from themselves. She admits that Im guilty of turning a blind eye when a friends says, Im so fat. I only stay where you are denying that they are but maybe a bit of truth can lead some people on the right way of weight loss. Too many people are risking their lives with weight-related problems.
I truly have to praise Fuda for the courageous route in which she looks away from grammatical norms and focuses in on truths the PC brigade would prefer us to avoid. Shes right! Obesity is far too serious a matter to treat sensitively. Whats needed is a little tough love. In fact, Im going to go so far as to say that , not only should the fashion industry prohibit anyone over a sizing 8 from its catwalks, it should stop inducing plus-sized apparel altogether. Admittedly, companies arent actually attaining many clothes for larger women at the moment: plus-sizes make up only 16% of all apparel sales, which is very low considering 67% of women in the US wear a size 14( UK size 16) or above. However, making any sort of plus-sized garb is irresponsible. If we send very overweight or obese people down the sidewalk wearing clothes, what it is saying, in a way, is that we are celebrating obesity. And thats obviously very dangerous as Im sure many doctors would agree.
Read more: www.theguardian.com
If Plus-size Modelling Is Glorification Of Obesity, I'll Eat My Hat | Arwa Madhawi
If Plus-size Modelling Is Glorification Of Obesity, I'll Eat My Hat | Arwa Madhawi
If Plus-size Modelling Is Glorification Of Obesity, I'll Eat My Hat | Arwa Madhawi
If Plus-size Modelling Is Glorification Of Obesity, I'll Eat My Hat | Arwa Madhawi
If Plus-size Modelling Is Glorification Of Obesity, I'll Eat My Hat | Arwa Madhawi