by Richard
I will readily admit that I more than likely don’t know half of what I should know about raising girls. I mean, the only girls I’ve ever had a hand in helping to raise were a girl bird and a girl mouse. Not exactly training for the big time. However, I do think I’ve got a pretty good idea of what might — in general — be a good idea for little girls.
And I love what German magazine, Brigitte is doing.
Germany’s most popular women’s magazine is banning professional models from its pages and replacing them with images of “real life” women instead.
“From 2010 we will not work with professional models any more,” said Andreas Lebert, editor-in-chief, adding that he was “fed up” with having to retouch pictures of underweight models who bore no resemblance to ordinary women.
I can only imagine the pressure on little dudettes as they grow up that they have to make sure their bodies are thin, no matter what shape their genetics are telling them to be. Societal pressure that says only the thin girl is beautiful. In high school and college and even since I’ve know women who stressed and obsessed over whether or not they were thin enough. And, yes, that lead to a couple of women I know having to deal with bulimia, which is where a person will binge eat and then force themselves to throw up, among other things.
Growing up is hard enough without all this garbage. Which is why I’m really looking forward to seeing if this thing with Brigitte is part of a trend.
“For years we’ve had to use Photoshop to fatten the girls up,” (Lebert) said. “Especially their thighs, and decolletage. But this is disturbing and perverse and what has it got to do with our real reader?”
He said the move was a response to complaints by readers who said they had no connection with the women depicted in fashion features and “no longer wanted to see protruding bones”.
“Today’s models weigh around 23% less than normal women,” Lebert said. “The whole model industry is anorexic.”
This is really just sad. Only a tiny, tiny proportion of women could come anywhere close to this size. I mean, how did this ever come to be seen as the desired ideal? These women with bones protruding everywhere, who look nothing like any other woman you’d see on the streets.
Well, I could go on and on and rant until I can’t breathe, but I think I’ll spare you that. Suffice to say I think this is a great move. My niece has a tough enough time making sure she’s smarter than most. She doesn’t need this pressure. And, in case she’s reading this? I’m pretty much convinced she is the greatest 6th grader in the world. And I’m not at all biased. Really.
Tags: A Dude's Guide to Kids, Andreas Lebert, Big Time, Binge, Bones, Brigitte, Bulimia, Decolletage, dude, Dudettes, Fashion Features, Genetics, German Magazine, Germany, girl, girls, growing up, Guardian, Images, Life Women, little dude, Little Girl, Little Girls, magazine, men, Model Industry, Niece, Ordinary Women, photo, Photos, pictures, Professional Models, Resemblance, richard, school, Societal Pressure, Thighs, Thin Girl, Underweight Models, weight, Woman
[...] by Richard I will readily admit that I more than likely don’t know half of what I should know about raising girls. I mean, the only girls I’ve ever had a hand in helping to raise were a girl bird and a girl mouse See original here: Lookin’ Good? [...]