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- L I A N A E S T I L L O R E
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- The “Skinny Model Ban” is a controversial ban enforced after the death
of two fashion models, Ana Carolina Reston and Luisel Ramos, in 2006.
- The ban was created in order to force the world of fashion to promote an
image of health to counter eating disorders and the “thin requirement”
of models.
- The ban only allows models who meet the healthy average weight of the
Body Mass Index (BMI), to work.
- The fashion industry disagrees with the ban and its relation to the
promotion of eating disorders.
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- Fashion models are required to be and meet requirements of a healthy
weight.
- The ban follows the Body Mass Index (BMI) in relation to whether or not
a model is considered “healthy”.
- The BMI is a chart which relates height and weight to determine a
person’s health:
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- There are seven major “Fashion Houses” (cities which contain a large
group of clothing designers and the headquarters of major clothing brand
names):
- New York; Tokyo, Japan; Spain; Brazil; London; and France.
- Spain was the first Fashion House to adopt strict regulations to the
Skinny Model Ban and barred any model who fell under the healthy
requirement by the BMI in 2007.
- Brazil was next to adopt the Skinny Model Ban in 2007, but does not
strictly enforce the ban.
- The rest of the Fashion Houses have fought legislators from enforcing
the ban in their country.
- The Fashion House in France, early February 2008 was greatly angered
when legislators enforced the ban.
- Didier Grumbach, president of the influential French Federation of
Couture, said, "Never will we accept in our profession that a judge
decides if a young girl is skinny or not skinny. That doesn’t exist in
the world and will not exist in France” (Lauter).
- Major brands found in France: Louis Vuitton, Coco Chanel, Jean-Paul
Gaultier, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Yves-Saint Laurent,
Christian Louboutin, and others.
- Lauter, Devorah. “France Seeks Ban on Skinny Model Ads.” CBNnews.
15 April 2008. The Associated Press. 18 April 20008.
- <http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/358005.aspx>.
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- Fashion designers argue the choice to use thin models on the runway or
print is their aesthetic creation and expression.
- The British Fashion Council, in charge of the fashion world in Britain,
has issued this explanation for no interest in enforcing the ban: “The
British Fashion Council does not comment or interfere with the
aesthetics of any designer’s show.”
- The Fashion World, specifically its models, are blamed for promoting
eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, etc.).
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- Research has not proven skinny models cause eating disorders.
- Eating disorders are caused by deep psychological problems.
- Skinny models play a role in progression of eating disorders but does
not cause it.
- “ Doctors and psychologists treating patients with anorexia nervosa - a
disorder characterized by an abnormal fear of becoming overweight -
welcomed the government's efforts to fight self-inflicted starvation,
but warned that its link with media images remains hazy” (Lauter).
- Lauter, Devorah.
“France Seeks Ban on Skinny Model Ads.” CBNnews. 15 April 2008. The
Associated Press. 18 April 20008.
- <http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/358005.aspx>.
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- Gisele Bundchen, a former Victorias Secret and winner of the Model of
the Universe Award, has been quoted on her take on the issue, “I never
suffered from this problem [anorexia] because I had a very strong family
base. Parents are responsible, not the fashion industry. Everybody knows
the norm in the fashion is thin. But excuse me, there are people born
with the right genes for this profession.”
- “Supermodel Gisele blames families for anorexia.” MSNBC. 19 January
2007. Entertainment. 18 April 2008.
- <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16710684/>.
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- I do not agree with the skinny model ban.
- I agree with Gisele Bundchen and believe that there are “people born
with the right genes for this profession.”
- Modeling is not just about how thin you are, but also your facial
beauty.
- If you are not a model, or don’t look like one, trying to be skinny and
getting bothered over the fact you don’t look like a fashion model is a
waste of time.
- A year back, the company Dove decided to promote “real women” on runways
and print ads.
- Fashion models ARE real men and women, so that does not make any sense.
- Anorexia Nervosa is not a problem in America, obesity is. Obesity is an
EPIDEMIC—which means it is worse than a mere “problem”.
- MORE THAN 60% OF AMERICANS ARE OBESE AND THE STATISTICS CONTINUE TO
RISE.
- Obesity cuts a person’s life down by years, puts a person at high risk
for diseases and cancers, and plus (no pun intended) it costs more…from
clothing to food.
- An excerpt from The World Health Organization, “Obesity and overweight
pose a major risk for chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and certain forms of
cancer” (Obesity).
- I believe there is more to life than eating excessively. “Eat to live,
don’t eat to live.”
- Millions of people around the world are dying of hunger and starvation.
Obese people not only depict greed and gluttony, but is a mockery to
those around the world dying.
- In fact, I highly disagree with the skinny model ban. Sorry, but obese
people SHOULD look up to thin models as an ideal of beauty. Maybe it
will slow or stop the terrible epidemic.
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Notes
