I came across a promising article in Metro about new developments in the fashion industry for Israel.
One of fashion’s most ill kept secrets is eating disorders. Although some models are naturally quite thin, the pressure and stress can cause an obsession with being skinny, and in some cases being stick thin is the only way to get the job. However, thanks to fashion photographer Barkan’s determination to make a change, a new bill has been drafted “that would prohibit models from working with a Body Mass Index below 18.5” and “In addition to regulating the BMI of models, this law requires advertisements to clearly indicate when they use airbrushing or any other computer alterations to a model” (Senman, 2013, p.30). This big change in Israel hopefully might inspire other countries to follow in their footsteps. Not only will the law protect the models themselves but those aspiring to be them. Additionally, knowing models have been altered or airbrushed helps teach the public realistic expectations of looks, making them realise no one is perfect, everyone is flawed.
Barkan realised how poisonous the image was that he was providing for young girls with his fashion photographs, when he met a wannabe model aged 15 and only 5st called Keti. Keti told her social worker that Barkan “will tell you I have to be this thin to be pretty” (Keti cited in Senman, 2013, p.30). This was the shock he needed and after going “to her home four days a week encouraging her to eat, until she was a healthy weight” they went on to television to create awareness of the problem and to share Keti’s story and “immediately anorexic girls and women across Israel called Barkan, asking him to save their lives too” (Senman, 2013, p.30). This set off his successful campaign to the ministry of health.
Additionally, Cossar demonstrates Brazilian Model Agency Star Model’s new campaign in the fight against anorexia “The designers used Photoshop to turn real women in to life-size versions of fashion illustrations with disturbing results. Showing what women would look like if they had the same measurements” (2013, p.30). The campaign shows how unrealistic fashion’s expectations of women are, however, there is a flaw with their campaign as Cossar suggests, “It does in fact replicate the images portrayed on “thinspiration” sites, which encourage eating disorders as a lifestyle. Worryingly, around 24 per cent of young people in a recent study have visited such sites online” (2013, p.30).
Personally, I find it repulsive that people would actually encourage eating disorders as a way of life. Having someone close to me go through it I can tell you no one deserves to suffer like that, mentally and physically. I was worried she could osteoporosis, become infertile or even die. It’s lucky she went to an eating disorder centre and got the help she needed, or she might not be the person she is today, she might not even be here today. So to think that there are people out there who would wish that upon people makes me angry. It upsets me that girls and boys will take their advice and go through all that pain just to feel beautiful, or in control or because they want to punish themselves. My heart bleeds for each and every one of them.
Works Cited
Cossar, Vicki-Marie (2013) ‘ Shock Tactics: Will This Brazilian Campaign work?’ , Metro, 13 May: 30.
Senman, Suna (2013) ‘Beauty and the Beast of Anorexia’ , Metro, 13 May: 30.
Images taken from:
Kate Moss: http://www.studded-hearts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/kate-moss-allure-january-1993-sante-dorazio.jpg
Size Zero VSize 18: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-442138/Size-zero-vs-size-18.html
Isabelle Caro “No Anorexia”: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/dec/30/isabelle-caro-dies-model-anorexia