Controversial opinion: Against “Body diversity” in social media ads

[Anonymous]

And it’s really NOT healthy to be obese.

[Anonymous]

I'm not opposed to it, but I don't think it is as effective at selling clothes. I am a knitter, and I notice that if a knitting pattern is modeled by overweight people, I'm much less likely to find it appealing. But maybe if I were overweight, I would like it because it would be helpful?

[Anonymous]

I agree that it isn't healthy to be overweight. Obesity isn't a disease. It is largely the symptom of lifestyle choices or occasionally the symptom of another disease. But largely lifestyle in the majority of people. It shouldn't be "accepted" or glorified. No one glorifies smoking anymore for good reason.

But with that said, there are a LOT of obese people. They need to buy clothes too. It makes sense for some low and mid range companies to be marketing to them, they are a large % of their customers. You see this a lot less with high end brands because that isn't their targeted demographic.

[Anonymous]

I’d like to see normal people. It’s either underweight or overweight women. Let’s all aim for the middle, shall we?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not opposed to it, but I don't think it is as effective at selling clothes. I am a knitter, and I notice that if a knitting pattern is modeled by overweight people, I'm much less likely to find it appealing. But maybe if I were overweight, I would like it because it would be helpful?

You know it is because you were socialized that way and if we don't socialize the next generation that way they won't feel like everything is better on an anorexic model.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t feel bad OP. Most people would agree with you.

Because there has been a whole cultural and media blackout on real bodies for decades. No one knows what a real body looks like in the media, and the entire diet, beauty, and fashion industries are pretty much founded on the basis that by showing you women like that, you will be uncomfortable in your body and buy into whatever they’re selling.

You’re uncomfortable because they’ve spent billions of dollars selling you the fact that those 90 pound anorexics are glamourous and their lives are better than yours, not because there is actually anything wrong with “Real” bodies. They’re selling you an ideal, and you bought into it.

The term “real body” is offensive. How dare you call someone else’s body fake.

+1, and how dare you tell someone else why they are uncomfortable. Your whole post reeks of condescension and posing. At least OP is honest.

[Anonymous]

Chubby/thick is one thing, obese is another. Tess Holiday is gross. Obese men (I don't know of any obese male models) are just as gross. It's not beautiful, it's not handsome, and it's not healthy - there is simply no such thing as "health at every size."

Ditto for someone bony and emaciated. Neither appeal to me when selling a product (and I used to be obese!). I prefer normal, healthy, moderate, fit, and athletic people. Either end of the spectrum is totally unappealing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d like to see normal people. It’s either underweight or overweight women. Let’s all aim for the middle, shall we?

Yes! This!

How about comely, polished women who are 5'4 and wear a size 6?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not opposed to it, but I don't think it is as effective at selling clothes. I am a knitter, and I notice that if a knitting pattern is modeled by overweight people, I'm much less likely to find it appealing. But maybe if I were overweight, I would like it because it would be helpful?

You know it is because you were socialized that way and if we don't socialize the next generation that way they won't feel like everything is better on an anorexic model.

Oh, please. Some things are just biological. People are more naturally attracted to other people who are of a healthy body weight because they look -- healthier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t feel bad OP. Most people would agree with you.

+1 I hate seeing obese people in the Target ads. I agree, it's asif we've given up.

+2 I’m a 45 year old woman and I at least try to keep a healthy body weight. We shouldn’t celebrate obesity in the guise of inclusion. It’s unhealthy. It’s raises. your cancer risk. It decreases your overall lifespan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP,

I volunteer with young women (mostly) regarding body positivity and healthy living habits. I've been obese, overweight, normal weight, and too thin as a result of various eating disorders.

"body diversity" isn't about saying your body type is healthy or that it is something to be proud of. What it is saying is "hey. You don't look like the celebrities, models, etc but that doesn't mean you're ugly or unworthy". It is kind of a weird concept for most people to get. Body positivity isn't saying that being 300 pounds is ok, its saying "ok you're 300 pounds. But that doesn't mean you need to hide yourself from the world". I don't think that people who are grossed out or think less of overweight/obese people can really understand that concept.

For you, and many like you, you just see it is saying "300 pounds is fine. You don't need to change yourself." But that isn't what the message is.

Self loathing often goes hand in hand with being stuck in the poor habit cycle. You feel disgusted with yourself and too embarrassed to go to the gym so you don't go. You think everyone will be disgusted by you so you become depressed and stay inside and binge on food because that's how you cope with your depression. Seeing someone who is confident in themselves and looks like them is really important.

Regarding the ad with the overweight woman and a pad hanging out. Would it really have been that much less gross if it was a thin woman? Probably not. The ad itself is kind of crude.

And this doesn't just happen with overweight/obese people. It happens with naturally skinny people too. They get a different kind of reaction if anyone tries to celebrate their body types "ew gross eat a sandwich" "why bother wearing a bikini top? You look like a boy anyways"

Thank you for this thoughtful post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t feel bad OP. Most people would agree with you.

+1 I hate seeing obese people in the Target ads. I agree, it's asif we've given up.

+2 I’m a 45 year old woman and I at least try to keep a healthy body weight. We shouldn’t celebrate obesity in the guise of inclusion. It’s unhealthy. It’s raises. your cancer risk. It decreases your overall lifespan.

I'm OP and this is my point. I am aware that in today's politically correct context I sound like a monster. But I don't behave in a different way towards obese people, I judge them by the content of their character. I would gladly pay higher taxes so that they can have better healthcare (universal healthcare) and I support policies that bring more healthy food choices to food desert communities, and generous leave policies for companies so people aren't overstressed and overmedicated. I want obese people to lose weight and live longer and more fulfilled lives. I don't want their unhealthy bodies to be showcased in a way that is promotional or in a traditionally aspirational context. Especially when you're apparently not allowed to look away. I mean it's one thing if it's a company that makes plus size clothing, or even a clothing company that just has a lot of sizes. I am forced to look at fat women with cellulite dancing in their underwear. There is literally no setting I can turn off on Facebook or instagram or anything else that will block underwear ads or period ads or anything like that. I'm a woman, therefore the internet thinks I need to buy those things.

[Anonymous]

Sort of agree... but I am a petite person. When 5'10 people model the clothes, it's not going to look like that AT ALL on me. I think that if a company is offering a dress in petite sizes, as well as 0-16, they need to have a petite model, a normal model and an overweight model (or at least someone in the 12-16 range). Asos does this really well.

I am very sick of seeing disgusting things advertised to me. Like the Billy razors shaving legs that are hairier than DH's and armpits with 3" long hair. Please no. A week's worth of stubble would have sufficed for a demonstration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t feel bad OP. Most people would agree with you.

+1 I hate seeing obese people in the Target ads. I agree, it's asif we've given up.

+2 I’m a 45 year old woman and I at least try to keep a healthy body weight. We shouldn’t celebrate obesity in the guise of inclusion. It’s unhealthy. It’s raises. your cancer risk. It decreases your overall lifespan.

Yep. I'm okay with models who are +10 lbs. I do not want anorexic models. Just normal healthy women please!

It's very sad going past high schools. I'm in my 30s and high school students didn't look like this. They are sooo much heavier than what I remember.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t feel bad OP. Most people would agree with you.

Because there has been a whole cultural and media blackout on real bodies for decades. No one knows what a real body looks like in the media, and the entire diet, beauty, and fashion industries are pretty much founded on the basis that by showing you women like that, you will be uncomfortable in your body and buy into whatever they’re selling.

You’re uncomfortable because they’ve spent billions of dollars selling you the fact that those 90 pound anorexics are glamourous and their lives are better than yours, not because there is actually anything wrong with “Real” bodies. They’re selling you an ideal, and you bought into it.

The term “real body” is offensive. How dare you call someone else’s body fake.

+1, and how dare you tell someone else why they are uncomfortable. Your whole post reeks of condescension and posing. At least OP is honest.

Np. Good grief pp. Are you triggered by someone's opinion. How do you manage to survive this world?