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

[Anonymous]

Many professional modeling agencies that deal with big fashion brands only have two divisions--traditional models and plus-sized. So anything not in those two is basically ignored.

Anytime you see a woman who doesn't fit into those buckets in high fashion print or runway it is almost ALWAYS an exception and some special celebrity appearance by a woman who has done something amazing, like win multiple Oscars, like Kate Winslet.

https://www.eonline.com/news/285235/nailed-it-kate-winslet-s-new-st-john-ads-are-stunning

I'd love to more professional models that looked like her in high fashion--neither traditional model build nor plus size. Her body looks amazing in the clothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are all the models who are neither super skinny nor plus-sized? I like representation, but doesn't that mean we should represent the huge block of people falling between the two?

Mindy Kaling's book talks about this a lot. When she was doing magazine shoots and stuff for her shows (The Office, The Mindy Project) she'd show up at shoots and they would only have model and plus-sized samples, which meant, like, 0s and 16s, when neither one fit her. And she'd be like "I'm an 8" and they'd be so confused as to how to dress and shoot someone who was neither waifish nor a big sassy plus sized person. That's a real problem, considering how many people fall into that range.

What exactly is a "big sassy plus sized person"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are all the models who are neither super skinny nor plus-sized? I like representation, but doesn't that mean we should represent the huge block of people falling between the two?

Mindy Kaling's book talks about this a lot. When she was doing magazine shoots and stuff for her shows (The Office, The Mindy Project) she'd show up at shoots and they would only have model and plus-sized samples, which meant, like, 0s and 16s, when neither one fit her. And she'd be like "I'm an 8" and they'd be so confused as to how to dress and shoot someone who was neither waifish nor a big sassy plus sized person. That's a real problem, considering how many people fall into that range.

What exactly is a "big sassy plus sized person"?

While those are not her exact words, she used something to that effect. Her point was that people who style magazines have a formula and it means putting women either into the "fashion waif" category or shooting them as confident, plus-sized women (you know, when they show a plus size woman with a huge smile, oozing with confidence, in front of a wind machine, in bright colors, like a Lane Bryant ad or O magazine cover). If you don't fit into either bucket, they don't know how to style and shoot you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many professional modeling agencies that deal with big fashion brands only have two divisions--traditional models and plus-sized. So anything not in those two is basically ignored.

Anytime you see a woman who doesn't fit into those buckets in high fashion print or runway it is almost ALWAYS an exception and some special celebrity appearance by a woman who has done something amazing, like win multiple Oscars, like Kate Winslet.

https://www.eonline.com/news/285235/nailed-it-kate-winslet-s-new-st-john-ads-are-stunning

I'd love to more professional models that looked like her in high fashion--neither traditional model build nor plus size. Her body looks amazing in the clothing.

Have you ever looked at LL Bean? Those models look healthy and a normal weight.


https://www.llbean.com/shop/shopByCatalog/index.html

[Anonymous]

FFS, obese people are PEOPLE. Their clothes are not medical devices (I want to smack whoever said that). They deserve the full range of clothes just as much as anyone else, and to see advertising that reflects their shape. And yes, they do actually buy more when they see themselves reflected in a company's advertising. Given that more of our country is bigger now, it's just good business practice to advertise to larger people.

You don't like seeing advertising of people who don't look like you. That doesn't reflect well on you, and you should sit with that a bit. But further, you should think about what a larger person might feel to *only* see advertising of people who don't look like them, either. It's nice to be included.

Representation matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First off - I realize I am a mean and horrible person for even thinking that. Which is why I’m saying it on an anonymous board and not asking actual people on social media.

I just don’t like seeing swimsuit, underwear, and other kinds of ads that feature obese women. I know it sounds horrible but it makes me uncomfortable to see it and I just don’t like it. I understand why they do it but it just makes me uneasy. And I get it - the modeling industry sucks. Anorexic models aren’t good to look at either. I wish they would use normal people, like size 4-10.

But I keep seeing ads geared toward me, just because I am a woman ages 18-60 who wears clothes, and I try to hit hide ad by different companies and update my settings but I just can’t get around being bombarded by obese women in their underwear. One advertisement for some kind of period panties or whatever showed an obese woman with tons of cellulite spreading her legs and showing her underwear with a pad hanging out. I’m sorry, but that’s gross. I wouldn’t even see that at the beach, why do I have to be subjected to it on Facebook?

I get that people are progressive and inclusive and all about feelings and comfort, but I’m just not there yet. Seeing this makes me feel uneasy, like we’ve given up as a society to fight obesity, or that we’re so politically correct that you’re not supposed to fight it, that beauty is now the patriarchy and obesity is beauty. I wish we would stop normalizing it. It’s the opposite extreme from photoshopped or anorexic models. Advertisements should promote health instead.

Lastly, I resent the term “body diversity” in this context. Unless you are talking diverse as in athletic/curvy/thin/tall/short etc and not as in including fat to morbidly obese people. Diversity is a GOOD thing. Body weight is not the same thing as race or gender or sexual orientation. Being a person of color or gay is a characteristic and an identity and something to be proud of. Obesity is not, it’s a disease, stop glorifying it.

I’m sure I’ll get hate for saying all this, but I had to get it out of me. This is just how I feel.

Subsutite Black or Latino with overweight and you will see your opinions are bigoted.

So you are comparing being Black or Latino with having a disease? Now you sound bigoted.

I will try to explain. Years ago all models were white. OP could have been the type of person who says I dont like looking at diverse models. Ie models who are not white. Now do you get it?

I really wonder pp at your is a lack of critical thinking skills. How in the world can you extrapolate what I wrote to be bigoted? For some people, they cant change their weight. I am certainly NOT saying Black or Latino people are diseased. And I am really offended you called me bigioted.

Uhhh NO that is not the same thing because there is nothing WRONG or UNHEALTHY with not being white! I am offended by the comparison of being a person of color for having a physical defect! THAT is extremely bigoted and racist.

People CAN change their weight. Not saying everyone can be a size 2. Nor should they be. Most people can get a grip on their self control and eat less (it costs less money!) and exercise. For those who really, truly, can, this is a problem with society, not something to celebrate.

[Anonymous]

OP, I agree with you 100%. Obesity is a disease and it should not be normalized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FFS, obese people are PEOPLE.[i] Their clothes are not medical devices (I want to smack whoever said that). They deserve the full range of clothes just as much as anyone else, and to see advertising that reflects their shape. And yes, they do actually buy more when they see themselves reflected in a company's advertising. Given that more of our country is bigger now, it's just good business practice to advertise to larger people.

You don't like seeing advertising of people who don't look like you. That doesn't reflect well on you, and you should sit with that a bit. But further, you should think about what a larger person might feel to *only* see advertising of people who don't look like them, either. It's nice to be included.

Representation matters.

I lol'd at that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First off - I realize I am a mean and horrible person for even thinking that. Which is why I’m saying it on an anonymous board and not asking actual people on social media.

I just don’t like seeing swimsuit, underwear, and other kinds of ads that feature obese women. I know it sounds horrible but it makes me uncomfortable to see it and I just don’t like it. I understand why they do it but it just makes me uneasy. And I get it - the modeling industry sucks. Anorexic models aren’t good to look at either. I wish they would use normal people, like size 4-10.

But I keep seeing ads geared toward me, just because I am a woman ages 18-60 who wears clothes, and I try to hit hide ad by different companies and update my settings but I just can’t get around being bombarded by obese women in their underwear. One advertisement for some kind of period panties or whatever showed an obese woman with tons of cellulite spreading her legs and showing her underwear with a pad hanging out. I’m sorry, but that’s gross. I wouldn’t even see that at the beach, why do I have to be subjected to it on Facebook?

I get that people are progressive and inclusive and all about feelings and comfort, but I’m just not there yet. Seeing this makes me feel uneasy, like we’ve given up as a society to fight obesity, or that we’re so politically correct that you’re not supposed to fight it, that beauty is now the patriarchy and obesity is beauty. I wish we would stop normalizing it. It’s the opposite extreme from photoshopped or anorexic models. Advertisements should promote health instead.

Lastly, I resent the term “body diversity” in this context. Unless you are talking diverse as in athletic/curvy/thin/tall/short etc and not as in including fat to morbidly obese people. Diversity is a GOOD thing. Body weight is not the same thing as race or gender or sexual orientation. Being a person of color or gay is a characteristic and an identity and something to be proud of. Obesity is not, it’s a disease, stop glorifying it.

I’m sure I’ll get hate for saying all this, but I had to get it out of me. This is just how I feel.

What about the people who feel comfortable seeing people of color or mixed couples in ads? What would you say to them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are all the models who are neither super skinny nor plus-sized? I like representation, but doesn't that mean we should represent the huge block of people falling between the two?

Mindy Kaling's book talks about this a lot. When she was doing magazine shoots and stuff for her shows (The Office, The Mindy Project) she'd show up at shoots and they would only have model and plus-sized samples, which meant, like, 0s and 16s, when neither one fit her. And she'd be like "I'm an 8" and they'd be so confused as to how to dress and shoot someone who was neither waifish nor a big sassy plus sized person. That's a real problem, considering how many people fall into that range.

What exactly is a "big sassy plus sized person"?

While those are not her exact words, she used something to that effect. Her point was that people who style magazines have a formula and it means putting women either into the "fashion waif" category or shooting them as confident, plus-sized women (you know, when they show a plus size woman with a huge smile, oozing with confidence, in front of a wind machine, in bright colors, like a Lane Bryant ad or O magazine cover). If you don't fit into either bucket, they don't know how to style and shoot you.

So a confident average sized woman is confident, but a confident plus-sized woman is sassy? That doesn’t sound prejudiced at all. It’s just like how my ambitious white female coworkers are assertive, but the ambitious black female ones are aggressive. That’s just how it is. /s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First off - I realize I am a mean and horrible person for even thinking that. Which is why I’m saying it on an anonymous board and not asking actual people on social media.

I just don’t like seeing swimsuit, underwear, and other kinds of ads that feature obese women. I know it sounds horrible but it makes me uncomfortable to see it and I just don’t like it. I understand why they do it but it just makes me uneasy. And I get it - the modeling industry sucks. Anorexic models aren’t good to look at either. I wish they would use normal people, like size 4-10.

But I keep seeing ads geared toward me, just because I am a woman ages 18-60 who wears clothes, and I try to hit hide ad by different companies and update my settings but I just can’t get around being bombarded by obese women in their underwear. One advertisement for some kind of period panties or whatever showed an obese woman with tons of cellulite spreading her legs and showing her underwear with a pad hanging out. I’m sorry, but that’s gross. I wouldn’t even see that at the beach, why do I have to be subjected to it on Facebook?

I get that people are progressive and inclusive and all about feelings and comfort, but I’m just not there yet. Seeing this makes me feel uneasy, like we’ve given up as a society to fight obesity, or that we’re so politically correct that you’re not supposed to fight it, that beauty is now the patriarchy and obesity is beauty. I wish we would stop normalizing it. It’s the opposite extreme from photoshopped or anorexic models. Advertisements should promote health instead.

Lastly, I resent the term “body diversity” in this context. Unless you are talking diverse as in athletic/curvy/thin/tall/short etc and not as in including fat to morbidly obese people. Diversity is a GOOD thing. Body weight is not the same thing as race or gender or sexual orientation. Being a person of color or gay is a characteristic and an identity and something to be proud of. Obesity is not, it’s a disease, stop glorifying it.

I’m sure I’ll get hate for saying all this, but I had to get it out of me. This is just how I feel.

What about the people who feel comfortable seeing people of color or mixed couples in ads? What would you say to them?

You really don't get it, do you?

A mixed couple is not a physical defect! They can have a loving caring relationship and raise a family! A mixed race couple isn't promoting diabetes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many professional modeling agencies that deal with big fashion brands only have two divisions--traditional models and plus-sized. So anything not in those two is basically ignored.

Anytime you see a woman who doesn't fit into those buckets in high fashion print or runway it is almost ALWAYS an exception and some special celebrity appearance by a woman who has done something amazing, like win multiple Oscars, like Kate Winslet.

https://www.eonline.com/news/285235/nailed-it-kate-winslet-s-new-st-john-ads-are-stunning

I'd love to more professional models that looked like her in high fashion--neither traditional model build nor plus size. Her body looks amazing in the clothing.

This. I’m a healthy BMI, I’m also tall and a size 10-12. The new inclusive models are great for people who aren’t a size 0 to see what clothes will look like on them. However seeing clothes on a size 18-20 model doesn’t help me. I wish most models were a size medium or 6-8. I feel like I can extrapolate from a size 8 model what I will look like in a 12. I feel like a size 2-4 person could also use their imagination to mentally size down. Even a size 14 woman, which I thought was the most common size - could judge more from a size 8 model than a size 22 one.

[Anonymous]

Can we also address the "women models with armpit hair" trend in advertising? Ugh Just no.

[Anonymous]

I wish there was a wider range of body types represented in commercials and magazines when I was growing up. Instead I wasted years of my youth pinching my tummy and thinking I was obese because my hip bones weren't sticking out like the models in YM and 17. I'm guessing OP grew up in the 80s, 90s or early 2000s when really thin models were glamorized. Its hard to shake your brain free of "good = skinny" and "bad = fat" but I hope that future generations of young women won't waste as much time thinking they are "less than" because of their weight and body shape. OP, it will probably always be jarring for our generation but ultimately, its a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First off - I realize I am a mean and horrible person for even thinking that. Which is why I’m saying it on an anonymous board and not asking actual people on social media.

I just don’t like seeing swimsuit, underwear, and other kinds of ads that feature obese women. I know it sounds horrible but it makes me uncomfortable to see it and I just don’t like it. I understand why they do it but it just makes me uneasy. And I get it - the modeling industry sucks. Anorexic models aren’t good to look at either. I wish they would use normal people, like size 4-10.

But I keep seeing ads geared toward me, just because I am a woman ages 18-60 who wears clothes, and I try to hit hide ad by different companies and update my settings but I just can’t get around being bombarded by obese women in their underwear. One advertisement for some kind of period panties or whatever showed an obese woman with tons of cellulite spreading her legs and showing her underwear with a pad hanging out. I’m sorry, but that’s gross. I wouldn’t even see that at the beach, why do I have to be subjected to it on Facebook?

I get that people are progressive and inclusive and all about feelings and comfort, but I’m just not there yet. Seeing this makes me feel uneasy, like we’ve given up as a society to fight obesity, or that we’re so politically correct that you’re not supposed to fight it, that beauty is now the patriarchy and obesity is beauty. I wish we would stop normalizing it. It’s the opposite extreme from photoshopped or anorexic models. Advertisements should promote health instead.

Lastly, I resent the term “body diversity” in this context. Unless you are talking diverse as in athletic/curvy/thin/tall/short etc and not as in including fat to morbidly obese people. Diversity is a GOOD thing. Body weight is not the same thing as race or gender or sexual orientation. Being a person of color or gay is a characteristic and an identity and something to be proud of. Obesity is not, it’s a disease, stop glorifying it.

I’m sure I’ll get hate for saying all this, but I had to get it out of me. This is just how I feel.

Subsutite Black or Latino with overweight and you will see your opinions are bigoted.

So you are comparing being Black or Latino with having a disease? Now you sound bigoted.

I will try to explain. Years ago all models were white. OP could have been the type of person who says I dont like looking at diverse models. Ie models who are not white. Now do you get it?

I really wonder pp at your is a lack of critical thinking skills. How in the world can you extrapolate what I wrote to be bigoted? For some people, they cant change their weight. I am certainly NOT saying Black or Latino people are diseased. And I am really offended you called me bigioted.

Uhhh NO that is not the same thing because there is nothing WRONG or UNHEALTHY with not being white! I am offended by the comparison of being a person of color for having a physical defect! THAT is extremely bigoted and racist.


People CAN change their weight. Not saying everyone can be a size 2. Nor should they be. Most people can get a grip on their self control and eat less (it costs less money!) and exercise. For those who really, truly, can, this is a problem with society, not something to celebrate.

You are either a troll or stupid. It is about representation dummy!