CHRISTINA DUKE | staff writer
Since the late 1700’s, one of women’s greatest desires is to be thin.
Throughout the years, many women have literally done whatever it takes to achieve this state of being.
While it began with bone—breaking corsets bringing women’s waists to 13 inches, the trend has shifted to plastic surgery through medical advances.
A less extreme and more common method is the classic diet.
Besides my size double–zero friends, I have not known a woman who has not been on a diet.
With many unrealistic expectations set by the media, it is no wonder women everywhere struggle with weight.
However, with Dove’s “Campaign For Real Beauty” and celebrities defending their weight gain, is society taking a new view on what “thin” is?
In recent articles by People and USA Today, Jessica Simpson received severe criticism about her recent weight gain since December.
In her defense, she claims that she is happy and exactly where she is supposed to be.
In addition, many other celebrities, such as Rachel Ray and Kim Kardashian, made statements that Simpson is beautiful exactly the way she is.
This is not the first time a formerly “thin” celebrity was criticized for her weight gain. In 2007, Tyra Banks made the cover of People fighting back at the media about her weight gain.
In fact, since adding a little padding, Banks managed to snag another season for her self-titled talk show and the highest ratings ever for “America’s Next Top Model”, claiming she is more relatable to her audience In 2004, Dove launched its “Campaign for Real Beauty” to change society’s definition of beauty.
The goal is to break down stereotypes that the media has created for women.
The campaign is a result of a study that showed only 2 percent of women around the world described themselves as beautiful. The study also showed 81 percent of women thought the media set a unrealistic standards that are impossible to achieve.
The campaign does not focus solely on weight either.
They started with women of all appearances, weight, and ages, and now have a Self-Esteem Fund to educate mothers and daughters through inspirational workshops, among other things.
Dove also does not use professional models but instead uses “real women”.
While the Dove “Campaign for Real Beauty” is a great start to the movement of redefining beauty, will society ever really change its expectations for women?
Almost every time I log on to MySpace I see advertisements on how to “lose belly fat” or quizzes titled, “Are You Beautiful? Click here to find out.”
In addition, models on television and in magazines still manage to have that perfect, completely toned body.
I am currently a contestant for the Miss Covina pageant, and while the pageant focuses on being a role model and having confidence, I still feel the pressures of being beautiful, or “thin” on the outside.
One of my friends who used to model for Ralph Lauren recently told me the agency she worked with would fine the models for gaining weight. The only way her friends could eat what they wanted was to eat tapeworms, which the agency encouraged.
At a size 2, I completely feel the pressures of media on myself to be “thin.”
While weight is not a huge concern of mine, I am still extremely self-conscious of my hips and thighs in a bathing suit, my smaller–than–average breasts, and not toned arms and abs.
I dance about 15 to 20 hours a week and run 2.5 miles every Thursday and I still cannot seem to stop feeling guilty about the cellulite on the back of my thighs, which 90 percent of women have.
While recent media has begun to stick up for women with a less than perfect figure, is it going to be enough?
Is the show “True Beauty” actually going to change the way American’s think about what is beautiful or will is just make for good television?
What is it going to take for magazines to start using real women as models?
When will designers start using larger than double zero sized women?
While I think women should not have to be a size zero to be beautiful, I also in no way approve of women who do not care about their bodies and live lifestyles lending to obesity.
Besides medical reasons, there is no excuse for a woman to be overly obese. It is completely irresponsible, unhealthy, and outright disrespectful to God.
Your body is a temple, so treat it that way.
Perhaps a change in society’s views on what is “thin” or what is “beautiful” has to come from society itself and not from the bigwigs that control the fashion industry.
Society has to realize it is going to take a majority to change the stereotype and that it is not going to happen overnight.
While expectations are still high, kudos to Dove, Jessica Simpson, Tyra Banks and all others who have begun to redefine beauty.
Now it is time for you to do your part as well. Take care of the only body that you are given, appreciate it, enjoy it and love it.
