Throughout recent years an impossible phenomenon has begun to occur: we are all miraculously able to diagnose men and women in the media with an eating disorder at a simple glance. Even more impressive, these opinions now dictate how people see their own bodies. The inaccuracy of these rash claims that ‘she must have an eating disorder’ is contradicted by Lyndsey Scott (American model and actress) in saying ‘even people with eating disorders can have so-called healthy BMI. Perhaps they should have doctors check for signs of anorexia and bulimia instead of making assumptions based on weight’. Perhaps we do this because we are under the impression our bodies are temples: a money-making attraction, up for critique, exploitation and redesigning.
Society teaches us that every size is beautiful in its own way - aside from people who have bodies. There is always going to be something wrong with those. Stereotypes are ingrained into our society: someone ‘fat’ is lazy and ugly whilst someone ‘skinny’ is a victim of an eating disorder and the body shaming media. Much like building a temple, this mindset means your body will never be accepted, nor deemed ‘beautiful’, unless labelled this by onlookers, because no one would want to visit a temple which is disapproved of and grotesque.
Alongside society, the government is yet another stakeholder, controlling what is supposedly ‘your’ temple. Laws are now being introduced across the world to prevent overly petite girls being fashion and commercial models (BMI above 18 in France and above 18.5 in Israel). Nevertheless, Rosie Nelson (model) describes how ‘modelling agencies typically want you to have hips of 35 inches.’ This demonstrates society’s impossible double standard, whether your BMI is healthy or not you will either no longer be accepted into the modelling industry, or commit a crime in pursuing this profession as you are. The fact it can be illegal to share a picture of someone may have the intention of protecting the young and naive but instead sends the message that this body type is not ok. Whether you are skinny or fat your body should not be viewed by others as ‘inappropriate’. What does the message that merely viewing someone’s body could put others at risk do to our self-esteem?
These negative messages around body image are proving detrimental- surely a ‘temple’ wouldn’t be treated this way? In a survey conducted by the Model Alliance featuring 85 models over 30 percent had had eating disorders and almost 70 percent suffered with anxiety and depression.
The fashion industry does need to change, but instead of more laws dictating how we look, let’s increase the diversity of bodies seen in the media as ‘the norm’. Instead of banning models such as Gucci did in 2016, incorporate them in a larger agglomeration of sizes to show bodies are diverse and equally beautiful. Instead of living in a ‘temple’ constantly being reviewed by society, your body should be your home: comfortable, private and controlled by you alone.
Noa Holt, JCoSS
