Posts filed under 'taking action'
Take a look at this segment that aired on Good Morning America on June 15th. The piece is called “Young, Fat, and Fabulous,” and it seems to advocate for women to have a healthy self-image at any size, but the message may not be so clear…
Did you notice the uneven general tone of this segment? Is it positive or negative?
This segment seems to flip-flop between supporting women who are happy and healthy at any size and then in a negative tone also highlights all the dangers the show’s producers believe are associated with obesity. Although these women have a clear bill of health from their doctors, at the end of the segment, Diane Sawyer tries to emphasize that they will have health complications later on… but if you listen carefully, the response is that these health risks increase due to age, not due to weight.
The piece talks about yo-yo dieting while at the same time sending a yo-yo message.
The first half of this segment is dedicated to telling viewers that being fat is OK and that these particular women are happier and healthier than they’ve ever been. Then the last half sends the opposite message — that being overweight leads to deadly health problems. Yet then they go on to say that yo-yo dieting is bad because it can also lead to terrible health complications.
I think this is reflective of our society’s overall indecisiveness about weight and health, and represents the tension that exists between wanting to be thin and wanting to be healthy and happy and love ourselves as we are.
Is it OK to be fat and fabulous? Can you be overweight and be healthy?
According to the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH), health is measured by many factors, including the right to be peaceful in one’s body. ASDAH has also done research that shows that the amount of fat on a body is a weak indicator of life expectancy and overall health.
Despite its mixed message, once you sort through the confusion, this piece does have some healthy points to take home:
Health comes in different sizes.
Acceptance of one’s body type can ultimately prove beneficial, especially when that acceptance is paired with a healthy lifestyle.
As Gabrielle mentions, the most important thing is to stay active, eat a balanced diet, and accept your weight where it stabilizes.
I think it’s fabulous that Marianne loves what she sees when she looks in the mirror. How many women of any weight and body type can actually say they love how they look? I hope that one day every woman will love herself as she is. No woman’s self worth should be determined by the scale or the size of her pants.
So I commend Marianne for telling the world that:
The good in accepting being large far outweighs the bad.
and
The only thing I’ve let go is the self-hatred that I felt.
Shouldn’t we all try to feel that way?
-Jaimie
[By the way, everyone, the fat activist movement is not a new grassroots movement. Fat activism has been alive and well for at least 15 years. Check out this site, Fat!So? for more. -Jennifer]
June 19th, 2009
The computer company Dell has recently come under fire for a new ad campaign aimed at women and has taken interesting actions in response. The controversial campaign, called Della, is mostly an advertising push for a range of computers that have fancy graphic designs on their lids.
Yay! Our laptops are pretty!
The Della web site shows different women using Dell computers that match their outfits — apparently every woman’s dream. The web site talks up the computers by discussing features like diet-tracking tools and the fact that the computer can fit in your purse. This is all written in a tone that tries to replicate a conversation between girlfriends, but it borders on condescension.
Now, I’m the first to admit that when looking for a new computer, the fact that computers can come in different colors was appealing. However, this is not something that is exclusively appealing to women. Not to mention the fact that processor speed, memory, and price are more important than color-coordinating one’s computer with her sweater. By underestimating women’s computer literacy and use of a computer, Della really shows a lack of respect for women computer users.
In spite of the fact that most of the information on the web site was about color choices and carrying bags, there is a Featured Artist page to draw in the women consumers. The connection between computers and the artist on the Featured Artist section can be somewhat of a mystery. Not long ago, in the Della Lounge section of the Featured Artist page, visitors got tips on vintage shopping from the author of Practically Posh: the Smart Girls’ Guide to a Glam Life. It leaves me asking What does this have to do with computers?
Dell made a mistake when they based a whole advertising campaign on the idea that women will buy anything if it’s pretty and comes with accessories. While Dell was making assumptions about their women customers, they inadvertently offended and lost some of their target audience.
With in the past few days, Dell changed some of the Della web site’s more demeaning aspects due to the strong responses of the web site’s visitors. The web site’s language is less condescending to women and now uses a more neutral tone and language that may apply to more people. In addition to this change in tone, the Featured Artist section introduces us to the woman behind the designs on some of the Dell computers, with a clear connection to the computers themselves. Because of their outspoken customers, Dell was able to recognize and rectify their mistake.
Although I wouldn’t say Dell’s campaign is now perfect, it is encouraging to see that they actually listen to their target audience. Web site visitors can leave their comments on the different sections for everyone to see (you can too if you go to their web site). Many of the comments are harsh, the fact that they have left those comments up for the public to see is a kind of apology. This, to me, shows progress.
– Ashley Yee
June 8th, 2009
2008 Grand Prize Winning Poster by Whitney Calvert
The National Organization for Women (NOW), is running the Love Your Body campaign. Each year, NOW hosts a poster contest that promotes healthy body image and “the grand-prize-winning poster will be used as part of a national campaign to challenge the media’s use of violent, drug-addicted, starved, surgically enhanced images of women and to fight against industries that profit from women’s dissatisfaction with their bodies.” Entries for the 2010 contest are being accepted now and are due by December 1, 2009. The poster contest has different categories: All, University Students, College Students and Middle & Elementary School Students. You can find out more about the contest by clicking here.
The NOW web site has a gallery of past poster contest winners and runners up dating back to 1999. Their beautiful pieces of artwork are also available to send as e-cards. Recently I sent the 2005 winner to a group of my favorite girlfriends and they loved it. Check out the past Elementary School winners. They are amazing and their artwork sends clear, healthy messages. It’s heart-warming to see children take action against the media’s harmful messages. I encourage all of you to take action and submit a poster.
-Sonnet
Sonnet Harrison is a preschool teacher and nanny who studied Psychology and Child and Adolescent Development at San Francisco State University. In her free time, she works on a web site, www.favoritenanny.com, with other San Francisco nannies and is setting up a professional development support group which matches nannies with families without going through agencies. Sonnet became interested in volunteering with About-Face after working with teenage girls in a group home.
April 21st, 2009
W, Cover April 2009
While I often feel “above” the media’s messages, the truth is that I’m only human. And while knowledge is power, this power doesn’t always grant me immunity to the media’s toxicity. One of my many personal vices is my unwavering devotion to W magazine, which I’ve read since I was the all-too-young age of twelve. Once the magazine was in our possession, my sister and I would lay it flat on the living room floor and drool over all the colors and patterns until our eyes crossed. Little did we know that these images would impact the way we viewed our own beauty–indefinitely.
To this day, I still squeal with delight every month when my W comes in the mail. Consequently, I still battle the inevitable self-doubt and borderline self-loathing that comes after two hours of staring at heroine chic models in $45,000 mini dresses and heels that threaten to break my ankles just looking at them.
Sometimes I have to take action against these insecurities, lest I sulk myself down to “unpretty” levels (yes…I’ve been listening to a lot of the group TLC lately). Here are some ways I counterbalance my media-induced funk, and my advice to you as well:
- Step outside of your head…and home: Pull up a chair outside your favorite coffee shop and just watch the passers-by. Make note of how many variations of pretty walk past - you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
- Walk it off: Set your headphones to your most empowering tunes and take a stroll. The physical activity alone will raise your endorphin levels while the music provides some much-needed catharsis.
- Re-pretty-fy: If you’re a girlie-girl, get a little dolled up, meet up with some good friends and let their love and appreciation remind you of your beauty, both inside and out.
Each of these activities is a quick and easy way to remember what real-life beauty can consist of. What do you do to remind yourself of your beauty and worth? The About-Face community looks forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences, so please, share away!
-Corinne
Corinne Avganim is a freelance events and public relations manager with a passion for child and community development. Having grown up in the “Heart of Screenland” (Los Angeles), she immediately recognized the necessity of the About-Face mission and is honored to have joined such a dedicated team of beauty revolutionaries.
April 17th, 2009
Scarlett Johansson
I am so happy that Scarlett Johansson decided to take action against the media’s obsession with unhealthy, ultra skinny bodies! Scarlett Johansson just wrote a fantastic article called “The Skinny” for The Huffington Post. Her article responds to media coverage that claims she is on a crash diet to lose 14 pounds for her upcoming film Iron Man 2. Scarlett Johansson supports having a healthy body image and in her article writes:
I’m a petite person to begin with, so the idea of my losing this amount of weight is utter lunacy. If I were to lose 14 pounds, I’d have to part with both arms. And a foot. I’m frustrated with the irresponsibility of tabloid media who sell the public ideas about what we should look like and how we should get there.
Way to go, Scarlett! She is definitely on the team of About-Face winners. Please click here to read the whole article.
-Jaimie
April 14th, 2009
Previous Posts
