When Did Being Slim Get Sexy?
They are everywhere, on billboards, in magazines, on the sides of buses, and on television. The invasion of rail thin women has hit, and it seems as though they are here to stay. No matter where you turn, there are constant reminders that skinny is sexy. So when did this happen exactly? When did being slim get sexy?
This certainly was not always the case. There was a time when voluptuous women who had curves, and a good deal of meat on their bones were considered to be extremely sexy. This was a sign of wealth and health. Today, however, curves have been replaced with bones, leaving young women to have more self-image issues and eating disorders than ever.
Here are a few disturbing facts to consider: the average size of runway models has gone from a size eight to a size zero in the last twenty years, and any woman wearing a size twelve or larger is now considered to be plus sized. In the United States, during the same time period, the average woman has gone from a size ten to a size fourteen. This leads more and more women to feel desperate, ugly, fat, and not at all sexy. In turn, the annual statistics for cases of women being diagnosed with anorexia and bulimia have risen sharply. There are currently over eight million people in the United State alone with some form an eating disorder.
Is this truly the way it has to be; women starving themselves to be thin so that men will find them attractive? The answer might shock you. In a recent survey of men between the ages of 18 and 50, researchers found that the vast majority (about eighty percent) actually preferred women with some meat on their bones, and some curves to their shape. Fifteen of the remaining twenty percent said they preferred women of an average size and weight. So why are women still trying to be so thin?
This issue has lead many governments around the world to step in and work to reverse the “skinny is sexy” belief. In 2006, Spain actually banned models that had a body mass index of eighteen or lower, citing the fashion industry’s incessant need for thinner and thinner models is the main cause of eating disorders. Other governments, as well as several private companies, have launched “campaigns for true beauty”. These campaigns use women of all sizes and shapes to convey the message that healthy is beautiful, and you do not need to strive for an emaciated look. In time, hopefully the media will catch on and once again focus on real women with real bodies.
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