Madrid Model-by-Weight Rule

Lifestyle Relationships
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060908/lf_afp/afplifestylefashion;_ylt=Al

The govt of Madrid has banned too-skinny models from their fashion shows in order to send the right message out to girls that look up to these models as role models and as a result end up with diseases like anorexia or bulimia by starving themselves.
This act has sent many other countries re-considering. There is now a debate in Europe over whether Models are just there to sell clothes and thus need to look like clothes hangers or whether these models represent much more than that and are causing body image issues among young (and old) women.
European fashion show organizers argue that models are of this body type by birth and that they dont have any eating issues…they eat as much as a normal person but its just their body type (yeah ok) Others argue that this is un-true and that most models starve, smoke and drug themselves to skinnyness.
My view on the ban is that if curvier models are allowed to model and the hangars are banned…i dont see why anyone should have a problem with it as the thin ones should be happy they can now go and have a big meal. what do u think? do you think the ban will allow for a better body image among young girls? or will it be futile? The older models were never this thin in my opinion (think Cindy Crawford and Claudia ) never had their bones sticking out.

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Re: Madrid Model-by-Weight Rule

Remember that "curvier" in fashion lingo means a size two in real women terms! The Madrid models are still going to be very thin according to real women.

I saw this documentary on PBS called "How Art Made The World" and in it the host talked about how the Athenians learnt the art of making actual human sized sculptures from the Egyptians, but after a brief stint of doing so, went back to making "imaginary" shaped scultpures such as "David" not because they didnt have the technology and knowledge of making realistic ones but because reality had nothing to do with their perception of the human form. And I believe that thought continues to this day.

Ps-How art made the world is a GREAT documentary, I highly recommend it!

Pakistan tujhe Salam...
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that documentary sounds very interesting manna. as they say... life imitates art. and vice versa.

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I'm SO glad that this step was taken. All you hear about on the news is problems with overweight people and children and the reverse problem - being underweight - is too often ignored. Curvier is prettier anyway.

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Darn straight. I could be spared the agony of avoiding the ice cream in the ice cream section of the grocery store. I've been off it for 2 days and its killing me.

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:k:

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yeah i saw this on Access Hollywood...apparently, the madrid models have to have a normal BMI (body mass index) from 18-24 (somehtin like that)...i think this is a good step into the right direction...there shoudl also be a minimum age too....some girls are 15-16...its crazy...

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^^ i agree! thats cuz only 15-16 yr olds can have the skinny body with a fresh face to accompany it.

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A couple years ago British fashion magazines were making an effort to not use emaciated models in favor of more curvier figures. I remember how influenced I was by Seventeen magazine back in like 1990-1993. They even had articles on dieting with daily meal plans and exercise tips. That was back when Kate Moss was a skeleton and people had just started to speak about things like anorexia and bulimia. Magazine and fashion people should know how influential they are on young minds by now.

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... the ban would change the mind set of young gals.

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Doesn't make any sense. Bad decision.

I'll categorize the people favorig this ban into two groups. Those who say it's good because it will help women develop a positive body image and build self-esteem. The other group supports the ban because they're concerned about the unhealthy models influencing women to become like them - unhealthy.

Let's not forget that we're primarily discussing the ban and not disputing the right of 'curvier' women to become successful models.

Mr A is short and fat. Seeing tall handsome people on the media damages his self-esteem. Besides, he recently read an article, according to which, tall men, on average, fetch heftier salaries. It totally shattered his self-image. Should we ban men taller and more handsome than A type people from working in front-end media positions? Well, I think we shouldn't. A should try to develop a better body image/self-image, and to do this, he should stop always comparing himself with those who're thought to be better looking. He should do what's best for him and have some confidence in himself. If he still can't stop these comparisons, and they continue to affect him negatively, he should see a shrink.

Let's talk about the other group. Are banned models really unhealthy? Well it's rather unfair to use a vague formula to calculate the healthiness of these models, and keep some of them from working on this account. I haven't seen any indepth study claiming that these models are more unhealthy than ordinary women, most of whom never do any exercise, or that these models have shorter life-spans, or that the state has to spend more money on the ailments resulting from their health issues. Why ban them?

I was recently watching a news item on the unhealthy eating habits of British children. People in developed nations are generally consuming more than their predecessors, and they're also consuming more unhealthy food. On the face of it, waif-like models haven't had any effect on these people. Or perhaps, a lot of people are consuming so much food to develop a better self-image.

The organizers of such programs should introduce some models who look more like an average woman, especially when they're trying to sell their products. But I see no reason to ban these models

~*~ True Meaning of a BOY ~*~
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shuker hai ....... Allah mairee tauba , yesterday they were showing the report on CNN about this issue aur jo models uss main dekhiee hai unhoon nai ...i swear daikhoo tu you will throw. DHANCHAAAA........ Ethopia sai ayee hoie models lagh rahee theen...without exaturating, you can count the bones in rib-cage of those models ..... They should ban them and if not all TVs should display the warning of graphic nature of the fashion show and viewers discretion should be advides :)

~~*~~ Dushmani Offer ~~*~~
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Amorphous, you don't understand what anorexia and bulimia are. Your story about the man who is short and fat and just needs some confidence has no relation to this issue. It's not as simple as a confidence and self-esteem issue. Women can literally starve themselves to death. It's not just about being thin. This is a serious psychological disorder. I do believe that the media can influence someone who is having these issues. Why ban them? If your daughter was admiring starving Ethiopians as an ideal body then wouldn't you be concerned?

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Amorphous...Mr. A can TRY to appreciate himself for what he is but society will remind him everyday (through media and otherwise) that he is not perfect. This will be reflected in his lower salary, the way people talk to him and the way he gets treated in a department store for example.
As for models, its a known fact that most of them use drugs (stress related to weight issues) and smoke in order to kill appetite. supermodel kate moss was recently charged of drug abuse. most of them come in fresh faced and young but get burned out at a relatively young age due to this.
Finally I dont see how a thin model would have a problem if she is told by fashion show management to gain some weight. she should be relieved if anything. The only people In my opinion that WILL have a problem with this are the fashion designers of the clothes that these models wear. on a model that is Rail thin ANYTHING looks good. So these designers need thin models to carry off wacky clothes on the runway that would not look as good on anyone with curves.

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The reason hte models have gotten thinner is coz designers are needing to use lesser fabric (i guess coz fabric si more spensive?), so less fabric=smaller clothes=smaller models

n i dint need to read freakonomics to know that :snooty:

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I wouldn't confuse the natural desire to stay thin with anorexia and bulimia, which are emotional or psychological disorders. The women who are ready to starve themselves to death have a psychological problem and need psychological help.

saima, I'm not married, but I think I can predict my reaction. I'd sit her down and explain that her desire to stay thin is perfectly natural and admirable, but starving Ethiopian bodies (or many emaciated models we see) are neither attractive nor healthy. I'd also explain that her goal is attainable without starving herself. If she's unable to find a solution to her weight probelm (assuming she really has a weight issue), I'll have her see a doctor or a nutritionist to help her lose weight without losing health. If the desire to lose weight transforms into an unhealthy obsession, I'd have her see a psychologist to get rid of this obsession. But I strongly hope that my daughter like most women would be intelligent enough to realize that the commercial models she sees on TV screen are not the best model for her.

The media does influence people, but the influence of a few emaciated women walking down the runway is the least of my concerns.

shweet, many athletes, who aspire to have an entirely different body image, also take drugs. But now we have authorities checking the blood samples of these athletes and sportsmen to ensure that they don't take drugs. They can have a similar arrangement for these models. As I said earlier, we're not disputing the right of 'curvier' women (who're considered more attractive by many) to become models. What authorities/sponsors can do is to request/demand the designers to encourage these women to come forward and model their clothes or accessories. That will definitely be a relief for those models who have to starve themselves to avoid being put out of business. But we must not set vague formulas to determine their health level. Even the 'unhealthy' models should have a right to work as long as they're not taking drugs to stay in that shape.

We're actually not dealing solely with the weight issue of models. There is also an aspect of freedom of artistic expression. When the models are carrying off 'wacky clothes' on the runway, they don't always expect the women in the street to start wearing such outfits. These models are professional artists, and the ordinary women don't always have to model themselves on these models.

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These women are professional artists? What, that is the most inane explaination I"ve heard so far. The designers are the artists. And models are clothes hangers. You're starting to deal with a whole bunch of other issues in your post. The Madrid ban is to send a clear message that fashion world should take some responsibility for their influence on young girls/boys/women/men. I don't think a natural desire to stay thin is the problem here. That would be a good thing. Girls can look to Gabrielle Reese (volleyball) or Mia Hamm (soccer) if they want role models of health and fitness. I wish girls would look at health instead of superficial skinny, bony bodies.

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THANK GOD!!!! Hopefully more countries will follow them

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I think pakistani models are generally very beautiful, curvy and healthy, not fat or stick thin (with a few exceptions, but even they like mehreen syed wud be considered "curvy" in american modeling)

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Re: Madrid Model-by-Weight Rule

The Milan fashion show has followed suite.

What should I study?