Plus-Size Models Decrease Women's Self Esteem

Posted on Mar 26th 2010 5:00PM by Ashley Neglia

Dove's "Campaign for Real Beauty" just got a shot to the gut.

A controversial study published by Arizona State University, the University of Cologne in Germany and Erasmus University in the Netherlands found that ads featuring plus-size models cause women who are either normal weight or overweight to feel just as bad -- if not worse -- about themselves as ads featuring super-thin models.

Since the 2006 death of 21-year-old model, Ana Carolina Reston, who died due to complications of anorexia -- Reston was 5-foot 8-inches tall and weighed 88 pounds at the time of her death -- the fashion industry has been doubling back on its malnourished roots.

From banning too-thin models in Milan and Madrid (and sending curvier women down the runway in their stead)- to plus-sized models gracing the pages of Glamour and Vogue, the industry has, arguably, been doing its due diligence to give itself a healthier makeover.

"We want healthy-looking girls, the readers want healthy-looking girls," said Anna Wintour, who was on-hand with Michael Kors and Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova to discuss the fashion industry's effort to prevent eating disorders at the 13th Annual Public Forum, "Health Matters: Weight and Wellness in the World of Fashion," on March 22.

Yet, instead of lauding the fact that women who more closely resemble reality are slowly being enmeshed into fashion and advertising, we recoil in cellulite-filled horror.

"When overweight women look at thin models, they see the dissimilarities between themselves and the models, which activates knowledge that they are heavy," ASU researcher Naomi Mandel told Lemondrop. "And when they look at heavy models, they see the similarities between themselves and the models, which also activates knowledge that they are heavy."

It's disheartening to think that while entire industries work to change their standards of beauty to more accurately reflect reality, many women are still so dissatisfied with their own bodies that they can't stand to see any representation of the female form -- be it plus-size or thin -- staring back at them from the pages of their magazine.

Even Mandel was disappointed by women's distaste for plus-size models. "As a consumer and magazine reader, I was slightly surprised and saddened by the results," she told Lemondrop. "I enjoy looking at beautiful plus-size models such as Crystal Renn in the magazines. [But] we found that overweight women experienced lower self-esteem after looking at any models (versus an ad with no models) and underweight women experienced higher self-esteem after looking at any models (versus an ad with no models)."

Advertisers and fashion designers seem to have the right idea. So here's my question. If Anna Wintour can get behind a new, healthier breed of model, why can't the rest of us?

Did Tyra Banks' plus-size model search send the right message?

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Tags: advertising, anna wintour, body dysmorphia, Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, glamour, plus-size models, vogue

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ghdshop 3-27-2010 @ 3:43AM

thanks very much for sharing

ghdshop 3-27-2010 @ 3:47AM

thanks

rainemike 3-27-2010 @ 11:52AM

I am 60 pounds overweight and nothing has made me stick to trying to loose this weight as seeing more and more pictures of plus-sized women. I've been on the whole thinking, "I am what I am". But these plus-sized women do not look attractive to me. I think Queen Latifah is a very beautiful plus sized woman and I'm not black. Maybe because she wears 'normal' clothing and always looks great in them despite her size? These plus-sized models they show wear clothing that a 'normal' person would not even consider. I am slowly losing weight....yeaaa. Whatever weight I will end up being, (I am not setting a goal), I just know it won't be plus-sized!

u262f 3-27-2010 @ 4:02PM

Reading through the Lemondrop article...

First, I strongly question their methodology. Can measuring keyboard click times really tell researchers what our level of self esteem is? Also, according to the Lemondrop article, "fat" and "heavy" were considered "negative words", while "thin" and "skinny" were rated "positive ones", and I think that is very blatantly wrong. To me, thin and skinny are exactly as negative as fat and heavy: both are merely descriptors. Of COURSE heavy and fat people are going to identify with heavy and fat, while thin and skinny people are going to identify with thin and skinny, no matter what models the magazine shows them. It doesn't mean that thin and skinny people always feel that thin and skinny are positive or that fat and heavy people always feel that fat and heavy are negative. The research (as reported) merely showed that people are realistic about their own weight no matter what the models in the magazines look like and that staring at a magazine picture of a heavy woman doesn't suddenly make another heavy woman believe she's thin. I consider this to be a GOOD THING. The research was not constructed to lead to the conclusions they're reporting.

Also, you asked, "If Anna Wintour can get behind a new, healthier breed of model, why can't the rest of us?" I think the problem is the very existence and use of models themselves. Every model, no matter what size, reminds people that the society at large considers looks to matter more than our intelligence, skills, personality, health, etc. No matter what size the model is, I simply don't judge myself based on my weight or my looks. I felt just as good about myself when I was obese as I do now that I'm normal weight. Just because I would've clicked a keyboard faster for "heavy" and "fat" meant only that I was intelligent enough to be realistic about the size of my body. It doesn't at all mean that I wasn't proud of myself, my skills, my job, my volunteer efforts, and everything else I've accomplished. My self esteem is just fine, whether or not I associate myself with "heavy" or "thin".

Olivia 3-27-2010 @ 9:38PM

i completely disagree that it lowers someones self esteem by seeing plus sized models in ads. Im speaking for myself at least when I say that it does the opposite. i think that it raises my self esteem because i look at someone with some lumps and i think that its ok not to be perfectly flat all over.I disagree with their whole argument.and alot of plus sized models arnt obese, so its not like their promoting obesity or anything. the models just arnt anorexic. they just have a thicker build and i like that the industry is beggining to accept that.

shaquila 9-27-2010 @ 11:05AM

I agree with you olivia,some people can't defind how other feel, because they're not in that situation.I think it's wrong of them to judge plus size people,but who i'm i to tell other how to think. but u never no what they have been though.i'm plus size myself and for those who don't like it.God will judge you in the end. GOD BLESS

robin2p 6-30-2010 @ 4:22PM

I really hate when articles like this are printed based on one study. Most people assume it means it is a fact. Having taken classes in case study methodology, I know how difficult it is to get accurate data.
I happen to be overweight and even had Lap band surgery to lose weight. I think seeing "plus size" models is a good thing. It might take a bit for people to readjust their thinking, but if we keep showing underweight models the next generation is doomed to suffer the consequences.
I also dislike the term "Plus Size" model, when in reality these women are at a healthy weight.

Vanessa 3-29-2010 @ 5:07PM

Any extreme is unattractive. I don't like the look of heavy models, nor do I like the look of questionably anorexic ones. But nobody seems to understand the concept of balance. I think real beauty lies in good health. Being the best you can be. I don't think any of these extremes meet that criteria and should therefore not be glorified.

TA Woods 4-14-2010 @ 7:02AM

@Vanessa: You're making a judgement that because these women are "plus-sized" that they're unhealthy. That is an erroneous statement.If a model is 6'0 and wears a 10, she is considered "plus-sized." Do you think that is an unhealthy size? And generally speaking, the industry leans more toward that end of the scale, rather than the 22+ of the world. I think you're missing the point of showing plus-sized models. The norm in this country is the extreme.

@robin2p: I'm glad you mentioned how this study isn't the end-all be-all on studies of overweight people's perceptions of plus-sized models. It seems kind of far-fetched to think that they've found how people really "feel," when seeing plus-sized models in the US has barely started to happen.

Grl30 10-28-2010 @ 3:40PM

Ofcourse women looking at the plus sized models are going to see similarities in themselves and feel bad. They've been eating up this ridiculous idea that they need to be exactly like the skinny models in order to be pretty for so long, it takes time to break out of that type of thinking. Having these plus sized (or should I say real life sized) models in magazines will eventually lead to a healthier approach to the female form. Women and men will begin to know that stick thin isn't the only form of beauty. I just think it's silly to convey a survey so soon into the fashion industries attempt. Let people get accustomed to seing different female forms. Let people get comfortable with it. It's only been over 100 decades of under eating and tying ones self into girdles... wouldn't you think it might take a little more than a couple years to derail that train of thoughts?