Name:
Date:
Title:
Dying to Be Thin
Specific Purpose:
To convince by proposition of policy that the fashion industry must
be regulated to prevent negative body image and eating disorders
in both fashion models and the public at large.
Thesis Statement:
The number of men and women suffering from potentially fatal
eating disorders in America has dramatically increased as the
exposure to unhealthy body images portrayed by the fashion
industry has also increased.
Preview Statement:
It is important to know the problems associated with the negative
body images portrayed by the fashion industry, the causes related
to the problems with negative body images, and the solutions
available to prevent these problems.
Organization Design: Problem-Cause-Solution
Introduction
I. “They’re not people, they’re hangers,” stated a leading fashion designer.
A. He considered fashion models like Kleenex—easily disposable and infinitely
replaceable—there is always another pretty 17-year old girl just dying to be a
model (Hooper).
B. After this response, in less than two months, four young models died of
anorexia, causing a national debate about body image and eating disorders
(Richter).
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II. They were alarmingly thin—models in demand for New York’s fashion week
appeared “so gaunt and thin that their knees and elbows were larger than their concave
thighs and pipe cleaner arms, and their baby doll heads looked as if a slight breeze could
detach them from their frail bodies” (Wilson).
A. Linda Wells, the editor of the beauty magazine Allure, said there were
moments during the fashion shows when gasps in the audience could be heard,
not at the couture gowns, but at the models’ cadaverous appearances (Wilson).
B. Yet there remains an ideal among designers who seem to prize an even thinner
frame to display their clothes.
1. Many who attended the New York fashion shows question whether
acceptable boundaries have been crossed, such as when fashion
glamorized images of heroin abuse, coining it “heroin-chic” in the early
1990s through models such as Kate Moss, who was ironically charged
with heroin possession last year (Wilson).
2. Despite perennial complaints that models are too thin, there is a new
sense of concern that the fashion industry is contributing to unhealthy and
potentially life-threatening behavior among models and the public at large.
III. Today, we will take a walk down the catwalk of negative body images to discover the
problems associated with the images portrayed by the fashion industry, discuss the causes
related to the problems, and reveal the solutions available to prevent these problems.
Body
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I. The two main problems associated with the negative body images portrayed by the
fashion industry are the degradation of healthy and appropriate body sizes and the
emotional and physical effects of eating disorders.
A. The first problem associated with the emaciated body images celebrated by the
fashion industry is the degradation of healthy and appropriate body sizes.
1. Curiously, the evidence of model shrinkage was there all
along—in 1986, the standard size was 4 to 6, then it was a solid 4,
then to 2, then to zero (Trebay).
a. It’s like the frog in the water: if you turn up the heat, it
does not know its being boiled to death—after a while a
size 0 starts to seem normal, not cadaverous.
2. As early as kindergarten, children become aware of their
appearance—how much they’re eating, how they look in clothes,
and unfortunately, the social disadvantages of being overweight
(Etcoff).
a. The so-called fashion bible, Vogue, determined that it is
a “fact” that clothes look better on a thin person; models,
therefore, by definition, are thinner than the average person
(Johnson 382).
b. 62 percent of you felt you were influenced by the images
portrayed by the media as to how you should dress, act, or
physically look (Questionnaire).
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c. Few of us measure our intelligence against Albert
Einstein or our tennis ability by Venus Williams’ trophy
case, so why do we compare our bodies to the physical
anomaly that is supermodel Gisele Bűndchen?
3. In the United States, plumpness once signaled that a woman was
well fed and affluent, but by the early 1900s, women wanted to
look like the “Gibson Girl” with an incredibly tiny, unrealistic
waist.
a. The 1920s ushered in pencil-thin “Flappers”, the 40s and
50s idealized full figure women again like Marilyn Monroe
and Ava Gardner, the 1960s eliminated full figure models
when a 5’7, 91-pound British model known as Twiggy hit
the runway.
b. Before Twiggy, the average fashion model weighed just
8 percent less than the average woman, today models are
thinner than 90 percent of all American women (Prah).
a. If Barbie was a real person, she would stand 5’9, a mere
110 pounds, with the unrealistic body measurements of 3918-33.
b. The current media ideal of thinness is healthily
achievable by less than 5% of the American population
(Fox).
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B. The second problem associated with the starved body images
broadcasted by the fashion industry is the emotional and physical effects
of eating disorders.
1. Anorexia is diagnosed when a person weighs less than 15
percent of their height’s average body weight, fears gaining
weight, and sees himself or herself as overweight, but is actually
dangerously thin; bulimia is diagnosed when a person binges,
purges at least twice a week for three months, and has a distorted
self-image (Prah).
a. In a recent study, only two percent of women claimed to
be “beautiful” and less than one percent thought they were
“gorgeous” (Etcoff).
b. Another study reports most people who are losing weight
want to lose at least 32 percent of their body mass—an
amount probably appropriate only for the minority of
people who are severely overweight or obese (Etcoff).
c. It’s hard with obesity being such an urgent health issue in
America not to encourage thinness, but with it comes the
vulnerability to develop an eating disorder with one of the
highest mortality rates of any psychiatric disorder.
2. A study published by the British Journal of Health Psychology
in 2004 showed the eating disorders anorexia nervosa and bulimia
were triggered by and intensified by participating in social
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situations, such as parties, or watching social situations, such as
watching a movie or TV (Brown).
a. According to CQ Press, eating disorders are not only
occurring more and more often, they are occurring at a
younger age—physicians are finding it is not uncommon
for seven to twelve year olds to be suffering from serious
eating disorders (Prah).
b. The National Eating Disorder Association estimates up
to 10 million females and 1 million males struggle with
anorexia, bulimia, or both and 25 million males and
females suffer from binge eating; among U.S. women,
about 1 percent of the population are anorexic and about 5
percent are bulimic (Prah).
c. Recent experiments have shown that exposure to
magazine photographs of super-thin models produces
depression, stress, guilt, shame, insecurity, bodydissatisfaction, and increased endorsement of the thin-ideal
stereotype; Magazines like Vogue and Elle are banned in
many eating-disorder clinics because of their negative
effect on patients’ body image (Fox).
d. “It’s the paradox of the model,” notes Natalia
Vodianova, a high-fashion model and one of the few
outspoken advocates on the issue, “you’re supposed to be
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projecting this image of fun and health, but your entire
career depends on your weight” (Johnson 384).
(Now that we understand the main problems associated with the negative body images
portrayed to the public, let’s discover its causes.)
II. The degradation of positive body images within the fashion industry may be caused or
linked to the designers’ and model agencies’ selection of the types of images portrayed
and the lack of regulation for model size.
A. The type of images selected by designers and model agencies to represent them
is the first main cause that leads to the selection of unhealthy bodies.
1. A Nielsen Company survey of 25,000 people in 45 countries found that
81 percent disapproved of “extreme thinness”, but what defines “extreme
thinness” and why are we still allowing it to walk the runways (Trebay)?
2. Designers, such as Donna Karan blame agents for sending them
underweight models; agents blame the designers for demanding skinny
girls (Trebay).
a. Here is how a model gets from the street to the catwalk: a model
must first have a contract with a modeling agency, such as Elite
Models or Ford Modeling Agency, the agents then schedule “gosees” with designers, designers look at portfolios, watch models
walk, and snap Polaroid’s of models, after being booked by
designers models must be fitted into outfits, and finally models get
to walk the catwalk.
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b. A models’ job relies on his or her image, if agencies and
designers relentlessly demand ultra-skinny, gazelle-like canvases,
models are forced to adapt to book jobs.
c. The majority of models are only thirteen to eighteen years old,
are from impoverished countries, and lack the means of education
or other occupations to fall back on.
d. Models are, in a sense, unfortunately dying for their jobs.
B. The second cause of negative body images is the lack of regulation for the
selection of models.
1. Spain banned underweight models—working models must have a body
mass index of at least 18 (the World Health Organization considers a BMI
of 18.5 to be the standard of a minimum healthy height to weight ratio);
Italy decided in the future, models would have to be over the age of 16 and
above a body mass index of 18.5 percent to gain employment (Trebay).
a. America lacks any regulation for model weights, body mass
indexes, or ages.
b. The Council of Fashion Designers of America decided not to
have such regulations for models, but instead has provided a
number of tips that it believes would “benefit” models (Campbell).
c. The Council’s lukewarm recommendations include education on
the early signs of eating disorders, requiring models with eating
disorders to seek professional help, not permitting models with an
eating disorder to work without a doctor’s approval, and improving
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nutritional content of food catered backstage at fashion shows
(Campbell).
d. Unfortunately, these are only recommendations and cannot be
enforced in any way.
(Now that we understand both the problems and the causes associated with negative body
images in the fashion industry, let’s reveal the solutions that are available to help prevent
this problem.)
III. Although there are various ways to tackle the battle against negative body images and
eating disorders, we will examine three specific solutions at the industry, community, and
personal levels.
A. The fashion industry is a collaboration, according to Nina Garcia, editor of
Allure magazine, the agencies work with designers, designers work with editors,
and addressing this issue must come through education (Campbell).
1. If the fashion industry is serious about the image it is portraying, it
should be serious about changing the image to healthy being beautiful—it
should be a collaborative effort from agencies, designers, models, fashion
editors, media, parents, etc.
a. In order to portray images of health and beauty, the industry
must implement a national regulation for the minimum height-toweight ratio of models.
b. Models, therefore, should maintain a body mass index of at least
18.5 percent, the minimum healthy weight according to the World
Health Organization (Hesse-Bibler).
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c. By establishing a set minimum weight, agencies and designers
alike will be restricted from hiring underweight models; then,
models will be encouraged to maintain a healthy weight to book
jobs, completely opposite of the current standard.
B. At the community level, greater education and healthy food choices should be
implemented.
1. Schools, families, and teachers should teach children healthy eating and
exercising skills that, if developed during an early age, will provide a
healthy lifestyle throughout their lives.
a. Education is the key to unlocking a culture which is free of ultrathin stereotypes.
b. Communities can foster positive body images by implementing
greater health education in schools for students, and wellness and
exercise classes for the community at large, combating both eating
disorders and obesity.
C. At a personal level, educate others on eating disorders, encourage and support
you friends and family to maintain healthy, positive, body images, and love your
own body for the amazing scientific phenomenon that it is.
1. Expand the horizons of your knowledge and the knowledge of
others by giving a presentation or even, gasp!, a speech on the
effects of eating disorders and negative body image—it might even
change the life of someone who suffers from these problems.
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2. Support your friends and family to appropriately exercise,
maintain healthy eating habits, and discover the “ideal” for their
own body types.
3. Finally, discover that beauty is not defined by the size of your
jeans.
a. Beauty is not a 97 pound frame; beauty is your own
internal happiness and feeling content in your own skin—
that’s style.
b. After all, as the eternal Coco Chanel once said, “fashion
comes and goes, style—never.”
Conclusion
I. Through my speech today, we are now aware of the current problems of the images
portrayed by the fashion industry, the real causes of those problems, and the ways that
you and I can help solve the problems.
A. During New York Fashion Week, coveted designers, Donna Karan and Dianne
Von Furstenburg did something unheard of.
1. Both designers sent their entire fall collections down the runway on size
6 models.
a. Although they saw it as a small step towards national regulation,
the women hoped the images they projected would inspire other
designers to follow lead.
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B. Maybe we should follow their fashionable lead, helping to create a new trend
this season—a trend that idealizes healthy, nourished bodies; then, not only will
we be ultra-trendy, we will also be saving lives.
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Works Cited
Brown, Lucy Scott. et al. “Socially Driven Eating and Restriction in the Eating
Disorders.” Eating Behaviors Sept. 2003: 221-28. Electronic Journal
Center. Marietta Coll. Lib., Marietta, OH. 21 Feb. 2007.
<http://journals.ohiolink.edu>.
Brown, Campbell, and Lester Holt. “Nina Garcia of Elle Magazine Discusses the Council
of Fashion Designers of America’s New Guidelines for Models.” The Today
Show. NBC. 13 Jan. 2007. Transcript. 19 Mar. 2007. <http://web.lexisnexis.com/universe>.
Etcoff, Nancy. Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty. New York: Doubleday,
1999.
Fox, Katie. “Mirror, Mirror: A Summary of Research Findings on Body Image.”
SIRC.com. 1997. Social Issues Research Center. 21 Feb. 2007.
<http://www.sirc.org/public>.
Hesse-Biber, Sharlene Janice. Am I Thin Enough Yet? The Cult of Thinness and the
Commercialization of Identity. New York: Oxford U P, 1996.
Honors 202 Questionnaire. Marietta College. 5 Mar. 2007. Marietta, OH.
Hooper, Simon. “Young Models Dying to Be Skinny.” CNN.com. 19 Sept. 2006. CNN.
21 Feb. 2007. <http://www.cnn.com/2006/world>.
Johnson, Rebecca. “Walking a Thin Line.” Vogue. Apr. 2007: 380-403.
Prah, Pamela. “Eating Disorders.” CQ Press Public Affairs Collection. 10 Feb. 2006.
CQ Press. Marietta Coll. Lib., Marietta, OH. 19 Mar. 2007.
<http://library.cqpress.com/cqpac/>.
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Richter, Larry. “Burst of High-Profile Anorexia Deaths Unsettles Brazil.”
NYTimes.com. 30 Dec. 2006. The New York Times. 23 Mar. 2007.
<http://www.nytimes.com/gst>.
Trebay, Guy. “Looking Beyond the Runway for Answers on Underweight Models.”
NYTimes.com. 6 Feb. 2007. The New York Times. 23 Mar. 2007.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2007>.
Wilson, Eric. “When is Thin Too Thin?” NYTimes.com. 21 Sept. 2006. The New York
Times. 23 Mar. 2007. <http://www.nytimes.com/2006>.
Internet Evaluation—Social Issues Research Center
Criterion #1: AUTHORITY
1. Is it clear what organization is responsible for the contents of the page? yes.
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2. Is there a link to a page describing the goals of the organization? yes.
3. Is there a way of verifying the legitimacy of this organization? That is, is there a phone
number or postal address to contact for more information? (Simply an email address is
not enough.) yes.
4. Is there a statement that the content of the page has the official approval of the
organization? yes.
5. Is it clear whether this is a page from the national or local chapter of the organization?
yes.
6. Is there a statement giving the organization's name as copyright holder? yes.
Criterion #2: ACCURACY
1. Are the sources for any factual information clearly listed so they can be verified in
another source? (If not, the page may still be useful to you as an example of the ideas
of the organization, but it is not useful as a source of factual information). yes.
2. Is the information free of grammatical, spelling, and typographical errors? (These
kinds of errors not only indicate a lack of quality control, but can actually produce
inaccuracies in information.) yes.
Criterion #3: OBJECTIVITY
1.
Are the organization's biases clearly stated? yes.
2. If there is any advertising on the page, is it clearly differentiated from the
informational content? There isn’t any advertising present.
Criterion #4: CURRENCY
1.
Are there dates on the page to indicate:
o
When the page was written? yes.
o
When the page was first placed on the Web? yes.
o
When the page was last revised? yes.
2. Are there any other indications that the material is kept current? no.
Criterion #5: COVERAGE
1. Is there an indication that the page has been completed, and is not still under
construction? no.
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2. Is it clear what topics the page intends to address? yes.
3. Does the page succeed in addressing these topics, or has something significant been
left out? The page successively addresses the topics.
4. Is the point of view of the organization presented in a clear manner with its arguments
well supported? yes.