To think there are size double standards on mumsnet?

[Tobeavsangel]

So I read a thread and a model is being ripped apart for her looks and size.

There was even a comment about how the company should pay her to eat .... Could you imagine the outrage if it was a plus size model and I said the company should have her cut down on her portion sizes?

I'm not even skinny (size 10) but I just hate this double standard on mumsnet.

If you read through the wedding dress thread most people are commenting about how ill the models look, gaunt, sickly.
Reminds me of the heroin chic look of models in the 1990s- very unappealing.

YANBU in the slightest....although it's not just on MN. I see it. And experience it in RL too.
I'm pg at the moment, but when I'm not, I'm built like (as someone above described it) one of the "heroin chic" model of the 90's ie, straight up and down, no real shape, no boobs, and get asked if I'm ill quite a lot. The funny thing is, I EAT! A lot! And quite a lot of the wrong things too. But it seems perfectly fine to a lot of people to tell me to "go eat a burger", and yet if I went up to an overweight woman eating a slice of cake and said "I don't think you need to be eating that do you?" Then I would be the most out of order person on this planet....
But obviously because I'm skinny, I'm not going to get upset over comments about my weight in the same way an overweight person might

On the 00s heroin chic - it followed the supermodel era - where for the first time, they challenged the industry and forced payment upwards. I've often mused that the designers response was to design clothes that were showed on waifs in often non- Amazonian postures - in other words putting models back to where they belonged. But just a musing.

look, gaunt, sickly.
Reminds me of the heroin chic look of models in the 1990s- very unappealing.

Look plump, at risk of diabetes.
Reminds me of the supersize models in the US- very unappealing.

Is that as acceptable as your comment?

I think this double standard does exist but I really don't agree that it's an issue on MN. Actually I think the opposite is true - there's constant fat bashing!

breadeggy it's not just about eating, it's about lifestyle. Emaciated limbs with no muscle tone is not a good look.

Completely agree, OP.

No on mumsnet usually comments on any size are challenged.

I disagree really. It is far more acceptable on MN to take a shot at those who are thin. Any challenging is only done by a minority, unlike the "fat shaming" threads where it is completely and utterly unacceptable.

Been on mumsnet for over 10 years and no there's no general double standards.

There are definitely double standards.

I think the opposite is true - there's constant fat bashing!

Which people are pulled up on very quickly.

I just don't see why we have to comment on people's sizes full stop.

The problem with the size zero thing is it's seen as aspirational despite being very unhealthy. Yes being plus size is unhealthy too (though depends what you consider plus size) but in all honesty plus size models have much less exposure and are much less influential. I'm currently a size 14-16 post pregnancy and I don't look at someone like Tess Holliday for example and think oh brilliant, I'm on my way to looking like her. I hate the way I look at the moment. Honestly I'd much rather be skinny.

alice- yes.

Looking gaunt and sickly is not a good look. Obese models normalise and glamorise obesity- the single biggest health challenge we face in the west.

pearly it might not be a good look in your opinion....which is where the problem lies.
I don't have a major issue with looking like that - therefore I don't think it's any of your business. The same way that Tess Halliday is happy with her own body despite the fact that she is morbidly obese....it's not what I would choose to look like because it's not attractive to me - but that none of my business

It is my business when I have a teenage daughter bombarded by body images.

Some countries have taken the stance to ban catwalk models under a certain bmi- you think that is wrong?

Some countries have taken the stance to ban catwalk models under a certain bmi

Have they also banned models with a BMI over a certain level?

Sorry I disagree

The fat bashing is appalling all dressed up with faux health concern. Everyone who is over a size 10 (whatever the hell that means) is apparently obese and a drain on the taxpayer. It is presented as 'concern' though rather than pure nastiness.

It is dangerous to be very underweight. Unless you are supermorbidly obese and cant't walk though being overweight just raises the risks of various things. I think as a mum of daughters anorexia frightens the living daylights out of me. So yes, I am critical of companies who use models who are too thin.

Fat bashing is pretty much constant on MN. Yes, outright 'look at her, the fat cunt' comments are pulled up.

But often the fat shamers on here, and there are a few popular posters that fall into this category, are insidious and sly with it. They dress the shaming up as concern about the overweight person(s) health, concern for the NHS, but it's fat shaming nonetheless. Of course, there's no point pulling these posters up when there's a chorus of others chiming in with highlighted quotes and "What X said." Or "^ This. 1000x THIS."

I think on AIBU and, to a lesser extent, on chat, there is fat bashing.

Other boards such as pregnancy, style and beauty, will not mind and be supportive if you admit to carrying an extra stone or two

The two things I absolutely hate are firstly the insistence that if you are (say) a size 14, you aren't really you know and secondly the barked at commands in the form of that frightfully bossy middle class voice some love to adopt (eat less. Fresh vegetables. Go for walks.)

I think there's a massive booze culture on here. If fry ups and chips were spoken about in the same way wine and gin was the fat shamers would be out!

Some countries have taken the stance to ban catwalk models under a certain bmi- you think that is wrong?

Yes.

If I proposed banning all catwalk models over a certain BMI, what would your opinion on that?

Of course its a concern.

A third of children in the UK are obese or overweight. Obesity leads to ill health, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, diabetes etc.

It's a major problem. Normalising obesity is not helping.

But often the fat shamers on here, and there are a few popular posters that fall into this category, are insidious and sly with it. They dress the shaming up as concern about the overweight person(s) health, concern for the NHS, but it's fat shaming nonetheless.

Yes. This.

Anorexia is a deep rooted psychological illness, not just a case of someone needing to eat a few sandwiches. Luckily that seems largely understood by society. Unfortunately what with all the "no wonder there's a national obesity crisis" comments obese/overweight people do not get afforded the same courtesy. The reason people are obese is not because they don't know that chips are bad for you.

If I proposed banning all catwalk models over a certain BMI, what would your opinion on that?

Well as long as it was sensible I'd have no issue. The evidence is pretty hazy that being in the 25-30 'overweight' category is even bad for you. I doubt many plus size models have a bmi higher than 30 anyway. So make it 35 or something for equality and it would be pointless.

Fwiw I don't think any catwalk models should be banned. But I do think they should include models of all shapes and sizes. Fat, skinny, short, tall, big boobs, small boobs.

Obesity in children is absolutely a concern but I don't think it's especially related to food but to levels of activity in young people.

pearly obviously companies who only use tiny models shouldn't be allowed to do that....but then would you say the same thing about plus size clothing companies using obese models?? It's exactly the same thing.

There's no need to ban overweight models because currently the only overweight models getting work are those for plus size shops.

Meanwhile models for absolutely everything else from yoghurt to cars to deodorant are slim to skeletal.