Post by BethH on Oct 4, 2013 17:41:51 GMT
I already posted this on my blog, but I thought I'd post it here as I'd like to know what you guys think of the situation:
The recent "plus size" movement came to my attention a little while ago when I saw an advert for the clothing company Simply Be - which describes itself as being "exclusively sizes 14 - 32" - and found myself getting very angry. The problem was not that they were making clothes in bigger sizes, but that they quite clearly thought that they were promoting equality and acceptance by segregating the people who wear these larger clothes. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure that many women are grateful that these sizes are not being ignored, but I can also be sure that there are many more - especially young girls - who will see the advert and immediately assume that they must be "fat" because there are companies that have to make clothes specifically for their size. I find it to be very similar to the times when the American government thought they were doing the right thing by setting up schools exclusively for black children, or allowing them to take the seats right at the back of the buses.
I also find the idea of "plus size models" to be absolutely abhorrent, particularly when many of these women would not be considered even remotely plus size in another profession. Why can't all models just be models regardless of their size? In fact, why can't all people just be people regardless of their size, shape, colour, personality, intelligence, gender, background, class, social status, abilities or lack thereof? I'm not saying that services for the disabled should be disbanded or that extra help shouldn't be given to those who need it, I'm simply stating that you're not doing people any favours by disguising discrimination as acceptance.
The recent "plus size" movement came to my attention a little while ago when I saw an advert for the clothing company Simply Be - which describes itself as being "exclusively sizes 14 - 32" - and found myself getting very angry. The problem was not that they were making clothes in bigger sizes, but that they quite clearly thought that they were promoting equality and acceptance by segregating the people who wear these larger clothes. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure that many women are grateful that these sizes are not being ignored, but I can also be sure that there are many more - especially young girls - who will see the advert and immediately assume that they must be "fat" because there are companies that have to make clothes specifically for their size. I find it to be very similar to the times when the American government thought they were doing the right thing by setting up schools exclusively for black children, or allowing them to take the seats right at the back of the buses.
I also find the idea of "plus size models" to be absolutely abhorrent, particularly when many of these women would not be considered even remotely plus size in another profession. Why can't all models just be models regardless of their size? In fact, why can't all people just be people regardless of their size, shape, colour, personality, intelligence, gender, background, class, social status, abilities or lack thereof? I'm not saying that services for the disabled should be disbanded or that extra help shouldn't be given to those who need it, I'm simply stating that you're not doing people any favours by disguising discrimination as acceptance.