madrid bans too-thin fashion models...

Get your facts straight dude...
"The Spanish Association of Fashion Designers has decided to ban models who have a BMI of less than 18." (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5341202.stm)

Yes, the ban comes "in response to pressure from the local government"... However, this is a response to public protests last year.

So you're suggesting that the government should not represent its people?

 

well, the whole stupid thing started when some poor model starved her way to a skeletal size 0, walked the runway, was heavily applauded for her "accomplishment," then dropped dead of heart failure within 2 minutes of leaving the catwalk. the world health organization has a bmi of 18.5 for the bare minimum of health for women, and these groups are STILL only requiring a bmi of 18. that's STILL below accepted norms for health, below the starvation level. i hardly think they're forcing ANYONE into a size 16, for fuck's sake. they're just demading that an industry doesn't require someone to walk the verge of starvation and death for a job.

 

I don't know why some of you seem to be in denial that a fashion show in Madrid has a large effect on women around the world, because it does. Women watch fashion shows on tv, they read about them and view pictures of fashion shows in magazines ALL THE TIME - especially in Madrid aka fashion runway central.

 

"Madrid's regional government, which sponsors the show and imposed restrictions, said it did not blame designers and models for anorexia. It said the fashion industry had a responsibility to portray healthy body images."

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/09/13/spain.models/index.html?section=cnn_latest

I'm saying Government should not restrict freedom. Don't try the strawman approach.

 

So what?

Athletes(and nfl players in particular) die of exhaustion, should we ban athletics? Should we stop NFL players from being excessively overweight because it hurts their health? What kind of role models are these athletes who weigh 350+ pounds?


Other peoples health is not your concern. Besides, not everyone is unhealthy with a BMI of 17.9.

 

when players die from their needs being neglected, then yeah, some shit has to change. when girls start dying off from some misogynist pedophile wants to design for adolescent boys and so drives the fashion and the hearts and minds of every girl watching, then YEAH, something has to change. and let me reiterate, since you're not listening, they're not requiring anyone to eat their way into a size 16 US, they're requiring the minimum weight for continued living.

 

So I guess here it comes down to whether CNN or BBC is portraying the situation more accurately.

So lynching should be legal?

Of course I have no doubt you support a business owner in refusing service on the basis of race. After all, gotta protect that business owner's freedom...

And, we better go empty the prisons -- can't have the government restricting the freedom of those rapists and murderers...


And, again (since you apparently were not able to give an actual answer before), are you saying that the government is not supposed to represent its constituents? That if the majority of the population either doesn't care enough to make their voice heard or wants something changed, the government should stand back and not do anything?

 

The way I see it the Fashion Industry has always discriminated, usually against womyn who were not 5 ft 10 and weigh 98 lbs.

Most young girls may never see a runway show, but they do buy magazines with pictures of those shows, the people in them, and the size of womyn IN those shows.

I don't think there is any argument that the way Body Size is portrayed by the Fashion Industry is unhealthy. Yes, some womyn ARE normally very thin, and they are healthy, but the average womyn in the USA is 5 ft 4 to 5 ft 6 and weighs 160 lbs. THAT is who they should be catering to. Saying that, I am NOT that size, I've been a size 3 when before I had kids, and am barely 5 ft tall, NOTHING fits me. Now, I am more a size 8 or 10, but more busty than most stores allow for. I sometimes end up buying dresses and shirts in a large or extra large to accomodate my bosom and my ribcage.

I have no problem with Runway models looking more like the average womyn. I think it would not only be healthier, but it might make fashion designers more aware of what MOST womyn look like. Most of them spend their time around 92 lb 7 ft tall womyn, and that isn't the average.

I'd love to see a line of clothes for small womyn, "petite" size clothes, for the most part are usually ONLY "Business" clothes, and also very expensive. They also assume, if you have a "petite body" that you have NO boobs, hips or butt. I'd like to buy pants without having to hem them or roll them up, and buy shirts that fit my boobs AND my short arms. I don't see any of this happening.

 

misogynist pedophile? wtf?

Why not blame the people who do not eat? No one is forced to do anything. Lets not pretend that guns are held to these womens' heads.

Personal responsibility is dead...

 

wow....just wow.

If the majority of Americans believe blacks should be strung up on trees, do you think we should do that? My answer was simple: Government should not restrict freedom. A majority can be just as tyrannical as a despot. No, a majority that wants to restrict freedom should not be listened to.

I'll leave it at that...i think it is pretty apparent that we wont agree on this.