body image. skinny minnie.

But I think I'm more cynical than you because I feel this is about something bigger than this whole waif versus glamazon nonsense. As you suggest, we live in a world dominated by visuals and image. That is not the fault of the beautiful people. And I agree that they're not superficial by definition. Well, not all of them.

But it is fast becoming the responsibility of all of us to figure out how to resist being driven by surface and appearance. If I had that one figured out, I would be more optimistic about the prospect of change. Maybe we should ban the internet. Or eyes..



http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/20/tipping-point-body-fascism-vernon-groskop



Fashion-forward, notoriously pricey department store Barney’s New York has “embraced” pop culture by unveiling plans to present Disney characters in haute couture for its holiday window display. But these iconic cartoon bodies are now stretched so thin and tall that they resemble unrecognizable cartoon toothpicks rather than the corporate but cute Minnie,

There is something wrong with changing a beloved children’s character’s body so that it looks good in a dress that almost nobody looks good in -- adding to the tremendous pressure on young girls and women to attain photoshop perfection. The problem isn’t with Minnie’s body, it’s with a dress that only looks good on a woman who is 5’11 and a size zero.

That little girl who is going to become a 5’4, size 12 woman can’t just become a 5’11, size 0 woman when she wants to fit into a dress that was designed by someone who couldn't be bothered to make a dress that looks good on someone who is not a model.

That’s ultimately the goal for pushing back against toxic body culture, no matter what form it takes. Instilling a lack of self-consciousness, an ability for young people to move their bodies through the world with joy and not subject themselves to endless scrutiny. Lady Gaga’s Body Revolution movement and the petitioners taking on Skinny Minnie have the right idea.

http://www.alternet.org/skinny-minnie-our-cultures-bizarre-obsession-stick-thin-women?paging=off