Perfect Body? Not Really…

Whether we like it or not, brands are always going to pick from the *lucky* gene pool to advertise their products if they’re allowed to get away with it. Victoria’s Secret is quite rightly under the hammer for their Perfect Body campaign that shows the longest and leanest limbed collection of women that I think I’ve ever seen that in no way represent the majority of women who buy their knickers.

I won’t be the first, nor the last, to wonder at the irresponsibility of a brand that targets a youth market with the unattainable. I’m all for aspirational, but with the best will in the world, my legs won’t grow any longer no matter how much I would like them to.

Body image is a very tricky subject – I do look sometimes at other women and think, ‘you’re way too thin,’ or ‘wow, what fabulous legs,’ or similar things. You can’t help it really – and everyone assesses visually. But in making those casual appraisals I’m highly aware that it’s been programmed into me from childhood – that what I see as too thin or totally gorgeous isn’t something that I’ve formed alone.

Body ideals are ridiculous really – every single body in the whole world is different. No two are identical, so how it is that one particular body type is seen as superior is quite miraculous really. That it just so happened in the big scheme of things, that long limbs are better limbs, that a flatter tummy is a better one and that big boobs are better boobs.

Nothing about any of these characteristics protects you, health-wise, nothing about them ensures that you’ll be happier, wealthier or more secure. Nothing about them gives you guaranteed joy, makes you a more pleasant or decent person – in fact, other than on the pages of a magazine or a billboard, they count for nothing at all.

And yet, we still think we’d be better off for them. I’d still like longer legs despite being able to rationalise that it’s really not that important in the bigger scheme of things.

How is it that we’re educating girls to think it’s important their butt looks good in a thong? Because we do stand by and let that happen. It’s shocking that we’re such passive bystanders in allowing images like this to be acceptable. We all know, intellectually, that it’s not healthy and it’s far too much pressure for any young girl, but do we actively do anything to make it stop? Not really. I certainly haven’t dashed off a furious email to Victoria’s Secret.

I think we have to take responsibility for the future of body image.. that’s all of us. We can’t just leave it to a few talking heads to speak on behalf of women everywhere. It’s not healthy to be too thin and nor is it healthy to be too fat, but it’s equally unhealthy in a different way to aspire to a body that you’ll genetically never be able to have. And for it to bother you all your life. Because that’s my generation, right there.

Let’s not let stupid marketing people make us stupid too.


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10 responses to “Perfect Body? Not Really…”

  1. Well said Jane!! It’s crazy how these ‘ideals’ have been conditioned into us over the years to form the ‘perfect’ body when the majority of women in the world never have/will look like that…great post x

  2. I liked very much the way you wrote about this sensitive topic. Teenagers are really under pressure – and not only them – to look perfect or like the models from glossy magazines cover in order to be considered by the others and also to be somehow appreciated. Esthetic surgery started to be used as a spa experience and this is not good at all. This invasion of body models push us to believe that a perfect body can bring us a happy life….

  3. Thank you for this post. I often struggle with posts/videos where body image is discussed because sometimes people find it hard not to unintentionally slam one set of body shapes/sizes in order to raise the positivity around another set of body shapes/sizes. Not here though, so thank you again.

    Ting

  4. Dolly

    What a fab post! x

  5. Natisha

    Great article! I’ve always been really skinny (my parents were when they were my age) and I’m constantly judged for it, Ive had people ask me if I actually eat and if I’m anorexic! Can we teach people to stop judging each other? (And not to be so rude whilst we’re at it!)
    we need some more positive role models in the media for younger people to look up to but it will never happen and someone of a “normal” weight/body shape wil constantly be scrutinised for gaining or losing a bit of weight

  6. Added on top of which these genetic freaks (in the nicest possible way) whose full-time job is to look what is commercially deemed attractive, are then worked on by the world’s best makeup artists and photographers in the best lighting and then further photoshopped. I increasingly hear young girls (primary school age) talking about their bodies in disparaging ways and it breaks my heart. I refuse to buy magazine with covers commenting on women’s weight/bodies. Absolutely agree with you that it’ s up to *us* to take responsibility. Thank you Jane for food for thought as always!

  7. Maja

    Thank you for being the voice of reason here. It couldn’t have been put any better.

  8. Megan

    I love this. Amazing. Soo true 🙂 Xxx

  9. Well said!Its funny how society has changed too, like back in Marilyn Monroe’s day her size 16 figure was what was deemed ‘perfect’!

    Heather x
    http://heatherrrrm.blogspot.co.uk/

  10. I would love to elaborately comment here, because because these thoughts are really absolutely heartfelt with me, too. But – there indeed isn’t really anything left to say. Bravo!

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