banning airbrushing

[plumerai]

This should make me happy, and in some ways it does. Certainly as both consumer and accomplice, I’ve fell victim to unrealistic portrayals of women’s bodies. I’d love to see magazines stop airbrushing our bodies. (I will say, though, that the number of times I’ve seen our airbrushers instructed to slim down a body is outnumbered by the times I’ve

Comments

[duchess_k]

I too find it insulting to suggest that anger isn't really anger. Sure, sometimes it is masking something more vulnerable, but come on!

[duchess_k]

Oh and they didn't just make Kiera bustier, they made her torso thinner! I mean, good lord, the woman is emaciated already!

[snarkout_rat]

That theory on anger is the opposite of what's been true for me. I spent years feeling nothing but sadness and depression about things that only in recent years have begun to come out as anger. You may be right about the male-centric. I have more to say but I have to go out now.

[jemisoutrageous]

"Anger is depression turned turned outwards."-The Sopranos

[bluecarp]

Yikes, I didnt realize airbrushing went on to that extent. After working some last minute service gig at a Saks fashion show complete with carbon copy but perfectly perportioned models i was thinking of you having to be in that environment all day long. The models themselves seems perfectly nice (if bored) but I felt like this crumpled bag I have to admit, not unlike within the classical dance community. Glad it's over.

I completely agree with you with theres something wrong with "anger masking sadness" especially for women part. Stems also from my therapists insistance I'm need to admit sadness (versus dwelving more deeply into my other complex emotions like anger and getting beyond it).

[opheliathemuse]

Having been airbrushed myself quite a lot, I can tell you it feels like physical assault bordering on mental rape.

[opheliathemuse]

please understand this is not to diminish physical rape. But to emphasize the mental impact it has upon women, and how I very internalized not being good enough, no matter how much weight I lost or how perfect I was as a model.

[arksnay]

I think anger is SOMETIMES easier for SOME people to deal with than more vulnerable emotions like sadness or fear. But I think you're right that that's gendered - men externalize more, women internalize more, bla bla. I also love the thing Kate Bornstein (who is not a mental health professional, but whatev) wrote about making it a goal when experiencing dark times to feel "better" rather than to feel happy. On her list anger is "better" than hopelessness or despair because it's more active and can give momentum to change, and I like that very much

[sarahskirt]

"anything that was even superficially like aggression would release all that anger and she was afraid she'd lose control and seriously harm someone because it had built up for so long."

Excellently put - I have known people who feel this way, who had every right and reason to feel this way. I've felt this way, but not at the same level of intensity.

[arksnay]

Oh! And in a discussion session about sex with my kids on Monday, we talked about the commodification of bodies and sexuality as something that interfered with kids' ability to give meaningful consent and to make the best possible decisions about when/whether/why to have sex. Part of the way through I wished I could post a transcript of the conversation.