# Ug. Maybe Media DOES want women to be too skinny. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 2, 2007, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492 "2007-05-02T17:19:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/161 "2007-05-04T18:59:13Z")
[QUOTE=DSeid] Kidman prepubertal thighs not touching physique [/QUOTE] That shit doesn’t help, either. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/162 "2007-05-04T19:01:02Z")
[QUOTE=alice\_in\_wonderland] Yah, I figured that you were bing flip. [/QUOTE] I know it’s a typo, but I just wanted to state that “Bing Flip” would make an excellent name for either a TV weatherman or a gameshow host. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/163 "2007-05-04T19:03:47Z")
[QUOTE=redtail23] Now, back to your regularly scheduled catfight… [/QUOTE] Why is it a catfight? Because women are arguing? About body image? Frankly, I’m sick of this kind of bullshit dismissal too. Now, back to your regularly scheduled sexism… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/164 "2007-05-04T19:09:23Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] Now, back to your regularly scheduled sexism… [/QUOTE] Well, if you insist… Ladies, please! It’s not that skinny girls are sluts, or fat chicks are sluts… the important thing is that there _are_ sluts, and God bless 'em! ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/165 "2007-05-04T19:14:06Z")
[QUOTE=Vinyl Turnip] Well, if you insist… Ladies, please! It’s not that skinny girls are sluts, or fat chicks are sluts… the important thing is that there _are_ sluts, and God bless 'em! [/QUOTE] Yeah, people say it like it’s a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/166 "2007-05-04T19:32:28Z")
[QUOTE=Vinyl Turnip] I know it’s a typo, but I just wanted to state that “Bing Flip” would make an excellent name for either a TV weatherman or a gameshow host. [/QUOTE] Humm - I didn’t notice this until you pointed it out. I think perhaps Bing Flip will now be my _OTHER_ alter ego. (Alice\_in\_Wonderland being my first one of course). ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/167 "2007-05-04T19:34:57Z")
I just came back from training with Usher Lite (my smokin’ hot 4.5% bodyfat trainer) who cackled wildly at this entire thigh-based catfight. We also had a good time talking about the fatty on the front of this month’s _Fitness_ (which has an excellent interval cardio program setup in case anyone is interested). Her thighs are rubbing up against one another in her bikini. **Kalhoun** , you can roll your eyes up at me all you want. I’m not the one with standards and I didn’t call everyone whose thighs touch a big fat fatty mcfaterson. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/168 "2007-05-04T19:36:22Z")
[QUOTE=anu-la1979] I just came back from training with Usher Lite (my smokin’ hot 4.5% bodyfat trainer) who cackled wildly at this entire thigh-based catfight. We also had a good time talking about the fatty on the front of this month’s _Fitness_ (which has an excellent interval cardio program setup in case anyone is interested). Her thighs are rubbing up against one another in her bikini. **Kalhoun** , you can roll your eyes up at me all you want. I’m not the one with standards and I didn’t call everyone whose thighs touch a big fat fatty mcfaterson. [/QUOTE] Well I’m not either, so you can sell that somewhere else. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/169 "2007-05-04T19:44:37Z")
[QUOTE=Batsinma Belfry] Re: Marilyn Monroe - she was a size 12 at her biggest. That’s not even considered plus -sized. [/QUOTE] Heh, listen to this: “[Plus-size model](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plus-size_model) is the term internationally applied to a woman larger than a standard U.S. size 8 who models clothing for consumers wearing a dress size 14 or higher in North American sizing, 10 or higher in Australian sizing, size 40 or higher in Europe, and 10 or higher in UK sizing.” I’ve always been bugged by the fact that plus-size clothing is modelled by women who aren’t nearly plus-sized. I know that’s changing, but how can they use a size 8 woman to represent size 14 and higher? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/170 "2007-05-04T20:06:09Z")
[QUOTE=kidchameleon] That shit doesn’t help, either. [/QUOTE] How so **kid**? _That_ is not a physique that is attainable by most, even after starvation. Holding onto that as the model to be strived for is a sure way to define most normal people as failures no matter what they do. ---
**Author:** ![lowbrass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dc4da7/32.png) [@lowbrass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lowbrass)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/171 "2007-05-04T20:11:29Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Heh, listen to this: “[Plus-size model](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plus-size_model) is the term internationally applied to a woman larger than a standard U.S. size 8 who models clothing for consumers wearing a dress size 14 or higher in North American sizing, 10 or higher in Australian sizing, size 40 or higher in Europe, and 10 or higher in UK sizing.” I’ve always been bugged by the fact that plus-size clothing is modelled by women who aren’t nearly plus-sized. I know that’s changing, but how can they use a size 8 woman to represent size 14 and higher? 😕 [/QUOTE] It’s probably more a practical decision than an evil conspiracy to make women feel bad about themselves. The fact is that overweight people don’t _really_ want to be shown exactly what they look like. (I know that when I look at a photograph of myself, I always think, “Wow, is my gut really that big?”, and I think most people are the same). So if you’re a savvy marketer, you’re going to show models that really aren’t that much overweight, so overweight people will see them and think, “Yeah, that’s what I look like”, and feel good about themselves. If they used realistically overweight models, people would see them and think, “I’m not THAT fat; I’m sure not going to buy those clothes.” Kind of the same principle as beer commercials where some ultra-cool guy is picking up incredibly hot chicks. They want average guys to see that and think: “Yeah, that’s ME - I’m a really cool guy who gets really hot chicks, so I’m gonna drink that brand of beer”, even though it’s completely unrealistic. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/172 "2007-05-04T20:22:34Z")
[QUOTE=DSeid] How so **kid**? _That_ is not a physique that is attainable by most, even after starvation. Holding onto that as the model to be strived for is a sure way to define most normal people as failures no matter what they do. [/QUOTE] You’re denigrating her for the way she looks. _She’s_ not demanding that others look like her and she’s shown plenty in movies to indicate that she is rather postpubescent. Hell, my ex was 6 feet tall and 120 pounds(140 while pregnant). She’s got plenty of faults, but I don’t think that blaming her for a healthy body that is thin is any better than calling Marilyn chubby. Rip the media or what not, but why insult people for the way they look? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/173 "2007-05-04T20:33:39Z")
[QUOTE=lowbrass] It’s probably more a practical decision than an evil conspiracy to make women feel bad about themselves. The fact is that overweight people don’t _really_ want to be shown exactly what they look like. (I know that when I look at a photograph of myself, I always think, “Wow, is my gut really that big?”, and I think most people are the same). So if you’re a savvy marketer, you’re going to show models that really aren’t that much overweight, so overweight people will see them and think, “Yeah, that’s what I look like”, and feel good about themselves. If they used realistically overweight models, people would see them and think, “I’m not THAT fat; I’m sure not going to buy those clothes.” [/QUOTE] I definitely see your point, but maybe they could be at least a 12 or 14. I look quite nice at that size–proportioned, curvy but not at all obese. Size 8 just seems silly. I miss Mode magazine. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/174 "2007-05-04T20:38:48Z")
[QUOTE=anu-la1979] I just came back from training with Usher Lite (my smokin’ hot 4.5% bodyfat trainer) who cackled wildly at this entire thigh-based catfight. We also had a good time talking about the fatty on the front of this month’s _Fitness_ (which has an excellent interval cardio program setup in case anyone is interested). Her thighs are rubbing up against one another in her bikini… [/QUOTE] Dammit, I can’t see her thighs. The address thingie is in the way and it’s not the peel-off type. Have you seen the June issue? There’s something weird going on with the model’s crotch/groin area. I can’t tell if her inner thigh muscle is being compressed in an odd way, by her bikini bottom, or if she’s fixin’ to pull a Britney Spears. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/175 "2007-05-04T20:41:03Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] Why is it a catfight? Because women are arguing? About body image? Frankly, I’m sick of this kind of bullshit dismissal too. Now, back to your regularly scheduled sexism… :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] Uh, because people (at least one of whom is female) were already calling it a catfight and I was just being smartassed? Get over yourself, babe. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/176 "2007-05-04T21:15:25Z")
[QUOTE=kidchameleon] You’re denigrating her for the way she looks. _She’s_ not demanding that others look like her and she’s shown plenty in movies to indicate that she is rather postpubescent. Hell, my ex was 6 feet tall and 120 pounds(140 while pregnant). She’s got plenty of faults, but I don’t think that blaming her for a healthy body that is thin is any better than calling Marilyn chubby. Rip the media or what not, but why insult people for the way they look? [/QUOTE] Okay. I rescind the calling her prepubertal. Really didn’t mean to denigrate her, just her build being made as the _ideal_. Nothing wrong with her looks at all. Her looks are just not what is healthily held as the ideal body build for most American females to aspire to. FWIW my take is that a good weight is the weight that your body is at when you are eating a healthy diet to the point that you are not hungry (and no more) and exercising regularly. My take is that a woman who is comfortable and confident with her body at that weight is going to seem much sexier that one who is insecure about it. Insecurity may be cute on occasion (think _Annie Hall_) but rarely is it sexy. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/177 "2007-05-04T21:36:07Z")
[QUOTE=Batsinma Belfry] Dammit, I can’t see her thighs. The address thingie is in the way and it’s not the peel-off type. Have you seen the June issue? There’s something weird going on with the model’s crotch/groin area. I can’t tell if her inner thigh muscle is being compressed in an odd way, by her bikini bottom, or if she’s fixin’ to pull a Britney Spears. [/QUOTE] I checked online and they have a girl on the cover, but there are non-address label obstructions blocking her thighal region. ---
**Author:** ![lowbrass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dc4da7/32.png) [@lowbrass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lowbrass)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/178 "2007-05-04T21:58:47Z")
[QUOTE=DSeid] Insecurity may be cute on occasion (think _Annie Hall_) but rarely is it sexy. [/QUOTE] I don’t know about that - I’m thinking Bailey Quarters on WKRP in Cincinatti. If that wasn’t sexy, I don’t know what is. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/179 "2007-05-04T22:00:52Z")
Have any of the guys in this thread complained about thighs that do or do not touch each other? Didn’t think so. [Now, who’ll take the woman with the skinny legs?](http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/s/skinnylegsandall.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492/180 "2007-05-04T22:04:03Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Heh, listen to this: “[Plus-size model](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plus-size_model) is the term internationally applied to a \*\*woman larger than a standard U.S. size 8 \*\*who models clothing for consumers wearing a dress size 14 or higher in North American sizing, 10 or higher in Australian sizing, size 40 or higher in Europe, and 10 or higher in UK sizing.” I’ve always been bugged by the fact that plus-size clothing is modelled by women who aren’t nearly plus-sized. I know that’s changing, but how can they use a size 8 woman to represent size 14 and higher? 😕 [/QUOTE] Bolding mine. Unless my reading comprehension is totally off, your source states that the model is larger than an 8, not an 8. Therefore, at least a 10. Not plus-sized, but a little better. ETA: I miss Mode Magazine, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ug-maybe-media-does-want-women-to-be-too-skinny/402492.md?page=10)