ajc.com > Opinion

Let's decline the crown of skinniest girl
U.S. must join healthier crusade

By GAIL L. ROTHMAN
Published on: 02/15/07

Last year, while walking my son to our local elementary school, I passed by three girls I recognized from the neighborhood who were all in fourth grade at the time. One of them pulled another next to her and asked the third, "Who's skinnier her or me?"

I was struck not only by their youth but by how slim the girls were — each of them vying for the prize of thinnest of the thin. Watching this scene play out, it was easy to understand how these girls, bombarded by unrealistic media images of beauty and body size during their short lives, came to place so much importance on being the "skinniest" even before their bodies had begun to mature.

(ENLARGE)

Gail Rothman is the CEO of Atlanta-based GOAL Inc., which develops programs for middle-school girls to promote self-esteem and self-awareness.

These girls are not unique by any means. According to the Eating Disorders Information Network, 40 percent to 60 percent of fourth-grade girls are dieting.

In our media-driven world, marketing professionals must move away from advertising that promotes a waif-like standard and follow the lead set by industry pioneers such as Dove. Dove's successful "Campaign for Real Beauty" demonstrated that products targeted to women and girls could celebrate the diverse beauty of women in all shapes and sizes and still find success in the marketplace. A recent TV ad for Slim Fast diet products announced, "we believe in hips not hip bones" and encouraged women to get to their own healthy size, not somebody else's. These are positive signs that companies are realizing the bottom-line benefits of making women feel good about themselves.

I was encouraged by recent news about long overdue changes in the modeling industry that resulted from the recent tragic deaths of two young South American models, ages 21 and 20, from complication of eating disorders.

In Spain last month, organizers of a top fashion show rejected five out of 69 women whom they deemed too thin using body mass index. In Italy, designers have agreed to only employ models who are at least 16 years old and can show proof of their health.

Sadly, the United States is not taking the lead on this important issue. Although the Council of Fashion Designers of America has issued recommendations about health and weight for models, they have decided not to take steps to enforce them, ultimately rendering them meaningless.

Tyra Banks, former supermodel and cover girl on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition, is using her personal power and position to highlight the unhealthy trends in the modeling and fashion industries. Her recent decision to speak out in People Magazine about her weight gain has also underscored the assumptions people have about what is a "normal" weight. Banks' current weight puts her squarely in the normal range of body mass index, yet tabloids and Web sites published her photos with offensive captions including "Tyra Porkchop."

By standing up to her detractors and publicizing the issue through media outlets, including her talk show and modeling show, Banks has acknowledged that what might initially seem a personal issue has ramifications well beyond her own life. As a person with power and influence, Banks has taken an important stand for girls.

Continuing to help growing girls think critically about the messages they receive and teaching them to value themselves and their bodies is essential. At the same time, corporations, marketers and celebrities, those with a platform from which to influence others, must set the tone by recognizing the impact they have and endorse positive messages that promote healthy choices for girls and women. The recent news is encouraging, and I hope that by the time my 2-year-old daughter is walking to school, she will value and accept her body.

And I hope that her goals will not include being crowned the skinniest of all.