Tags
advocacy, ashleygraham, beauty, bodydiversity, bullying, communication, constructive, culture, everyoneisflawless, femalebodyimage, ideal body, media, mixed methods
Throughout this project, I was always learning something new and things continuously are happening today. My research question at the beginning of this assignment was and still is: How does social media affect the way we see the “ideal” female body image? Is there still a conceptual ideology of the female body image or is it slowly fading? Well, according to Ashley Graham, I’d like to think that society is changing for the better and becoming, not only more body positive, but more able to express body diversity. So let’s get to know more about Ashley Graham and how she plays a role in all of the social issues happening now related to the topic of the “ideal” female body image.
Early Life & Career Start
She was born in 1987 in Lincoln, Nebraska. She was discovered in a mall and started modelling at the age of 12. Doing everything from editorial and catalog articles to ripping the runway to being featured in commercials and TV shows/movies, she is well-known for her work as a lingerie model for the plus-size clothing retailer Lane Bryant.
Banned by ABC
In 2010, she starred in a Lane Bryant commercial that was banned from television and received over 800,000 views on YouTube. According to an interview with CBS on the early show, Ashley Graham stated that she had no idea if Lane Bryant used her to get publicity and create controversy within the industry but was “honored to apart of the commercial to represent women of my size and that we can be confident and sexy in our lingerie and to have it on television.” ABC banned this commercial from the air with no real justification except to say that the commercial aired during family hour around 8pm (the same time as American Idol was showing) and that it was inappropriate. During the exclusive interview, Ashley Graham brings up the point that Victoria Secret commercials are aired throughout the day and have never been banned or caused this much controversy, which I can even vouch for and say is true because in 2010 I was in high school and I remember Victoria Secret commercials airing at any time of the day, mostly in the afternoons and evenings. I weighed 118 in high school and was called “skinny” and bullied for being that way. I’ve also seen heavier set girls in my age group being called “fat” and bullied as well. No one can really help their size especially as a teenager. I think every woman, plus size or not, should be treated equally and get the respect they deserve as human beings. Ashley Graham was also featured on two gigantic billboards of that same brand on Time Square and 34th street in New York City in December of 2012, which received more positive feedback.
Over-Sexualized
Now in 2015, Ashley Graham talks about the over sexualization of the curvy female body image. She spoke to Details magazine about the way girls with bodies like hers are typecast and pigeonholed into ‘sexy’ roles, which limits the path for a curvy model or actress who wants to find success. “If you get an even curvier body, like mine, we’re automatically sexualized. I was cast in a role in a movie, I know without a shadow of a doubt that I would be the sexy girl, I would have a sex scene, and I would probably have to show a little nipple. That would just be the case, because of the way my body is.”
Staying Positive with TedX: Berklee Valencia
Having been a victim of bullying herself, Ashley Graham became the founding member of ALDA, a new coalition of models to promote beauty and a healthy body image of the female body beyond boundaries and limitations of size.
She takes the stage to deliver an inspiring TEDTalk on body confidence, the power of self-acceptance and why she rejects the term “plus size”. The talk started with her standing in front of a mirror and complimenting her own appearance. She describes her life growing up in Nebraska, where she was known as “the fat model – the girl who was pretty for a ‘big girl’”. People would raise their eyebrows when she told them she was a model and her confidence was knocked. In the US, the term “plus size” relates to any model between a US size 8-16, the equivalent of 12-20 in UK, which includes a lot of women. As a result, she says, “the fashion industry might persist to label me as ‘plus size’, but I like to think of it as ‘my size’.”
Your Thoughts?
Share your thoughts by commenting below.
What do you think about the “ideal” female body image? Does it exist? What do you think is the cause of it? What are some of the effects of this link between media and body image (both positive and negative effects)? What can be done to increase media literacy in developing young women?