The Plussize Problem: How about going for a swim?
I just came across this article from Elle US about a bodypositive fitness campaign and it kind of pissed me off. Let’s have a look:
It reads: “FINALLY a body positive, completely UNRETOUCHED fitness campaign”. Looks pretty great at first sight, right? Let’s have a look inside:
The article goes on to say how awesome it is that a group of non-straightsize models came together to shoot a fitness-inspired and bodypositive editorial. Because beauty and fitness doesn’t come in just one (fashionmodel)size. You go girls.
Wonderful message, right? I agree. But Marianne… If you think all of this is great, then what is your problem? Here it is.
The Big Problem with Plus
This article pretty much sums up the problem with plus at the moment. Magazines will clap and cheer and applaud and write how awesome all of this is…But they won’t do it themselves. Seriously, if you felt it was “about time”, then why did you not do it yourself? If you are so in love with the idea of sizeiversity and bodypositivity in editorials then book.the.damn.girls.yourself. You are a big, influential magazine. You have to power to help push this change forward. But instead of actually doing something that is indeed “about time”, you just keep doing your thing and write when others do it.
That is, generally speaking, the big problem with plus at the moment. It’s clear people love it. It’s clear people support it. So many brands and magazines are starting to notice, and they are more than willing to dip their toe in the water because there is money to be made here. But that’s it. A toe in the water. Nothing more. Very few people are willing or eager to actually go for a swim, to really dive into it. They’re just standing there, with one toe in the water, yelling to everyone how amazing the water is.
To every brand and every magazine that is currently doing this: Quit playing around. I know it’s cold and scary and you’re afraid to swim, but get over it. If you have no intention of getting in the water, you are no longer invited to my poolparty. Time to get in the fucking water, okay?
June 12, 2016 @ 12:55 PM
Totally agree! It’s funny that now that they’ve final realised that plus size can ring them money and more clicks, suddenly everyone is on board.
You would even think that there were no plus size women before!!!
June 12, 2016 @ 6:55 PM
Amen!
June 13, 2016 @ 5:53 AM
Another thing…. Which of those girls is plus size? Are you already plussize with size 10/12? I guess I never realized it but according to Elle I am a plus size woman. How About we are all just women? No matter the size