Thinness Depiction & Promotion

Glamour asks America Ferrera what it’s like to be fat. Retrieved October 20, 2007, from

http://guanabee.com/2007/09/glamour-asks-what-its-like-to.php

Horta, S. (Writer), & Folkson, S. (Director). (2006). The Box and the Bunny [Television

series episode]. Ugly Betty. Los Angeles: American Broadcasting Company.

Kilbourne, J. (1999). The more you subtract, the more you add: Cutting girls down to

size. In G. Dines & J. Humez, (Ed.), Gender, race, and class in media (pp. 258-

267).

October 20, 2007

Glamour magazine’s October issue with America Ferrara on the cover sends the message to its young readers that females are supposed to be very thin. One would think that having America Ferrara, the unofficial full figured role model, on the cover would be a step in the right direction. However, Glamour altered the cover by digitally removing the fat from under America’s arms and giving her a hip and breast reduction.
Even more hypocritical was the interview with questions including: “do you think Hollywood is moving away from the tall, skinny blond as the actress ideal?” and “how do you feel about being the newest spokeswoman for curvy figures in Hollywood?” Obviously, Hollywood has not moved away from skinny actress ideal since America’s cover was completely altered. This issue makes it seem like Hollywood is pretending to be more socially conscious due to the relationship between the skinny ideal and eating disorders. As for the second question, America said she ranged from a size 6 to 8 (which is actually smaller than the national average of 12-14). What statement is Glamour making by digitally liposuctioning someone who is perfectly normal?
The same scenario was portrayed in America’s hit TV show, Ugly Betty. In the episode “The Box and The Bunny,” a perfectly normal sized actress is digitally altered for Mode’s magazine cover. The actress being altered is appalled by the process and sees nothing wrong with her appearance. The editor-in-chief and creative director explain being normal is not good enough for a top magazine.
The Glamour and Ugly Betty examples relate to the article, “The More You Subtract, The More You Add.” Young readers are being told their bodies and beauty are the most important things (Kilbourne, 1999, p. 260). Altering pictures and/or including unattainable images make normal sized people feel self-conscious about the appearance. The article suggests “the obsession with thinness is most deeply about cutting girls and women down to size, because of the tremendous fear of female power, seen as dangerous and destructive” (Kilbourne, 1999, p. 262). In regards to America Ferrara up and coming actress and Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and Emmy award winner, altering her picture reminds her that her weight has the ability to hold back her career.