As a Radio/TV Production major, I'm also in a ton of media classes, which I can't wait for. Ad-busting and media watching are two huge passions of mine, and I can't wait to learn more about the inner workings of it all. Speaking of which - has anyone seen the new Subway ad? It was posted on feminist, and it's completely infuriating.
I get it. It's supposed to be funny. Making fun of those "other" fast food places. But seriously? Associating fat with a lack of self esteem, the inability to keep a boyfriend, and the need for therapy!? Are you KIDDING me? It's so frustrating that (at least here in the US), we equate thin as healthy and fat as unhealthy. I understand the importance of eating healthy. Believe me, when your dad has had colon cancer 4 times, you begin to learn the importance of healthy eating to improve your insides. However, we should be encouraged to eat healthy in order to prevent heart disease, help with digestion, and keep our immune systems working properly, among many, many other things which do NOT include fitting into a size 0 dress!
I'm just curious as to why is society so hell-bent on encouraging women to shrink. Because, call it crazy, but when women are being told on TV, in magazines, and now in their fast food ads that fat=bad, weight can easily become an obsession. And when women are obsessing over weight, what are they not thinking about? How absolutely brilliant they are. How much life experience and expression they have to offer the world. How much humor and love they are filled with. How much oppression they have the strength to fight against. How they are so much more than how society values them on the basis of outward appearances.
Thus, women are not only shrinking physically, but mentally as well. We are encouraged to quiet our voices, be silent, worry about our weight, and about what we eat merely so we can keep our boyfriends (which is completely heterosexist in itself). While we absolutely need to eat healthy in order to keep ourselves strong, we do not need to eat/not eat in order to fit some patriarchial-imposed stereotype.
Feminist also posted a link to a page to Subway's website where you can share your opinions on their new ad - I hope you all take just a few minutes to let them know what you think about their newest ad (hopefully that having fat doesn't mean you are a completely unlovable, ghastly person!)
This post doesn't begin to touch on the issues surrounding fatophobia or the fat acceptance movement, because, to be honest, it's something I personally don't know a lot about myself. I really encourage everyone to research it though, and realize that all bodies are beautiful. When we eat to nurture and care for ourselves, rather than to fit into some impossible beauty stereotype, we will be a much happier bunch :)
ps - look for Part 2 soon!
