Little And Large

[vernonk]

A few days ago, Victoria Beckham was widely condemned for using a super skinny model to promote her clothing range. I understand the concerns. But why is that worse than having obese people like Michele McManus (a panellist on Loose Women this week) and Alison Hammond on mainstream telly? Aren’t they all poor role models whether they’re too thin or too fat?

[kvalidir]

Actually it's all to do with wealth. If we take a trip back rather further than andy to just the beginning of this century being chubby was very much smiled upon, because it showed social status. It meant that you were well fed and healthy. As things have changed socially the opposite has proved to be true, now people who are wealthy enough to attend the gym and buy good quality food are the new in thing. You won't escape this cultural and social elitism easily, rather what we need to be doing is developing healthy minds and attitudes in our children to be more accepting of all body types, but the media preys upon the young and vulnerable aided and funded by companies which have a financial interest in fitness or weight loss etc, or someone flogging another diet book. Make no mistake the media don't want an end to the horrors of things like anorexia, nor do they actually want people to eat more healthily because then they wouldn't have anyone to prey upon and sensationalise.

[ummmm]

Melv - besides Katie Price...who?

[andy-hughes]

melv - // A large majority of the presenters on Loose Women have had face lifts/Botox/boob jobs. Is that a case for being 'role models'? //

Assuming that is true - and I don't think it is, but that's another debate - again it comes down to what a 'role model' is.

As I have said, I beleive it a is a media construct.

If we assume the footballers, pop stars and so on, are supposed to be good examples for ‘young people’ to follow, then that is a notion thrust upon them by older people, who think that having success carries a responsibility of behaviour and leadership.

But the fact is this – any behaviour which goes against this nonsensical ‘role model’ template is the business of the individual alone, and, and this is the important point, will only become noticed by the wider public if it is talked about in the media which created the situation in the first place!

This is neatly encapsulated by an exchange with a young Paul McCartney, discussing his marihuana use with a journalist. When told he had a ‘responsibility’, the young musician responded perfectly – “No, YOU have the responsibility, I won’t tell anyone if you don’t …”.

So what we have now is a media which forces the ludicrous concept of a ‘role model on footballers, pop stars and so on, and then makes it its business to regale any drop in ‘standards’ in the guise of being a moral guardian, but actually titillating and scandalising its readership to sell papers.

You can make an achieving high-earning individual a ‘role model’ if you wish, but their behaviour and lifestyle belongs to them, not the media, or their audience.

Role models are a media nonsense, and to be ignored for the hypocrisy that they are, thanks to the hypocrites who create them – the media.