Institutional Fattism

[Theland]

Why do all the ladies on BBC News and Weather look like they go to Slimming World and the gymn and there are never any over size 18 on our screens?

We have racial diversity, disability diversity, and male fatties presenting the news, (Gary O'Donahue), but the horizontally compromised fairer sex are sadly in short supply or non existent.

[woofgang]

yup.

[Cloverjo]

Good point.

[ummmm]

Maybe if they have been larger for most of their life they don't want to be in front of a camera.

A few of the Loose Women are larger ladies.

[Apc2604]

Agreed! And women are chosen basically for looks, but you can't say the same about the fellas.

[ummmm]

We don't really see that many overweight men either.

Alison Hammond is quite large.

[Tilly2]

Over size eighteen?

Over size twelve, you mean.

[ummmm]

16 isn't even that big. It's big if you're 5ft tall but not if you're over 5ft6.

[Apc2604]

I think this is about BBC news and weather Ummmm. The women do tend to be very thin, except perhaps for Carol Kirkwood, who I think is lovely and a bit more normal.

[Tilly2]

Jane Hill is not slimline.

[ummmm]

Yes...she's comes across as very nice, she has a great figure.

I just assume that because they are on camera they work out. I don't think TV is fattist. A good journalist is a good journalist no matter what size they are.

[wolf63]

Theland, it's tame in the UK. Female news readers etc in the USA are thin and, usually, very good looking/attractive. The majority of them seem like totally fake airheads.

[roopower]

Yes, and the catalogue adverts say they sell up to size 32 but the models are a 16 at the very most

[naomi24]

I looked on-line at Debenhams yesterday. They seem to have taken to using larger ladies to model a lot of their dresses. Nothing appealed because they don't look good. Simple as that.

Fattism? No. People can be as fat as they like but don't expect others to pretend they're anything other than overweight. Big is not beautiful.

[woofgang]

well I think that's a matter of opinion....but why should beauty be a prerequisite for female TV presenters? Its not for the men.

[Mamyalynne]

Big can be beautiful if you love someone and they're a beautiful person.

I don't mind what size my newsreaders are.

[Apc2604]

Actually I think big can be beautiful, much more beautiful than skinny especially on older women. But beauty is definely in the eye of the beholder. I'm glad that larger models are being used now.

[maggiebee]

Bought a size 14 top on-line. It's lovely but it is labelled XL. When did a size 14 become XL?

[tonyav]

Gawd knows, maggie. I have noticed the same thing happening with mens clothes to ( although I know our sizes aren't measured in numbers like you ladies 8, 10, 12 ect ).

[rowanwitch]

There is potentially a problem with normalizing overweight. If it is see n frequently on the media then it sends a clear message that it is ok. Be how you like but at least try to consider the health message. The issue I have is now fat people are portrayed in tv drama, figures of fun, the thick one,the poor relative, the aggressive, mouthy chav, Big does not exclude intelligence, sensitivity, or positive attributes.

[emmie]

i don't know the answer but most are slim