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Role Models?
by M A R Y P E A C O C K
http://www.womenswire.com/image/models.html
USA Today says that the occupational hazards
of modeling include anorexia, bulimia, low self-esteem, destructive behavior,
abusive boyfriends, alcohol problems and drug addiction.
You could also get run over by a truck.
In other words, most girls would take the
chance. (And the word "girl" is used advisedly. Most models start
working at 15 to 17 -- young enough to be called girls. Still, the industry-wide
word for all models, even the old bags of 26, is "girl." Probably
because in this business, beauty equals youth.)
The one girl in a million who gets to be a
model is likely to do so at an age when she is ill-equipped to fend off
ego-impaired European playboys and Wall Street model-groupies who quite
literally ply young models with champagne and cocaine to try and have their way
with them. However, the "girls" who survive and thrive do so because
of the effort they put in, not the club time. Top models are not just the
best-looking; they're also the ones who've figured out how to do the job best.
And indeed they do make lots of money, hobnob with stars and have access to all
the designer clothes they can wear.
But it's only by the purest accident that
anyone gets the chance to compete. Astonishing looks are the job description.
This makes it discouraging that supermodels have replaced movie stars as fantasy
role models. If you say Cindy, Claudia, Linda, Christy, Naomi and Kate to the
average teenage girl, she knows who you mean a whole lot better than if you said
Julia, Sharon, Michelle, Nicole, Jody and Meg. At least actresses have a much
wider range of possible looks.
The world is papered with
pictures of pretty girls who -- it's reality check time -- are freaks of nature.
Only 10% of the population genetically fits models' height and weight zone. Now,
figure how many of that group have beautifully proportioned bodies and exquisite
looks that also photograph well (which is a different issue).
So do these creatures who luck has made into
our current cultural ideal appreciate all the attention?
Well, yeah, of course. With exceptions (55%
claim their profession makes it harder to meet men). It's not a surprise to
learn that in studies of models vs. "civilians," models have higher
levels of body satisfaction than other women, as well as higher levels of
self-esteem. You don't need a psychological study to reveal that it doesn't hurt
to have people telling you you're beautiful all your life.
But there's another factor: Among women in our
culture, self-esteem is absolutely linked to body satisfaction. Which, in turn,
is defined as being thin. Furthermore, contrary to the researchers' hypothesis,
models do not display more "eating-disordered behavior" than other
young females. In other words, their figures are normal for them, rather than
the product of dieting by ordinary women. (Not that models don't diet but, given
their genetic makeup, they aren't going for the impossible.)
That's food for thought (if you'll excuse the
expression), and here's the main course: The self-esteem of male models and
average males does not differ.
Back to biology class, kids. Women are not any
more responsible for their genes than men are, so why does society keep judging
us by them?
