The 'skinny epidemi' is only the latest manifestation of extreme thinness ideals It's not just nostalgia, there's also something more subtle
Think of a model. In fact, try to imagine what he looks like in his head. She's tall and very thin, isn't she? You almost certainly haven't thought of a fat woman and you haven't even had to think long before evoking her image. It's not your fault (or at least, not entirely), it's that a very specific ideal of beauty has been thoroughly instilled in us and we now take some things for granted. There is a lot of talk about aesthetic standards and bodies. Some might think that we talk about it too much, but maybe we're not doing it the right way. Let's not ask ourselves the uncomfortable questions, let's not get to the root of the problem.
Thinness in the 90s and 2000s
The 90s and 2000s were characterized by a hyperspecific concept of beauty, all focused on thinness and its extreme. At the end of the last century there was Kate Moss with her heroin chic, then came the obsession with Size double zero. The weeklies were full of images of women considered fat and neglected and, looking at the same photos backwards, we realized that they were neither one nor the other. And yet, culture and society wanted us that way. Without curves, small, tired, able to take up little space.
Body positivity and the (sneaky) introduction of thinness as self-care
For years, then, we tried to change that image. We talked about body positivity, inclusivity, representation. We have stopped treating thinness as the basic requirement for being desirable. And for a while, something really changed. But, without even realizing it, we made a U-turn. Thinness is back, even if not the same as in the 2000s, made up of miracle diets and magazine articles on how to lose 5 kg in 5 days. The obsession with thinness has come in a renewed version, more subtle and much more difficult to recognize. It has been introduced as wellness; we talk about attention to health, longevity, clean eating, self-care. The body no longer has to be thin because society imposes it but it must be so because that's what it looks like when you take care of yourself.
It's the era of the skinny epidemic
This is how what is called the skinny epidemic was born, literally the epidemic of thinness. And this return is accompanied by great symbols of the old obsession with the body, which are re-emerging in different ways. Netflix has brought America's Next Top Model back to the center of the conversation with Reality Check, a docuseries that rereads Tyra Banks' talent reality show and its many contradictions. The documentary talks about mistreatment, controversial choices, opinions bordering on racism and homophobia. He also discusses body and thinness but not as much as one would expect. Former contestants are named who admit to having had eating disorders, it is said that they were driven not to eat or to do excessive physical activity. But, then, the subject changes. At the same time, Victoria's Secret, on the other hand, is really back. After the cancellation of the Fashion Show in 2019, the Angels took the runway again. But it would be wrong to trace everything back to Y2K nostalgia.
@katemossmedia kate moss for bella freud, 1994. #katemoss #katemossstyle #bellafreud #1994 #katemoss90s It Is What It Is - Blood Orange & Samantha Urbani
Have we really changed since then? The answer, unfortunately, is no
America's Next Top Model, Victoria's Secret belong to an era when the female body was a project. The television showed us models judged, transformed and humiliated in front of the cameras; the catwalk instead rewarded the final result, the definitive form of desire. It was like that, we were aware of it and it didn't seem strange to us. Today we look at certain scenes from those programs and we have a hard time believing that they were considered entertainment. The contestant who cries for her body, the makeover presented as a necessity, the jury that decides if a woman is beautiful enough to deserve a place in the world; everything seems cruel to us. And yet, our minds, unfortunately, haven't really changed. The thing is that if the 2000s brought with them great brazenness, now this leaves room for hypocrisy.
@abbeyskitchen Why are we even using our What I Eat in a Days *with very little food* for rage bait? This is not appropriate and only serves to normalize restriction and under eating. I’m literally begging you to consider the impact your content has on young impressionable folks on this app!! #relationshipwithfood #wieiad #dietculture #mentalhealthawareness original sound - Abbey Sharp
The hypocrisy of the discourse on contemporary thinness
We don't tell ourselves that all women must be thin, however, we are convinced that thinness is an indication of discipline, health and virtue. In the 2000s, a magazine could write an article on how to lose weight, today there is no need to explain anything; we open TikTok and find a girl who talks about her routine, her training, what she eats and how she managed to 'transform' her body. Like Chinese drop torture. We no longer see it as a punishment but as a project, almost a cure. And then let's add the explosion of GLP-1 drugs that have helped to normalize drastic weight loss; a miraculous technology for those who actually need it. Torture for those who have none. The body has returned to being something to be optimized and adapted to the eyes of others.
@nutritionbabe A massive $2 billion lawsuit has been filed against Ozempic. In this video, I’m sharing my personal opinion as a registered dietitian who has lost 100 pounds and specializes in sustainable weight loss. This content is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical or legal advice. Always consult your doctor before making changes to your medication, dosage, or health plan. I have no affiliation with and make no claims against Novo Nordisk (the maker of Ozempic) or the individuals in this lawsuit. Everything shared here is based on my professional experience, general knowledge, and personal perspective—not as a statement of fact in this specific case. That being said, I would love to help you and work with you. Comment GLP below for my new book, Beyond the Shot, to help you get the long-term results you’re after. #glp1 #breakingnews #nutrition #dietitian #health original sound - NutritionBabe
It is clear that the ideas of the past have not disappeared and have not lost strength. They have evolved with us, they have refined language and manifestations. And it is when we are insistently told to shrink and shrink until we disappear, that we must continue to stay strong, because a strong mind pays more attention.
