Plus size magazines?

Question

Do you think plus size magazines like Bodacious should continue to make women feel like it is okay to be a bbw or sbbw? You would think that if they loved these women so much, they would try to help them by promoting a healthy lifestyle. NOT encouraging that they maintain those unhealthy weights. I have no problem with overweight people, however glorifying obese people is where I draw the line. Is it wrong for these magazines to showcase obese people and to profit from their obesity? Do you think that the magazine morally has a responsibility to the public?

And before you guys start ASSuming/hating, this question is not about me. I am not a bbw, sbbw, nor am I skinny or overweight. Do not bring me into the discussion.

Answer 1

Being a heavy person does not mean that you are unhealthy, or that you are not working on a healthier lifestyle. Some people need to feel beautiful to make them want to lose even more weight. I know that when I was losing weight I was motivated by the new attention I was receiving from the ladies to lose even more.

HOWEVER, after taking a look at Bodacious magazine, I must agree that this publication does in fact promote an unhealthy figure that is commonly associated with an unhealthy lifestyle. I have no problem with the women promoting themselves as sexual objects, they as individuals are doing no different than purging "sticks" that grace modelling runways on a daily basis, except that.... this is the opposite extreme.

So, I would place this publication's obsession with the "big girl" look in the same taboo category as the "skinny twig" look. They are similar in many ways, except they are at opposite ends of the spectrum aesthetically. Of course the most popular of these extremes is the "skinny twig" look; women grace the cover of far more magazines promoting thinness, and narrowness.

However, corpulence is much easier to sustain, and  the individual is more likely to not receive much concern and/or not receive any kind of intervention from friends or family if they are of the "big girl" category. Also, I find everyone would agree that deaths from obesity are much more common than deaths from emaciation. So, this is a very unfortunate endoresement for obesity.

Answer 2

These magazine don’t tend to be about the content it’s about the profit – so if it makes money and there is a market out there for it they will keep producing it

Answer 3

The most disgusting thing I found about the Fat-sploitation show was the realization that the new face of bigotry is worn by those who dare to think that heavy women should stay locked away like the elephant man!!! Size should not be discriminated against, just as s*x, race, age, sexual preference, etc.. I am not a large man and applaude those that are comfortable with themselves as they are and have carved out their own piece of the American dream!! I wish them all happiness and joy that they deserve!!

However, they were so busy pointing the finger at skinny people or people who didn't agree with their lifestyle, that they were totally disconnected with what they were doing. Is anorexia or bulimia beautiful? No. Is morbid obesity beautiful? No. They shouldn't be so quick to judge others when they are disgusted about being judged themselves. It's time to take a good look in the mirror. Any action that is detrimental to your health probably isn't a wise choice. Eating disorders are an epidemic in our nation, that includes over-eating. While I respect these women for many reasons, I hope they are conscience and realize they are setting a standard for future generations whether they like it or not. We all have been called to something more, to something greater. It's time we realize that potential.

Answer 4

Your question is misleading - Bodacious is not a plus size magazine, it is a plus size p**n magazine.

I'm not a fan of it because it shows women who are at the larger end of the plus size scale, but because it shows tacky, naked women, period. It's not pretty, the models are not that fabulous, and the outfits are not flattering (what there is of them). I see nothing empowring about showing miles of ***-crack or cleavage highlighted with bad lighting and poorly done makeup.

p**n is boring and pointless and not about fashion, so I have no interest in it. Bodacious is all of these things - the size of the women pictured is irrelevant.