What do you think about Madrid banning "waif" models from the runway?

Question

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5341202.stm

Any models with a BMI of 18 or less are not allowed to model so that teenage girls don't try to starve themselves. (Judging by United States' statistics, 2/3 of our population is overweight, so I doubt models really affect our choices....)

In my opinion? It's discrimination and should be illegal. They don't have laws banning obese people; they should not have laws banning skinny people.

Answer 1

Whenever the authorities try social engineering of any kind, it is usually a disaster. This will be the same and has attracted ridicule onto the Madrid authorities.

We all know these models starve themselves and are in poor health.

Answer 2

I think it's a good thing, but I think there should be a limitation on it. If women can prove that they are NATURALLY skinny (i.e. no bulimia, anorexia, drugs...) then they should be able to, despite being under 18 BMI be able to get on the runway.

No I don't think that discrimination is something new to the fashion world. How many obese ppl do you see on the runway? I haven't seen that so the fact that ppl are fat has more to do with society and it's laziness. The ideal is to look like a model, even if it requires you to be unhealthy, even if ppl can't always tell right away. Hell, at first anorexia just looks like you're diet is working. Only later do ppl around you realize it's an extremely unhealthy obsession that is killing you. It would be much better to have healthy ppl on the runway and if getting rid of the models with 18 or less BMI then I'll do the happy dance to celebrate the fact that there will be more healthy ideals (not much healthier) for those who are influenced by these waifs.

Answer 3

Discrimination? What??? Uh, in case you haven't noticed, just about every teenage girl is starving and purging herself just to be like the sickly models who are actually starving themselves! I have no idea why stopping a problem like this would be wrong whatsoever!! Models are overly skinny, Madrid and soon London ban this to stop a bad influence... okay, now, is that really so terrible? Sorry, but I am totally confused right now at your anger for certain fashion industries wanting REAL women instead of sticks.....

Answer 4

I guess they have good meaning, because too many girls in the world are trying to starve themselves to look like models, but skinny models have been the thing for a very long time. It seems kind of strange to change it now.
I'm not the skinniest girl in the world, but I'm certainly not the fattest. The changing of models really doesn't effect me. Truthfully, I only care about the clothes. No matter what size the model is. The model could be a trained chimp, as long as the clothes are good.

Answer 5

I think it's stupid. This country can't get it's priorities straight. It is estimated that 8 million Americans have an eating disorder and nothing is done about. It's a concious choice people make. Yes, you have to be skinney in the modeling world...it's just part of the job, it's very competative. Some people want it so bad that they will do whatever it takes to get it, even if it means to starve yourself. It's the media that gives us the impression that they are skinney as a stick. You don't see the other 8 million Americans on TV, now do you? It's all about money. 58 Million Americans are Overweight, you don't see that on tv, and on every magazine, now do you? It's all about money, sex sells....so get over it!!! People don't care about people...they only care about whatever will benefit themselves the most. It's human nature.

Answer 6

I think they were trying to make a point to the public, so that young women will stop trying to look emaciated, but went about it the wrong way. It is up to the designer as to what type of models they use to show their clothes. Designers call models, "hangers" for a reason! As far as it being a law?? That is silly. Fat people are discriminated all the time, what's the difference?

Answer 7

I don't think its discrimination because these girls deprive themselves of normal eating habits to look waif-like. Their image sends a negative message to females all over the world. In the U.S., believe it or not, the average dress size for women is a size 14. And if you check the new rules, a 5'9" model has to weigh only 115.

Answer 8

Oh please! When was the last time you saw a runway model who was what you call "obese"?! The fashion world is slower than the Catholic Church when it comes to admitting wrong doings. It's about time they took some responsibility for glorifying a look that one only sees on anorexics, crack-heads and cancer victims! Females with curvy, healthy, real-woman bodies have NEVER been accepted as runway models even in the US (which is odd since stats show over and over that the average American woman is a size 14!). Were you as outspoken about that? Now ones who have the bodies of pre-teen little BOYS and look like heroin hos are also shut out of the in-crowd of runway fashion. I say it's about time, bravo Madrid!

Answer 9

They are trying to do this in the same spirit as outlawing prostitutes and slaves, young women are very suseptable to being steered into situations that are harmful and need to be protected from the abusers, you may disagree with my observation but as you age you'll see that I'm right. As for the obeseity issue in the US and other countries, they are working on that too, just in baby steps...
Skinny is one thing, starving yourself to the point of kidney failure to "fit the mould" is another.

Answer 10

particular, i think of the Madrid government became appropriate to prohibit the stick skinny sickly looking fashions via fact in real life how many women are clearly stick skinny. not many often is the respond in respond to the above question. In real life in case you weight-alleviation plan on your seems it finally ends up in huge scientific issues in later life. that doesn't recommend to declare you should devour junk nutrition the two. your guy or woman metabolism comes to a decision no rely in case you would be skinny or obese in spite of the undeniable fact that it additionally relies upon at this form of healthful weight-alleviation plan you devour besides.