I came across this article of "Why Images of Overweight Women Are Taboo" by writer Laura Fraser. It wasn't until I was half way through it and found the MODE reference that I realized the article was dated. Even though it was posted in 1997 (8 years ago) the same things are still happening.

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1388

Here is Laura Fraser's home page. She wrote an expose book called Losing It about the diet industry: http://www.laurafraser.com

You know, it used to bug the hell out of me that there were no plus-sized women modeling the plus-sized clothing in the plus-sized catalogs. I worked for Lane Bryant briefly in the mid-90s, and had an opportunity to ask one of the "higher-ups" in the corporation why. I was told that Lane Bryant had done a market research study on the appeal of the models in their ads. And the result was that when the models in the catalogs were representative of the women shopping for clothing, i.e. plus-sized, sales went down in double digit percentages as compared to the same catalogs with regular sized models.

To me it isn't just the fear and prejudice of the "general" public that's surprising when confronted with plus-sized women in the media. Its the fear and prejudice of other plus-sized women who don't like to see themselves portrayed in the media. It frustrates the hell out of me when my comfort and acceptance of my body is questioned by not only "normal" sized people, but by large women, too. To me, that's the saddest part of the conditioning and unattainable expectations forced upon us by the media... Not the prejudice by others, but the self loathing and fear it causes in women who have nothing to hate or fear in themselves.

There are catalogs with large size models wearing large size clothing <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Making it Big is one of them, and Plus Size is another. I keep them handy so I can browse their pages.

I worked for years for Roamans back in the seventies/early eighties. I used to participate in their local little fashion shows back then when I was cute and graceful LOL!

While I agree the general media really shows a stilted view of what women should look like, we do have to remember that the media makes it's profits out of what people will purchase/pay attention to... and that's anorexic looking models and stars and their torrid lives.

When Roamans and Lane Bryants were two separate entities, the pre BryLane times, I began writing letters to the same effect, why no bigger models for the bigger clothes and always got the same 'market research' stuff.

Just My Size uses some large-ish models in their stuff too...

Oh well, Just my little bit of input on this.

On another note, alot of women in my area don't know squat about Size Acceptance. They continue to hide, or to go out poorly dressed in the size clothing they wish they could fit in and wind up looking sloppy or unkempt.
Even in this day and age, there's many many many women who don't know, and many men who still think their hidden preferences for a larger body are somehow a sick obsession.

I hope to find a way to open their eyes at least in my area, by starting a group to meet and discuss. I realize some ppl will come with major trepidations because of all the ostracization by the public at large, the medical professional and all, but here I am, listening and hopefully showing them what I did to get to the way I am now, ya know?

There is a big fear of fat. It's a prejudice that ppl think they can 'catch' sometimes. I could go on more about that aspect as well <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I'll have to check out those catalogs. It drives me crazy to order an outfit that looks so cute ina "plus-size" magazine, but when i put it on it looks horrile, because I'm not built like the plus-size models! I'm 5'8" 260 lbs. I'm fat, period. I have big hips, big butt, and right now my tummy is swollen until I can get some PT from all the suregies and pain I've been through. And I have Huge arms.

I have panic attacks in public, so going to the mall is waaay out of the question for me, catalog & internet shopping is like a lifeline for me! But not if I can't ever tell how things are going to look.

I was mostly talking about the big three, Lane Bryant and Roamans and Jessica London.... And there was a time in years past when there just weren't any plus sized models in any catalogs. Its good to see the ones that are finally standing up to the establishment and speaking to their clientele.



I worked for Lane Bryant post-merge. The Lane Bryant clothing store is a different company from the Lane Bryant catalogs... Which answers why Lane Bryant the store seems to be bringing in more plus-sized models, but the catalog isn't keeping up with that trend.



I founded two BBW groups here in my town. One is part of the BDSM group that I belong to, and another is a vanilla group that I organized for women outside of BDSM. Mostly, they serve as social groups, a launching pad for women of size to gather together and learn confidence in social situations... We've done slumber parties, fun parties, kitchen get togethers... And we go out once in a while, all gathering together to help each other with the getting ready part, and giving each other support to make that step out the door and into the public.

Its hard work to get a group started, and to get women interested... That fear is a hard thing to beat. But word of mouth will help your group thrive if you finally get some women to brave the fear and try accepting themselves as they are.

"Catherines" is a branch of lane byrant and they have large-ish women in their catalogs....

I have a friend who is quite large and she refused to shop at what was then the only store for "real" women in her area because it was called(ahem!) "Ample Duds"...Now there are other stores But NOT shopping at a fat broad store when one is in fact a "fat broad"(as I most assuredly AM) does NOT make one skinny...as a matter of fact it can quite often just end up resulting in what is often seen(and referred too here earlier) as poorly dressed, out of style and usually dowdy looking women,...I have never understood the old" I'll buy clothes whern I lose weight" school of thought. That must be why I have 14-24 cloths hanging in my closet..and yes, all styles come back.Shoulder pads are Baaaa-ack...again!

Where did you hear shoulder pads were back? LOL

Oh no, Please no, not shoulder pads, ANYTHING but that!

All those stupid things did were make women look like they were wearing footbal gear, military uniforms, or had some kind of strange tumors!

Even when they were "in style" - i went and cut them out of all af my outfits. I hated them!

Since the early seventies I've been a member of various size acceptance groups. It's been a fun ride. I hosted a few myself as well in the past.
I love seeing the women sorta bloom... sorta become more set with themselves and move towards their own individual ideas of self improvement <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> not someone else's idea of what an improvement would be.
It's a beautiful thing