I was debating with another user one here, as she was claiming the modelling industry is racist for hiring mainly white skinny women. I couldn't express my full opinion since I was blocked, but I'd like to put my points here and see your takes on it. No one will be blocked for disagreeing to speak your mind
1. Equal opportunity and equal outcome are different
All people are allowed to give modelling their all and apply themselves to that career goal. Skin colour or weight doesn't determine whether you are allowed to try or not, all people from all walks of life have an equal opportunity to become a model. As people, we are owed that. We aren't however owed the job just because we want it. The outcome is not and should not be equal, and employers have the right to turn you away. If you don't fit what they are looking for, they aren't obligated to hire you. This applies to all professions and makes perfect sense.
2. All cultures and societies have a beauty standard, and its OK
Just because a society has a main standard of beauty doesn't mean you aren't beautiful. Asia has ridiculous beauty standards and Asian women are usually both the standard of beauty and target audience. Western countries have cultures that have mainly European women (or women with a European ethnicity) as the standard of beauty. This is because western culture stems from Europe, and Europe is mostly made up of white women, especially traditionally. This isn't to say a white woman can't be a model in a place like Japan (which does happen, though more uncommon), or an Asian woman can't be a model in a place like the UK (which also happens, though again, not as commonly).
Standards of body types have ranged throughout the ages, of both male and female. Greeks viewed the ideal body type as the "perfect" image, no fat on their body, muscular, tall, strong. This applied to both genders. They also viewed small (idk if I'll get censored so) "man parts" as being desirable since larger ones were viewed as heathen and barbarian. Other countries thought women should be plump because it signified wealth and self-care, especially during ages where most of the common folk were starving and unhealthy. Nowadays, it has changed again. This is nothing new, and you SHOULDN'T be offended by it.
3. They are meant to sell a product, not to make you feel good about yourself
If skinny/fit white women sell a product best, that's all that matters. The company is interested in what all companies are interested in... profit. In most western countries with this beauty standard, the target audience is white. If the target audience changes, the models tend to aswell. Personally, I don't understand why anyone would get offended by seeing a poster or other harmless advertisement featuring someone that looks different than you, just because that is the best way to sell that specific product. I am not a white woman and when I see advertisements of clothes or something else that interests me, my first thought is "WOW, that looks nice, I might want that" or "NOPE! That's not for me" not "How dare they advertise this dress or this fragrance line with a white woman and not a First Nations Canadian"
Please feel free to share your opinions, if you agree or disagree with what I say. Just try to keep it civilized down there.
#beautystandards #discrimination #modelling #equality #offended
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