Effects of Curvy Women in Sports Illustrated

 

In the research done by Aubrey and Taylor (2009) in the article: The Role of Lad Magazines in Priming Men’s Chronic and Temporary Appearance-Related Schemata: An Investigation of Longitudinal and Experimental Findings, they analyzed the possible effects of lad magazines on men’s body self-consciousness and body anxiety. The study focuses on ideal thin images of women as a way to measure if men feel more or less confident in their body or have more or less anxiety after viewing these images as well as lower romantic confidence. But what if the images were of plus size women? What would be the affect then? Would men be more satisfied in romantic relationships, less body conscious, and have less anxiety about their body? These are all issues in which the study raises about ideal images of women.

            In a recent Sports Illustrated magazine published on February 4^th, 2015, it was made clear that Ashley Graham would be the first “plus size” model to wear a bikini on Sports Illustrated. She was said to be a size 16 and 6 ft. tall. For a women this is completely deviant from the magazine model norm. Why is this such a big deal in our society? Shouldn't a larger size model be slightly normal on account of most women in our society are not a size 2? Today, people are so focused on admiring idealistically thin and beautiful women in advertisements and in magazines of all sorts. But there are many effects that arise from such images that may be completely blind to the public. The article by Aubrey and Taylor (2009) clearly emphasizes on the importance such images have on the public, specifically men.

            Would men have higher romantic confidence if they view plus size women in magazines that focus on sexual idealization? Aubrey and Taylor (2009) research found that viewing images of ideal thin women in lad magazines led to lower romantic confidence in men. In this sense it might be a positive thing to have average/slightly larger women presented in magazines because it might raise men’s self-confidence. Maybe if men see images of women that they believe would be interested in them, then they may have a better chance in the dating world; thus raising their romantic confidence. When men admire women with “perfect” figures and such idealized features, they might feel as if these women are not obtainable, and are only imaginable figures. There for by emphasizing on women of all shapes and sizes, men might be able to acknowledge that not all women look like the figures in magazines, and not be ashamed when they are with women who are not perfect models.

            One slight problem I find with this positive emphasis on plus size women is that the magazines are semi promoting an unhealthy lifestyle for women and still objectifying women. They are emphasizing on the concept that it is okay to be any size because men will always view women in a sexualized matter no matter what their size. I have trouble comprehending how these messages are positive. Just because they are placing a plus size model in a bikini doesn’t mean that the problem of incorporating all types of bodies is solved. Men are still objectifying the woman in this ad, and focusing on the curves of her body, not on her as a person. The men are the ones doing the gazing, and Ashley just accepts the gaze and treats it as a positive thing. In the ad below, multiple men are drooling and fantasizing about her body. This is promoting the idea that it is okay to objectify women in a sense. It is also promoting that women don’t need to focus on their health because they can get men either way. It is a fine line to draw upon because in a way it is positive that the magazine is accepting models of all sizes, but it is also promoting an unhealthy lifestyle as a positive thing in society.

                                      

References:

Aubrey, J., Taylor, L. (2009). The Role of Lad Magazines in Priming Men’s Chronic and Temporary Appearance-Related Schemata: An Investigation of Longitudinal and Experimental Findings. Human Communication Research 35, 28–58. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2958.2008.01337