Thin is sooooooo

Everyone’s on about how models such as Kate Moss, Lily Cole and <> are a terrible influence on insecure, not-overweight-but-not-stick-thin adolescents. Well, maybe they are, but that’s the more blatant type of influence. Sitting in the library today trying to recall everything I swore I studied in Physics, (and failing miserably by the way), I found myself looking at the ‘Junior Fiction’ section. And as I stared at the rows of Fear Streets, Babysitter Clubs, Chalet Schools and other series I’ve never heard of before, I was idly musing on the impact that they had on our lives (I had nothing else to do, physics was but a bitter memory). And I thought of Sweet Valley, Nancy Drew and other books aimed at young girls, ie- the less techie chick-flicks, precursors if you want.

I couldn’t help but remember the long drawn out descriptions of the Wakefield twins in Sweet Valley, how they were the picture of physical beauty, how they (Elizabeth was all ‘good at heart’ and Jessica not so much) always had the PERFECT thing to wear, how they were all thin etcetera etcetera. In Nancy Drew, remember her ‘fat’ friend? (What was her name??) She would obsess over her weight, and even though Nancy (who was naturally thin, ofcourse) would laugh her off, it was still there for all to see. The boys in the books always fell for the thin, pretty ones; the heroines were always pinup worthy. And while they never screamed it out, (“Thin is IN! Thin is IN!”) On some level isn’t that imbibed? School stories like the Twins at St. Clare’s and other Enid Blytons sold the idea that physical beauty was determined by a smile and by cheeks that were pink from the cold, and hair that was shiny not from Elvive but eating healthy. But while that does affect people, for every book on ‘natural’ and ‘inner’ beauty, there’s a Clueless inspired book (the Clueless books themselves! And yes, I do know it’s a series. Don’t ask) on oh so perfect teenagers, permanently glossed, straightened, and a size 4.

And while everyone knows this, that the youth is impressionable, anorexia and crash dieting are already integral parts of today’s vocab yada yada, what fascinated me most of all(apart from my complete lack of knowledge in Section C), was (is?) the hypocrisy and acceptance surrounding these things, yes on my part as well =P

So yes, we are all APPALLED by this, by the websites forcing people to crash diet (yep, they do exist). But, we accept it. After all, if it doesn’t affect us, why should it matter


PS- yes, i do write whtver comes 2 mind avec little regard for whether it is going anywhere! (like my physics paper, which didnt. as i may have mentioned)