Breeze Perspectives: Spain takes a baby step in the right direction
Weight regulations on the catwalk make for a healthier playing field for us all
By Jessica Novak, contributing writer
Posted on September 21, 2006

Though we are living in a world consumed by a war on terrorism, there are other battles ensuing. They may not be on battlefields of sand or fought with chemical weapons or fighter jets, but similarly, they are fought every day and all over the world. Like terrorism, the battle is not against a single guilty person or party, but against an ideal that poses a threat to those in opposition. Though my subject is in no way related to terrorism and in no way on the same scale of political importance, it’s a topic faced even more regularly and even more stealthily than the terror we hear about on the news, and Spain is taking steps to do something about it.

Though many may scoff at the comparison of a war on terrorism to a war on female portrayals in the media, the effects and problems are nothing to brush aside. This is why Spain’s newly introduced supermodel regulations on size are a small victory for women the world over, but a step in the right direction nonetheless.

The new regulation holds that any supermodel above the height of 5-foot-7 must weigh at least 123 pounds and have a BMI (body mass index) of at least 18. While these dimensions still sound unimaginable to the majority of the world’s population, considering the average size of a supermodel in the past has been 5-foot-9, 116 pounds, Spain is moving in the right direction.

Reasons for the regulations vary. The debate began over whether supermodels were depicting a healthy image of what a female should ideally look like, and in some capacity as a response to the sudden death of 22-year-old supermodel Luisel Ramos, who died of a sudden heart attack as a result of her three-month long, less-than-adequate diet of lettuce and Diet Coke. After Ramos’s death the motion was taken to protect the health and well being of the models themselves.

But the motivations behind and yet to be seen repercussions are perhaps what will catch even more attention.

Women in the media are served little justice, and observing females fall victim to that picture-perfect portrayal whether they admit it or not. I commend the women reading this who are confident enough to say they can honestly look at a magazine or walk around this campus without comparing themselves to that unattainable “standard.” However, most of us cannot ignore that seemingly inbred feeling of inadequacy.

Realizing the sensitivity of the issue, I am in no way saying women are incapable of being happy with themselves the way they are or appreciating themselves for all of their qualities, not simply which pants size they wear. Rather, I welcome Spain’s small but bold attempt to somehow change the world’s “standard” of how a women should look. Regardless of how I or any other woman feels about herself and her body, the image is out there and it’s everywhere. The point is that change is taking place, and perhaps we as a worldwide society are finally taking notice to the eating disorders and depression surrounding us as a result of an unsympathetic media.

This is not an unjustified accusation of malice toward media giants, but it is also not a commendation. It is not a statement revealing that women judge themselves solely on how much they look like their favorite supermodel or just another pretty girl in class. It is, however, a proud moment for those trying to change the world one girl, one life and one pound at a time.

Jessica Novak is a sophomore communications major.