Just Say “Non” to Extreme Thinness
It’s been all over the web this week - the French National Assembly passed a bill to eliminate the promotion of “extreme thinness” by the media.
Essentially, French legislators in favor of the bill feel this will stem the tide of anorexia in their country, which the BBC reports at around 40,000 suffering from the disease.
This is definitely fascinating news. Media outlets can be fined up to what amounts to approximately $71,000 and/or receive as much as three years in jail if they display images that encourage gals and guys to starve.
Interesting.
But I’m a skeptic… I was born that way, and I’m cynical.
The problem as I see it is that it’ll be tough to determine who is promoting eating disorders and who isn’t. Will a picture of a scrawny Posh Spice in a French magazine cause someone to be fined? Isn’t that potential “thinspiration”? And who will decide?
Again, this whole issue is a great way to get people talking. I just don’t think it’s going to play out the way the legislators think it will.
How about you? What are your thoughts?
(Thanks to awesome b5 blogger Trench Reynolds for the tip!)
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POSTED IN: Anorexia, France, legislation
2 opinions for Just Say “Non” to Extreme Thinness
Alicia Sparks, NAMI Affiliation Leader
Apr 18, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Trench is always a doll when it comes to tips, isn’t he?!
I’m so sorry I didn’t pass it along - I wrote about it earlier this week (about why psychologists were saying), and pointed readers to your blog for more information about eating disorders. To correct my blunder, I’m including this post (Just Say “Non” to Extreme Thinness) in tomorrow’s “Saturday Sanity” at MHN.
Anyway, I’m like you - I was born a cynical skeptic, haha. I haven’t yet formed a solid opinion on the matter, though. I can see the good they’re trying to do with this, and that’s to be commended, but…there’s a lot of gray area.
Saturday Sanity: Upgrade Your Brain
Apr 19, 2008 at 6:05 am
[…] going on in the rest of b5media’s Science & Health Channel? Angelique weighs in on the French bill to stop media promotion of “extreme thinness” over at Breaking the Mirror. Ruth at Eating Fabulous tells us about the cognitive and motor […]
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