For years and years, numerous media outlets have portrayed women as beautiful because they are thin and thin because they are beautiful. Young girls and women, primarily, have given too much consideration as to what the media and society deems attractive, which has produced an increasing twister-like cluster of health issues as a result.
In an effort to combat the plague of eating disorders that have been contributing to the plight of young men and women all over the world, a new Israeli law has been passed that bans the use of underweight models in advertising photos. The law also commands that should a model be digitally retouched in an advertisement to make him or her appear thinner than he or she is, a disclaimer concerning the augmentation must be included in the publication.
The forbidden use of extremely gaunt models is a first in the western world. The bill was first introduced by Israeli lawyer and politician Rachel Adato and was campaigned by top model agent and fashion photographer, Adi Barkan. The fellow creative supported the law wholly, stating that in his 30 years of work, he has seen numerous young girls and women become skinner and more ill, all in an effort to try and fit into the mold of what the media and society has regarded as beautiful – extreme thinness.
The law also requires that models, who appear at advertisement photo shoots that will appear on the Israeli market, show a medical report that dates back no more than three months. The medical report will reason that the model in question is not malnourished, as judged by the World Health Organization standards. Models’ BMIs, short for Body Mass Indexes, are used to figure out whether a model is malnourished.
Israeli model Adi Neumman isn’t a big supporter of the law. She admitted that she wouldn’t even pass under the law and the regulations it entails all because of the fact that her BMI is 18.3. The World Health Organization standards states that a BMI under 18.5 pinpoints malnutrition. The Israeli argues that she isn’t unhealthy – she eats well and exercises. Neumann said instead of passing the law, legislation should, “Force actual tests. Make girls go to a doctor. Get a system to follow girls who are found to be puking.”
Advocates of the law sincerely hope that its passage will promote the use of healthy models and increase consciousness among young men and women that many of the models used in advertising are photo shopped, made to appear thinner and more attractive.
At the moment, only time will tell whether or not the law will have any have serious impact on Israeli women. Apparently, Israeli teens also look up to international media outlets. While this may be the case, many in Israel feel as though the law’s passing is a step toward positivity, established to help prevent and fight the perils of bulimia and anorexia.
Do you think Israel’s legislation will influence any other countries to do the same?
Image Credit: Reuters | Via: PDNPulse
