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Eating Disorders Blog

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Girl Guides Want Warnings on Photoshopped Images

The Girl Guides of Great Britain -- the British equivalent of the Girl Scouts -- are calling for "warning labels" on pictures of models and actresses that have been manipulated in order to make the subjects appear slimmer.

The Guides want help people recognize the difference between natural and "photoshopped" images of women, noting that girls as young as ten years old worry about their weight, and 50 percent of people ages 13 to 19 years old would consider having cosmetic surgery.

Digital photo manipulation has been criticized for its negative impact on self-image and self-esteem, as well as for contributing to the development of eating disorders among those who are unduly influenced by these images.
 

Labels: media, model, fashion

Posted By: Eating Disorders Blog

Comments:

Kensington on 8/13/2010
I work with people who have eating disorders (and am recovered from my own) and even *I* am surprised by the extent of photoshopping. It's not just the obvious stuff, like slimming down a waist or a leg, or adding breast size. I'm floored by how things that EVERY woman has are airbrushed out as if it's a crime, such as the natural crease line around the armpit area and above the side of the breast. I'm all for truth in advertising. If companies aren't willing to guarantee they didn't photoshop, or at least it was kept to a minimum, perhaps the companies that are willing to be honest can get the media equivalent of the "GoodHousekeeping seal of approval". If you don't see it, you know the company running the ad refused to cooperate.