Ashley Graham is a trendsetter in the modeling industry. She paved the way for many curvy girls after her, and her impact is undeniable. But how progressive is this new inclusivity, if it still views women only in relation to their appeal to men?
"Real women have curves."
A sentence too often heard, both online and in real life, that perfectly encapsulates an issue with one kind of acceptance of curvy women that exists today. Firstly, it insinuates that women who are not curvy are somehow fraudulent in their womanhood. Which is ridiculous. It therefore pits women against each other by saying that one "type" of woman is better or more real than another–again, ridiculous.
But also, it's often said in a way that shows the same thing as the headlines in the above slideshow: often, curvy women are only accepted in relation to their appeal to men. It's as if people are saying, "don't worry, you can still be sexy, even if you're fat. You can still be appealing to men! All hope is not lost for you!" Even the body positive messages ("Love your curves! Big is beautiful") carry the same meaning, though more insidiously hidden. Women's worth is being equated solely to how attractive and appealing they are.
Curvy and larger models are an important part of society, because curvy women are an important and normal part of society. Representation that fits the true makeup of a country's population is a good thing! But if fat women are being told they only have a place in society because men have deemed them appealing enough, is that really a step towards true equal treatment?
