Learning the Lessons of Ugly Betty: Real Women Have Curves
by Maria Niles

For every advance we make in countering the constant drumbeat of messages telling women that, no matter what, our bodies are not good enough and that we should feel shame, hatred and disgust there are many more that reinforce the message.

Hot on the heels of the Redbook/Faith Hill photoshopping outrage (Read posts from ClizBiz and Susan Wagner) and despite the previous positive response to Jaime Lee Curtis' More magazine reality photos and the Dove Real Beauty campaign, we are treated to the latest media message that real women's bodies are unacceptable.


America Ferrera stars in the television series Ugly Betty.  Betty is "ugly" by conventional beauty standards and fat by the norms of the fashion industry in which Betty works.  The clear message from the American version of the show, which started in Columbia and has translated into beloved versions in countries around the world, is that Betty is truly the beautiful one because of her heart and humanity.  During the first season of the show, Betty convinces an insecure magazine covergirl to take a stand against unnecessary digital "enhancement"  The new season of the series is being promoted by a customized version of the hit song "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)" by Mika.

Ugly Betty was a rare breakout hit from the last television season.  America Ferrera has been nominated for and won several awards for her portrayal of Betty.  Ms. Ferrera began her career starring in the movie, Real Women Have Curves.  The message embodied in America Ferrera's career is that real women are beautiful.

BlogHer Contributing Editor Mir alerted us to the cover of the latest Glamour magazine compared and contrasted with a recent photo from the latest Teen Choice awards.

In addition to the outrageous manipulation of America Ferrera's body, commenters who've emailed their protest report that they've all received the same canned response from variously named customer service representatives:

Thanks so much for your letter about our October cover photo of America Ferrera. Let me assure you, we did not digitally slim her; as she mentions in the interview, she wears a size 6/8 on the bottom, ten on the top.  You are seeing her as she actually appears. That said, we deeply value your feedback. Be sure to take a look inside at the photos of America and let us know what you think.

So despite the continuing outrage over digital manipulation of women's bodies, despite the continuing praise for magazines and companies who "sell" us real images, despite the positive celebrations of women's work Glamour has done of late, we are still sent the message that not only are our bodies not good enough, that the reasons why we love Ugly Betty and have made America Ferrera a star are wrong, but also we are stupid and our eyes don't work.

Sigh.

Who else is up in non-digitally-retouched arms?

Body image bloggers:

Stephanie Quilao at Back in Skinny Jeans says Glamour photochops America Ferrera cover because they don't like the "Ugly" part of Betty

Anti-airbrushing gossip bloggers:

Jezebel says 'Glamour' Just Loooooves America Ferrera For Undermining The Whole Skinny Blond Hollywood Stereotype It Helped Create.

Plus size bloggers:

Francesca at Manolo for the Big Girl says Hot, but Not Hot Enough

Black women bloggers:

Kellee Terrell at Pop Gumbo says When Photoshopping Goes Too Far: The America Ferrera and Glamour Magazine Edition

Women at the Black Hair Media Forums are asking For real Glamour???

Latina bloggers:

Guanabee says Glamour Asks America Ferrera What It's Like To Be Fat

Guanabee also notes that Some Dude On the Street Pines For the Pre-Glamour America Ferrera

leesee at Hasta Los Gatos Quieren Zapatos notes that Sometimes you can only shake your head in wonder

Mommy bloggers:

Veronica Arreola at both the Chicago Moms Blog and her personal blog Viva La Feminista says Oh no they didn't! and Erasing America

Political bloggers:

Melissa McEwan at shakesville calls it Impossibly Beautiful

And, of course, last but not least, feminist bloggers:

kate.d at cat and twenty (fighting the patriarchy in her spare time) says forget amusement.  this is dangerously close to "breaking the good china" territory.

Submitted by Maria Niles (view blog) on Tue, 09/11/2007 - 15:50

Comments

 

Enough is enough!

The media will not end the disgusting practice of photoshopping until women demand that they do so. That means not buying those magazines and, even harder, it means that we need to accept ourselves for what we look like.

Stand up for real women! Join the Swimsuit Brigade for Honest Photos! The more people see what women look like, the more unreal these ridiculous photoshopped images will appear. But we have to represent ourselves for this to happen.

Suzanne Reisman, BlogHer Contributing Editor - Feminism & Gender
Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS)& Other Ran

Submitted by Suzanne Reisman on Tue, 09/11/2007 - 20:38
 

Swimsuit Brigade Rocks!

I'm in awe of you and all the women who have joined.

And what's particularly disappointing to me about this whole thing is that voting proactively with our support for America's movies and TV show which send positive messages about her real beauty didn't stop this from happening. The irony is so depressing.

Kleenex® Let It Out™ Blog
Beyond Help

Submitted by Maria Niles on Wed, 09/12/2007 - 15:02
 

America the Beautiful

Thanks for posting this here. I can't believe they're denying it. I hope America will speak out.

If anyone has doubts about what can be done in Photoshop, go watch this video on YouTube:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DZDHQ9b9fbo

A Drivel Runs Through It

Submitted by cowgrrrl on Tue, 09/11/2007 - 22:32
 

Scary

That one has to join YouTube and affirm that they are over 18 in order to watch the horrors of Photoshop says something. The freak shows that emerge post-Photoshop are a horror show indeed.

Thanks for your comment!

Kleenex® Let It Out™ Blog
Beyond Help

Submitted by Maria Niles on Wed, 09/12/2007 - 15:05
 

Sorry

I didn't realize you had to register to watch the video. However, it is worth it. It shows a fat woman being turned into a thin woman courtesy of Photoshop. She is wearing skimpy clothing, so that may be why registration is required.

I personally think she's perfectly lovely beforehand, but she is turned into a "hottie" -- probably 50 or more pounds shaved off, boobs perked up, hair added, etc. It's extremely educational.

A Drivel Runs Through It

Submitted by cowgrrrl on Thu, 09/13/2007 - 08:43
 

horrific

That video is just unbelievable. Thanks so much for sharing the link. I am reeling.

laurie
www.notjustaboutcancer.blogspot.com

Submitted by laurie on Thu, 09/13/2007 - 08:31
 

America, let us hear from you!

I'm with Cowgrrrl (what a great name!) and I'm hoping that America will speak up on this. The more I look at the photo, the weirder it gets. It's high time the celebs wield their power against this damaging industry habit.

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Photography
Proprietor, ClizBiz

Submitted by ClizBiz on Wed, 09/12/2007 - 14:18
 

America the brave

Here's hoping America is as brave and bold as the character she plays on TV who did speak out against manipulating pictures of beautiful women to make them look like alien dolls.

Kleenex® Let It Out™ Blog
Beyond Help

Submitted by Maria Niles on Wed, 09/12/2007 - 15:08
 

Gkamour

Considering how bad a photoshop job that really is I can't believe they have the nerve to deny it.

I'm disappointed the actress let it happen, although I have no idea how much control she had in the situation.

It is pretty typical with magazines like Glamour to be fairly dichotomous, reeling in real women with a few pat articles which seem to say "we are on your side", then hitting them with the corporate truth.

The bait and switch.

cooper

Submitted by cooper on Wed, 09/12/2007 - 14:24
 

I suspect you are right

I doubt she had much if any control over the final image that appeared on the cover. And too bad about Glamour. I thought perhaps they were on the road to regaining some credibility after the Cosmo-lite disaster but sadly, no.

Thanks for your comment.

Kleenex® Let It Out™ Blog
Beyond Help

Submitted by Maria Niles on Wed, 09/12/2007 - 15:10
 

Ignoring the petite woman, once again...

Must all body acceptance/size acceptence blogs be about being over size 4? What about short girls? The "ideal" is not only about being a size 0 or 2, but also about being at least 5'7". Notice that most petite, thin actresses get "cute" roles.

Recall the "Fat Rant" video Joy Nash put up? You might want to check out my response to her:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny4eaGzINgk

Might also want to check out my "challenge" to Fashion Media (not that they'll give a hoot)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iGq0f2Dg90

my blogs:

Writing Blog (for updates on my writing and media plugs about my book)

Shorty Stories (a blog for petite activism)

Submitted by writergal8 on Wed, 09/12/2007 - 20:37
 

Not sure I understand your point

Yes the fashion industry "ideal" includes height but America Ferrera is a star who is petite in height and Glamour did not feel the need to digitally lengthen her that I can see.

The problem in this case is that America Ferrara is known for roles which celebrate her real weight (her height not being an issue that I've seen) and yet Glamour digitally slimmed her. So the blogs discussing this outrage are going to be focused on weight and not height.

I would agree that unrealistic height promoted as making women undesirable is problematic as is any other fantasy standard by which women's bodies are judged. However I didn't seek out blog commentary from that perspective to link to for this post because it's not the issue in this case that I can see.

Kleenex® Let It Out™ Blog
Beyond Help

Submitted by Maria Niles on Wed, 09/12/2007 - 21:19
 

They could very well have

They could very well have stretched her body....slimming down/stretching body.....similar thing.

What I *DON'T* appreciate are all those "real women have curves" and those "ban size zero" campaigns. Many women, especially shorter women are naturally zeros. In any case, size zero was once called size six.

my blogs:

Writing Blog (for updates on my writing and media plugs about my book)

Shorty Stories (a blog for petite activism)

Submitted by writergal8 on Thu, 09/13/2007 - 09:24
 

Fair enough

I'll just point out that "Real Women Have Curves" applies here because that is the title of the first movie America Ferrera starred in.

But your point that positive body image campaigns must include bodies which are naturally slim and small is well taken. The problem of course is that the issue of women being pressured to diet down to what would be for them an unnatural and unhealthy small size is intense. And while I'm certain naturally thin women get grief and pressure in our screwed up culture, in my own experience I've never been told that when I've been slimmer or because of my short stature that I'm disgusting, unattractive, unlovable or unemployable. I have been told all of those things because of my curves.

My hope is that by some miracle we can appreciate all women whether their bodies are naturally skinny or curvy. And I would encourage you to flaunt your naturally petite figure in Suzanne's Swimsuit Brigade. It's important that we see the entire range of real women's bodies.

Thanks for your comments.

Kleenex® Let It Out™ Blog
Beyond Help

Submitted by Maria Niles on Thu, 09/13/2007 - 10:24
 

Well...

Many of us who are petite in height as well as slim (as in size 0 or 2) have difficulty finding clothes because of vanity sizing. Many of these tiny women have been sized out of the ladies department (even petites! Size 4 or smaller is very difficult to find at the department store....a little easier at places like Ann Taylor or Banana Republic though) and are often told by sales associates to "go to the kids' section." (Yes, that's right. Girls. Not Juniors. Girls...now tell me, how is a woman with a 24 inch waist and 33 hips supposed to properly wear a girls' 12?)

my blogs:

Writing Blog (for updates on my writing and media plugs about my book)

Shorty Stories (a blog for petite activism)

Submitted by writergal8 on Thu, 09/13/2007 - 13:24
 

There are more petite stores than plus size
stores...

At least where I live. So the petites of the world seem to have a tad more choice and acknowledgment's than the larger ladies.

Shortness is also culturally more acceptable in women than being 'overly' tall or 14 plus (cdn sizes).

Look for me at http://crunchycarpets.com or check out the ladies at www.wetcoastwomen.com

Submitted by Crunchy Carpets on Sat, 01/26/2008 - 15:31
 

Most petite stores are

Most petite stores are divisions of regular-sized store, and out of these divisions, a high proportion are cater to women over 45.

my blogs:

Prospere Magazine: In Work... In Life... She Prospers A new monthly business and lifestyle blogzine for women
Writing Blog (for updates on my writin

Submitted by writergal8 on Mon, 02/04/2008 - 11:19
 

What About the Root Issue

I have to say that this whole debate upsets me for different reasons. It is so worrisome that women are known for thier bodies primarly. Even if we decide to all go out and celebrate curves, it still puts the actor in the position of being famous for her curves. Even the title "Ugly Betty" indicates that the character is known for her looks. I understand that it is trying to subvert that, but at the end of the day, I think the mission fails.

Submitted by Tayari Jones on Thu, 09/13/2007 - 08:38
 

Great Point

While it is a small battle won in that America Ferrera can play characters which celebrate not caving into pressure to fit into some unrealistic body image standard, the broader campaign to not have our bodies to be the issue or subject to judgment at all still exists.

Thanks for sharing that perspective!

Kleenex® Let It Out™ Blog
Beyond Help

Submitted by Maria Niles on Thu, 09/13/2007 - 10:29
 

I can't believe Glamour!

I found your website due to this Glamour issue. I was at the drugstore today and did a double take when I saw the cover. Especially after seeing America at the Emmy's last night. Frankly it looks like they just photoshopped her head on top of a whole new body. (Maybe that is why they are saying they didn't digitally slim her -- they just gave her a whole new body.)

Ridiculous. How stupid do they think women are? Glamour has always been ahead of the curve on women's issues. I'm disappointed in them.

Submitted by Teresa on Mon, 09/17/2007 - 14:43
 

Welcome, Teresa

Welcome to BlogHer.

America looked so stunning at the Emmy's it really adds to the incomprehensible presentation on Glamour.

Thanks for your comment.

Kleenex® Let It Out™ Blog
Beyond Help

Submitted by Maria Niles on Mon, 09/17/2007 - 21:28
 

weary

When my daughter first became anorexic I tried to talk sense with her about these issues - but then I realized that the modern woman "speaks anorexic" whether they are or not. It kind of made it hard to argue that my daughter regain her health and normalcy.

To get well she actually had to reject what is considered "normal:" hating ones body and dieting and treating food as the enemy.

Sigh. She's recovered, but the world is still crazy!

Submitted by Laura Collins on Mon, 09/17/2007 - 17:29
 

Glad your daughter is well

That is good news indeed. But it is sad commentary that the language of hating our bodies has become so pervasive.

Thank you for your comment.

Kleenex® Let It Out™ Blog
Beyond Help

Submitted by Maria Niles on Mon, 09/17/2007 - 21:34
 

A Year in (Retouched) Pictures

Great discussion! We recently did a roundup of some photo retouching headlines of the last year, along with some commentary on how all these images of "perfection" are directly affecting girls and young women:
http://5resolutions.blogspot.com/2007/08/year-in-retouched-pictures.html

Claire Mysko & Magali Amadei
5 Resolutions to Transform the Fashion and Beauty Industries
http://5resolutions.blogspot.com
http://www.insidebeauty.org

Submitted by 5resolutions on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 22:59
 

Men, too

Thanks for that link. Great job of putting the trend in context. And I hadn't seen that scary picture of Andy Roddick. Yikes!

Cultural images of hyper-masculinity saddens me as well.

Kleenex® Let It Out™ Blog
Beyond Help

Submitted by Maria Niles on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 23:34
 

term paper

This comment is more of a plea for help. I am working on a term paper and my topic is how american women are not protrayed well and Girl Scout principles are forgotten. Yes I am a Girl Scout and I am proud of it. The three main points I am looking for are: how female celebrities set a bad example, the dumb blonde effect, and the emphasis on beauty.

I have found it very hard to find websites that support my side because of the exact thing I am trying to prove. Most of the sites are for portraying american women as sex objects. If anyone reads this and has any sites I can use to gather information please let me know.

I also want to add my own opinion to the part of this site I have read so far. I am 100% for supporting "fat" girls. I have nothing against them and I strongly agree that photoshopping is wrong. However, I am 5'7" and I am a size 0 myself. Why you ask? I am a runner (a fairly good one too) and that accounts for itself. Am I for fat people and againts photoshopping, yes. But am I against naturally skinny people, not at all!

Submitted by speedylittlelizard on Sat, 01/26/2008 - 12:06
 

The only nice thing I have heard recently

was from my dh who was persuing 'lingerie' sites with me one evening. We were looking at the plus size models and he commented that they didn't look plus to him and that they looked like what a 'normal' sexy woman should look like.

Good taste that man.

Look for me at http://crunchycarpets.com or check out the ladies at www.wetcoastwomen.com

Submitted by Crunchy Carpets on Sat, 01/26/2008 - 15:34