The PSA — what happens next?
On Monday, I presented the PSA and the rest of my social marketing campaign to my classmates and professor. I barely slept the night before, I was so nervous. I seriously entertained fantasies of being pelted with things and booed out of the room for ‘promoting obesity,’ or something. At the very least, I expected criticism and long, tiring games of Fat Hate Bingo. But the response was overwhelmingly positive — even from my professor, a dietitian who I’d assumed operated from a traditional perspective on body weight.
The students told me that they loved how real the pictures were. They found themselves looking at ACTUAL people, many of them fat, being actual humans — not headless stereotypes — doing the things actual humans do, without shame or censure.
Not only did the class like the size-positive message, my professor actually said to me, “This is more than just a class assignment. You have a REAL social marketing campaign here.” I was smiling and nodding, but I was thinking, “HOLY SHIT.” Of course, I knew that the Health at Every Size and fat acceptance movements were REAL — but I didn’t expect that idea to translate to anyone not already involved.
Part of my project was to suggest changes at my school to support the thesis of the social marketing campaign. So my next step, then, is to start making things happen on campus. My first goal? To get height and weight added as protected categories to my school’s Discrimination and Harassment policy, which is based on the Ontario Human Rights Code. And, as a result, I’d like to see weight-loss advertising BANNED from my campus.
To everyone who participated in the PSA, by either sending me their pictures (or having them sent in by a friend!), I can’t thank you enough. Not only have you helped spread an important message to people who need to hear it — and more people than I originally imagined — but you are the force behind another punch thrown in the fight against size discrimination.
I’d like to ask you all a question: if you could, what would you change in your immediate surroundings (be it school, workplace, neighbourhood, daycare, stores you frequent, anything) to make them more size-friendly?
What (big or small) changes would make the most difference to you?
Edited to add: it’s less a matter of wanting to remove ads “I don’t like” (though they are offensive, make no mistake), and more a matter of the fact that weight loss programs cannot demonstrate long-term effectiveness and safety. Sandy reviewed some of the research on this here and here.
I submit that advertising for a product that does not work and which has a questionable safety record is, at best, misleading, and at worst, fraudulent. Add to that the fact that university students are at a much higher risk for eating disorders and body image disturbances than the general population, and you can add “wildly inappropriate” to the charge.
As far as the ‘offensive’ factor goes: I won’t go too deep into the implicitly offensive messages behind even nicely-worded weight-loss advertisements (such as Weight Watchers or other companies that are desperately trying to co-opt HAES messages and position themselves as benign), and I don’t wish to play Oppression Olympics or liken my experience to that of other marginalized groups, but here are some rough comparisons: my school would never support ads for skin-lightening creams, or ads for services that claim to ‘cure’ homosexuality — even if the ads don’t come out and say, “X people are bad.” The underlying message is clear, and it is offensive.
“Banning” has become a bad word due to its association with ‘zero-tolerance’ policies and other well-intentioned initiatives that are practised so legalistically they end up hurting more than helping — but I maintain that weight loss ads on university campuses (or at least, MY university campus) do not belong, for the reasons stated above, and should be banned. I cannot think of a single reason why these ads should legitimately remain on my campus — it’s a school, not a marketplace. And I PAY to be there. I deserve to do so without being constantly reminded that my body requires alteration. This may not fall under the rubric of ‘discrimination,’ but I would say it’s definitely relevant to ‘harassment’ — for which my school has a policy.
Not sure if you’re following the comments thread on your PSA over at Shapely Prose, so I’ll be redundant over here in your space. :)
I wondered out loud what it would take to get it distributed on the in-class TV channels that some schools have. fillyjonk then pointed to http://www.teachertube.com (a YouTube for educators, from the looks of it).
How cool would it be to have your fabulous PSA showing in schools???
I did see that, heartflare, but thanks for bringing it up again as it slipped my mind.
I will definitely look into it, but at this time I don’t have permission to be using the song from the copyright holder, and wouldn’t want to distribute it any further without that. This was, after all, intended to be just a school project.
But, of course, I do think it is a great idea :)
I agree with Someone. I don’t think banning things we disagree with is the way to go.
I think campagning for more eating disorder awareness on campus would be a good idea, that includes binge eating, and non thin people with eating disorders. Also, I had really bad experiences with our campus medical group and my weight, as did my friend with anorexia.
Certainly, banning things isn’t generally a way to get anything more accepted, but maybe you could put up HAES posters? Maybe requiring that the on-campus med people disclose if they are unqualified to deal with weight issues? Make sure that people know that doctors bullying is the same as anyone else bullying?
Congrats on how well the presentation went! What a wonderful feeling, you know, to be — heard! :)
I agree that the ads shouldn’t be banned, but that they should be balanced with HAES ads, and toned down only if it can be determined they’re significantly adding to the risk of the already too-prevalent eating disorders amongst college-aged students.
Cheers!
Wow, neat! What school are you at? (I recently asked York’s GSA to consider adding size-based discrimination to its equity policy; if that works, I may try to push for the university admin to do the same.)
I’d ask the U for balance in advertising. Any weight loss advertising must be accompanied by a “Feed Me, Move Me, Love Me” poster.
Just for counterpoint, I think banning commercial ads (of all kinds) on campus would be awesome, but I also think advertising in general is evil, so take that as you will.
As for things in my environment that could be changed to be more size friendly? It’s an oldie, but a goodie: armless seating! This has been a problem for my bootylicious self at the office, the symphony, sidewalk cafes (p.s. those plastic or resin chairs? not gonna work, either), restaurants, theaters, etc. Some places I can shoehorn my hiney into a chair (which is fun when you go to stand up and sometimes the chair comes with - fun!), and others I just have learned to avoid. If one thing would make the world a little size friendlier - for me, it would be some armless seating.
Btw, I’ve been pimping out your PSA to everyone I know. Everybody I’ve talked to loves it!
Oh neat, I didn’t realize you were a Canadian student too. :) I’d LOVE to see weight loss ads banned from ALL Canadian campuses.
I’m so glad the project went over so well!!!
HOORAY FOR YOU!!!!!!! I’m so glad your presentation went so well! So it doesn’t particularly bother me to see what is basically the thin-centric advertising we’re all so used to seeing, but what really pisses me off on my campus is weight-loss advertising along the lines of pills, herbs, that kind of thing. I’m pretty sure we do see Weight Watchers ads, but I don’t really feel the same way about them…
Hm, I just looked at other people’s comments and noticed the “we can just ban things we don’t like” point of view, which is certainly something I can appreciate. However, I’m not sure how it is in Canada, or with schools receiving government funding, but I think actually banning a certain kind of advertising could actually done on a private campus. I attend a private university and anyone handing out any literature or anything like that has to do it on the public street and not on the campus proper. Posters are much easier to sneak up in buildings, but in the case where you’re dealing with a private institution, isn’t it within the rights of the institution to choose what is on its campus? Just playing devil’s advocate here…
To make my school more size-friendly, without banning advertisements for weight loss. Hmm…. I agree with those who suggested HAES or “Love me! -your body” posters to counter, but I could see “Fat Pig” being scrawled on all of the posters, sad to say. I wonder if starting a student organization would help?
“I wonder if starting a student organization would help?”
I’ve considered doing that very thing, Angie. In fact, that was also part of my social marketing campaign for the assignment.
You know, maybe the ads shouldn’t be necessarily banned. Instead, weight-loss companies should be sued in class-action lawsuits because of the fraud in which they engage. I sincerely believe that it needs to happen before people will wake up and realize that these companies are little more than scammers, preying upon oppressed people, promising them not just an elevation of their social status, but actual health benefits.
I feel like it’s going to be a while, but I am keeping my fingers crossed for the eventuality.
What other type of company can sell a product or service that simply does NOT work, and has the balls to actually blame the defrauded customer when that happens? And then not have to offer any kind of refund, or worry about being sued?
I’m also very concerned that these places seem to act like they are medical professionals, but they do not have the credentials to do so. I wonder how many people have relied on them for medical advice and become more ill because of it?
These are important things to consider, and I want to know why no one’s asking these questions loudly and publicly.
I would be inclined to agree with you, Rio, that just banning fraudulent ads is not enough — the companies themselves need to be taken to task for the fraud.
In the past, the FTC has taken action against fraudulent weight-loss services (including ‘nice guys’ like Weight Watchers — see the links to Sandy’s articles), and at least one state official (I think a one-time governor of Oregon) made it his primary focus for a while to go after them. The problem seems to be that there’s not consistent pressure, just periodic sweeps — likely because the companies can change their tactics just enough to stay within certain bounds and fly under the radar. Or they close down and new ones pop up again overnight. I’m sure at least some of these companies have deep pockets and a strong lobby in the government.
It is definitely a big problem, and one that I find outrageous, but which many people seem content to leave alone.
You asked: if you could, what would you change in your immediate surroundings (be it school, workplace, neighbourhood, daycare, stores you frequent, anything) to make them more size-friendly?
The weight loss ads (especially weight watchers) really bother me, and I’m not sure how I want to approach them. I’ve thought about wanting to protest the fact that weight watchers is being offered on the job (in a place that supposedly is supposed to encourage “evidence-based practice” in public health) but I know that would be a very unpopular stance. I’ve thought about printing some pro-HAES flyers and posting them around — or seeking out a HAES practitioner who could help lead a group as an alternative for people who do want to make health improvements or increase their activity levels.
Congratulations, wellroundedtype2, you’re one of the few commenters who did not fall in line behind the original concern troll who commented here (and has since been deleted.) And, especially coming from someone in public health, I appreciate your input.
My workplace (a hospital, and, moreover, a hospital with an inpatient eating disorders program that promotes a fairly stringent HAES, size-positive approach) also offers WW. I’ve mentioned this in an HR forum, and I was shot down immediately by rabid WW devotees. This was several years ago. I find the cognitive dissonance to be too much to handle, personally. On the one hand, we’re supposed to recommend internal regulation of eating and body size acceptance — and on the other, we’re saying COUNTING POINTS AND EXTERNALLY POLICING YOUR BODY SIZE IS TOTALLY NOT A DIET.
This, to put it politely, pisses me the fuck off.
I’m way late to the party here, but I just wanted to let you know that I’ve bookmarked your PSA and watch it whenever I start getting bad body feelings. It’s really helpful especially when I’m going from doctor to lab and back and getting fluids drawn. Nothing makes me sadder than having invisible things wrong with me. (I was diagnosed with PCOS a while back and I’ve started with a new endocrinologist that is trying to rule out other things like Cushings and a congenital defect in the adrenal gland of somesort) It’s hard to love myself with my entire life up in the air.
Thank you is the bottom line here.
I’m really glad, Sara. That’s exactly what I’d hoped the PSA would do for people. I hope everything turns out well for you, though it must truly be nerve-wracking to go through that.