Monday, 2 August 2010

Spelman backs minister on 'curvy' role models

MERIDEN MP Caroline Spelman has backed comments by a Liberal Democrat that called for more ‘role models’ like voluptuous actress Christina Hendricks.

Christina Hendricks


The Conservative MP said: “I think Lynne has articulated what many women feel.”

Mrs Featherstone, the equalities minister, hit headlines by describing the Mad Men actress as ‘absolutely fabulous’.

She said: “We need more of these role models. There is such a sensation when there is a curvy role model. It shouldn't be so unusual.”

Click the headline or link below to read the rest of this story.

Mrs Spelman, whose constituency includes Knowle and Dorridge, said: “She said that women and girls have the right to be comfortable in their own bodies and I completely agree.

“We are bombarded with airbrushed images of very thin models and we are made to feel that we should be the same.

“Unfortunately, young girls -and now apparently young men too - are heavily pressurised into believing that being extremely thin is the route to success. This can lead to eating disorders.”

She said the Government must focus on eating disorders and warned being underweight can lead to problems including infertility and osteoporosis.

She said: “I was told recently that some UK stores have size 8 shop models on display- directed at the average women shopper, not the teenage market.

“That simply does not reflect the size of ordinary women, who are closer to the more curvy size 14 that Lynne suggested as ideal.

“I am appealing to local stores, media and advertising companies to be sensible in how they present body images, particularly of women and girls.”

What do you think? Leave your comments below. No registration required.

Click here to get stories by email.