Obese Mannequins Are Selling Women A Dangerous Lie

The Telegraph have written a recent article about obese mannequins and how they are giving Women the wrong impression. In the article, written by a Woman herself Tanya Gold, she talks about how the obese mannequins are not a size 12 but instead a much bigger size which she claims to be unhealthy. She goes on to say  "She is, in every measure, obese, and she is not readying herself for a run in her shiny Nike gear. She cannot run. She is, more likely, pre-diabetic and on her way to a hip replacement. What terrible cynicism is this on the part of Nike?" 

Nike have launched these new mannequins in their London flagship store to “celebrate the diversity and inclusivity of sport”. I think it's disappointing to see an article address this change in a negative light rather than a positive but most importantly, to address a woman's size in this way. It's a positive thing that Nike are thinking and changing the way we view size and body image, as in almost all retail stores mannequins are very slim giving women the wrong impression of what they should look like, causing many mental health issues in today’s society. 

The writer describes obese people as "pre-diabetic" or on their "way to a hip replacement" and that they" cannot run" which is rude and disrespectful towards Women. She is telling Women who are + size 12 that they shouldn't be wearing sport clothes and stereotyping them for the women who don't run. How does she know they don't want to get fit or that they just prefer to wear those style off clothes? 

She goes on to talk about how advertising bullies’ women and that it tells you what you want to hear to make you happy. In some cases, I agree, it's a tactic to make consumers buy your products, but in this case with Nike, I struggle to see the negatives. 

Lastly, she describes that she was " a recovering addict" and that "it is most often – but not always – an addiction to sugars, and a response to sadness." 

Overall, I feel that her point of view is very wrong and that this view is the reason why many women do still question how their body looks. I think that for a positive future retail stores should look up too Nike and take the same approach in changing their thin mannequins to bring more body positivity in to society.