We all know that fashion does not realistically depict women, in that most women weigh over 80 pounds. It's a good thing that books do not fall prey to this slimmed down version of reality. Oh, wait, never mind.
I think where Jezebel is particularly on the money is that the covers highlighted (at the link above) are not supposed to represent just any women; they're meant to represent large ladies as protagonists. Like the Bloomsbury cover whitewashing debacle(s), this shows that publishers think that no one will pick up a title with a big girl on the front (even if the title is "Big Boned").
One day soon, reader types, we will not be treated like idiots. At least, that's what I keep telling myself.
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If we pick up books with mulletted, half-naked men on the cover, we WILL pick up books with larger ladies and women of color on the front, publishers!
ReplyDeleteAgreed Lucy! Why do they do this? We're readers... we identify with the dork!
ReplyDeleteThis drives me NUTS. I am skinny. By any standard in reality. Underweight on medical charts. Nearly six feet tall, size 2-4. And I see photo shoots celebrating "healthier" body image by using "plus size" models. I see the covers of these books where the protagonist is supposed to be on the heavier side of social ideal. And honestly, they look just like me. (Except lots better. I mean size.)
ReplyDeleteIt's a total backhanded compliment. "We think fat chicks are hot, too. As long as they're a size 4." No wonder my beautiful, athletic, thirteen year old cousin won't eat anything but salad, no dressing.
Gasp--could some people not appreciate business in the front, party in the back?
ReplyDeleteAll those swooning ladies on romance covers? Mullet induced swoons. The only thing more powerful is the Jedi mullet (as modeled by Jedi Ewan McGregor).