what is victorias' secret ? is it bulimia ?

Published on September 12, 2004 By mignuna In Health & Medicine

So, what is Victoria's Secret ? ... is it bulimia ?.

There is a parody site based on the women's underwear label 'Victorias Secret'. It's completely disgusting, and features photographs of scantily-clad women puking whilst parading their 'perfect' bodies in glamorous underwear.

But it's more than just a visual affront. It sends a powerful message about how ugly bulimia really is, and as shocking as I found this webpage, if it gets its' message across then I'm all for it.

The images of the beautiful, near-naked bodies displayed in stunning underwear along with the visually contrasting image of the illness that created those 'perfect' shapes is a powerful one that I hope reaches its' target.

Website: Link (Note: these images are extremely graphic and should not be viewed by anyone easily offended. Thanks).

Comments

dharmagrl

on Sep 12, 2004

That is some pretty powerful stuff, Miggy.

It's sad. That women, supposedly modern and liberated women, are slaves to a body image.

mignuna

on Sep 12, 2004

That is some pretty powerful stuff, Miggy.

i agree, dharma. it's hard to look at.

It's sad. That women, supposedly modern and liberated women, are slaves to a body image.

i agree. thanks for your comment. you've been missed

dharmagrl

on Sep 12, 2004

thanks for your comment. you've been missed

And I have missed you too. So many times, things have happened around here and I've thought to myself "ooh, I wish I could tell miggy about that"...

Here's thought: who sets the standard for this body image anyway? I'm pretty sure it's not your average woman on the street. I think I recall reading somewhere that it's men who are leading the way as far as designating what's desirable in the female form. No wonder we have rampant anorexia and bulima, teenagers having breast enhancements and liposuction, women mainpulating their bodies surgically and working out like maniacs to achieve the impossibility of the 'perfect' shape. I thought that the days of self-mutiliaition (a la rib removals and corsets so tight you crushed your internal organs) were over. Seems to me they've just begun.

Sally jacobs

on Sep 12, 2004

Wow that is powerful! I hope ot hits home for people. I have such an underwear fetish. I love it, but I refuse to put my body through anything like that, to achieve the 'perfect' body. The underwear will be worn, imperfections and all. Thanks for pointing this out Mig, it has a great message.

Jay Walker

on Sep 12, 2004

I think that the web-site owners can expect a letter from VS's lawyers soon. While I agree with the sentiment of bringing this into the public eye - I've got to think it's unfair to VS. Are they asking their models to be bulimic? Without proof, it seems like they're jumping to condemn a popular public figure, just to make their point.

JW

Texas Wahine

on Sep 12, 2004

mig: Thank you for sharing this. I struggle so much with body image, and I think a big part of it is due to the crap I put in my head with magazines and commercials, etc. The thing that is hard for me is that I will never look like a VS model . . . my body is not even made that way. I am unable to make myself look like that, but also unable to be OK with the way that I look. My husband is really a doll when it comes to all of this, and it's not his desires and preferences that are making me feel bad. It's something I'm doing to myself.

I also think it's very interesting that the body types that we idolize are so painfully thin that it's unhealthy and yet Americans are heavier now than they ever were before. While our pin-up girl size has shrunk, our real life sizes have gotten much bigger. I wonder why that is?

cactoblasta

on Sep 12, 2004

The title for this article is hilarious, Mig! It's probably inappropriate to laugh but I can't help it. You've made my morning!

stevendedalus

on Sep 12, 2004

The Carpenters' singer [Carol?] apparently died in vain. Women just keep getting sucked into the vortex of fabricated beauty.

trina_p

on Sep 13, 2004

Karen - (not Dharma) The singer in the Carpenters was Karen Carpenter and she was recovering from anorexia nervosa when she died of a heart attack in a walk-in closest at her parents house if I remember the movie correctly

Angloesque

on Sep 13, 2004

While our pin-up girl size has shrunk, our real life sizes have gotten much bigger. I wonder why that is?

Speaking for Americans, I say lack of self-control, disposable income spent on dining out, meals in a box, freezer meals, busyness without physical exertion (no more handwashing, dishwashing, scrubbing floors, etc.). Also I think vegetables have become less tasty.

The fact that gets overlooked a lot is that men suffer from these body image problems as well as women. I know a couple of men personally.

The thing is, I don't understand it. My body isn't perfect--I weigh 140 lbs--but I'm still got married to a nice-looking guy. And we're very happy, and being thin isn't going to make him love me more, or vice versa. The secret to happiness does not lie in the amount of food you consume, on either end of the spectrum. Why is that so hard to understand?

mignuna

on Sep 13, 2004

And I have missed you too. So many times, things have happened around here and I've thought to myself "ooh, I wish I could tell miggy about that"...

likewise, dharma !

I thought that the days of self-mutiliaition (a la rib removals and corsets so tight you crushed your internal organs) were over. Seems to me they've just begun

i agree. these days we even have tv shows about 'extreme makerovers' - on people !. craziness.

I think that the web-site owners can expect a letter from VS's lawyers soon

apparently jay, they have already been contacted and have put 'parody' labels on the site (although i didn't see any obvious ones).

Are they asking their models to be bulimic? Without proof, it seems like they're jumping to condemn a popular public figure, just to make their point.

jay, i think the point was the tiny sizing that the garments come in, and the very thin models they use in their advertising. but i agree that vs is not the only culprit.

I also think it's very interesting that the body types that we idolize are so painfully thin that it's unhealthy and yet Americans are heavier now than they ever were before. While our pin-up girl size has shrunk, our real life sizes have gotten much bigger. I wonder why that is?

personally texas wahine, i blame the entertianment industry (movies in particular) for a good portion of this .

The title for this article is hilarious, Mig! It's probably inappropriate to laugh but I can't help it. You've made my morning!

it ok, cactoblasta. i agree that the irony of all of this is kinda funny - and the title (even thought it's a bit naughty hehe) was the only one i could use in the circumstances !

The Carpenters' singer [Carol?] apparently died in vain. Women just keep getting sucked into the vortex of fabricated beauty.

i remember her, stevendedalus. she had a heart attack at 32 after years of starving her body. you'd think we'd learn ...

The singer in the Carpenters was Karen Carpenter and she was recovering from anorexia nervosa when she died of a heart attack in a walk-in closest at her parents house if I remember the movie correctly

yep, you got it trina !. she was so young and beautiful, too. she sang like an angel. what a waste !

The fact that gets overlooked a lot is that men suffer from these body image problems as well as women. I know a couple of men personally.

a good point, angloesque. this superficial world has caused these illnesses to become an issue for men as well.

The thing is, I don't understand it. My body isn't perfect--I weigh 140 lbs--but I'm still got married to a nice-looking guy. And we're very happy, and being thin isn't going to make him love me more, or vice versa

angloesque, it sounds like you have a man who sees the real, beautiful you. i'm very glad for you

. (does he give classes ?

)

The secret to happiness does not lie in the amount of food you consume, on either end of the spectrum. Why is that so hard to understand?

sadly, i really don't know. i wish i did. but i'm glad to know that there are people who want this changed as much as i do

.

vanessa/mig XX

Jay Walker

on Sep 13, 2004

Let's see if I can phrase this correctly:

Women - as portrayed in the media - is an image they believe is what men want. However, I've seen several surveys of men's attitudes towards either:

A) skinny women or

women a little plumpish.

In other words, neither weight would be exactly what the lady herself would say is her perfect or proper body weight.

Women think men prefer A, when in fact these surveys show that they overwhelmingly prefer B. Personally, when I look at a women like Ally McBeal star Calista Flockhart, it bothers me. Same as look at Will and Grace star Debra Messing. I don't find ladies that look like that either sexy or desireable. From talking with my buddies, I know that many of them feel the same way.

If the media is going to continue to portray women for their body types - I wish they'd be a whole lot more realistic as to what's
A) Healthy and

Sexy.

Anyway, that's my two cents

JW

mignuna

on Sep 17, 2004

Women think men prefer A, when in fact these surveys show that they overwhelmingly prefer B.

a good point, jay.

I don't find ladies that look like that either sexy or desireable. From talking with my buddies, I know that many of them feel the same way

agreed. i think healthy is the look women should aim for.

If the media is going to continue to portray women for their body types - I wish they'd be a whole lot more realistic as to what's A) Healthy andB) Sexy.

i thoroughly agree with you, jay. thanks for your comment.

mig XX

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