Social stipulation regarding body image forms an unrealistic “ideal” body type. In a society where image is everything, women look to fashion and their surroundings for influence on ways to look fabulous and keep up with trends. Most models on the front cover of prominent magazines around the world portray a slender body form enhanced by photographers and editors. With images such as these on billboards and covering magazines everywhere, it seems impossible for women to believe they should look any different than these picture perfect models. This belief negatively affects women across the world.
Studies, such as a 2008 review by professors Shelly Grabe, L. Monique Ward and Janet Shibley Hyde, have established that exposure to the thin ideal negatively impacts body image in girls and women and is a significant factor in low self-esteem and eating disorders.
Mannequins are a major factor of this issue. Women love to window shop and all stores have staff in charge of making the front windows visually appealing. A series of mannequin models are used to display what the store has to offer. The problem with these mannequins is they don’t seem to resemble the ideal shopping woman. Most mannequins are created from super model body forms but they tweak them in addition to “perfect” them. How can shoppers be assured the clothing in the stores will fit them if the clothing on the mannequin’s couldn’t even fit super models? Mannequins are a constant reminder of shoppers “flaws.”
The image portrayed by mannequins, models, celebrities, etc. has fueled a society obsessed with the idea that being sleek and slender is everything. The reality of the matter is women are all different shapes and sizes and there is no perfect, realistic image that can display all women. Mannequins should resemble several types of body forms so that women can visualize how things will fit before entering the dressing room.
“A customer is better able to see how clothing compliments their body when the mannequin has similar proportions.”
-Ben Barry, CEO of Ben Barry Models
This symbol of a not so average woman's upper body gives the bird's eye view of a mannequin form found in several retail stores.
The mannequin strikes a pose in front a 3-way mirror symbolizing the constant battle of woman against judgement from every angle and aspect of life.
All aspects of each mannequin hand photographed are identical. No human hand is the same, where's the realistic quality in that?
From this angle, the mannequin's body form seems so slender that no other parts of the body are shown besides the breast.
The silhouette of the mannequin form shows minimal curve and pristine posture not so similar to your average woman.
The woman on the right wears average sized bottoms and tops, but looks less than average next to the picture perfect mannequin.
The mannequin measured a 25" inch waistline.
The average sized woman measured a 27" inch waistline.
