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 The fashion industry's use of wafer-thin models has long been the
subject of heated debate worldwide. Critics say the practice
promotes an unhealthy body image among women, which can contribute
to triggering anorexia and other eating disorders and a
preoccupation with unrealistic measures of perfection.
Israel in 2012 became the first country to pass a law requiring
advertisers explicitly to identify pictures with photoshopped people
and prohibiting the use of models below a certain body mass index
(BMI), a measure which expresses a ratio of weight to height.
Other countries including France, a hub of the fashion industry,
have since followed Israel's lead. But unlike Israel's so-called
'anti-photoshop' law, French legislation that takes effect this
month imposes fines and jail sentences on those who fail to comply.
"The problem with the Israeli law is that there's no punishment,"
said Israeli photographer Adi Barkan, who was consulted on both the
Israeli and French legislation.
"So you continue using skinny girls and no one cares," he said, in
comments reinforced by a recent Israeli parliamentary report that
revealed the ineffectiveness of the existing law.
"A LOT OF PRESSURE"
Israeli lawmaker Nurit Koran, with the backing of 42 other members
of the Knesset, the country's parliament, has now prepared a draft
bill she hopes will rectify the shortcomings.
"The fashion industry needs to know (it can no longer ignore the
law)," said Koran, who said she took up the cause after watching the
daughter of a close friend struggle with anorexia.
The 2012 law, which prohibits the hiring of women and men for
modeling jobs with a BMI of less than 18.5, says models must obtain
a medical certificate confirming a normal BMI. Adverts shown in
Israel must also clearly state whether they have used
computer-editing techniques to airbrush or slim down models.
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Under Koran's proposed changes, state authorities would for the
first time be able to fine agencies and others who flout the law and
would require a doctor to see an applicant in person, not just
"approve" their application over the telephone.
Her move coincides with an announcement by major global fashion
firms, including Christian Dior and Gucci, that they will stop
hiring underweight models for catwalks.
Getty Images, a major international photo agency, also recently
issued new guidelines barring photos with slimmed-down models, even
if labeled.
Yael Latzer, an eating disorder expert at Haifa University in
northern Israel, said images of skinny and photoshopped models alone
do not cause eating disorders.
"(But) young (people) always feel that something is wrong with
them," she said, adding that the media was "pulling the trigger" for
those already genetically predisposed to eating disorder diseases
such as anorexia.
Former Israeli supermodel Maayan Keret said she had developed an
eating disorder after she "felt a lot of pressure from everyone" to
continually lose weight. Now, having overcome the disease, she works
to promote positive body images.
"The standards (women and girls) see everywhere of beauty are not
natural," Keret told Reuters. "They see those images. And they think
that's the way it should be."
(Editing by Jeffrey Heller)
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