France may outlaw inciting thinness

They should outlaw inciting stupid, first.

It would solve many more issues, like this one, for example.

"The French parliament's lower house adopted a groundbreaking bill Tuesday that would make it illegal for anyone — including fashion magazines, advertisers and Web sites — to publicly incite extreme thinness."

Why would anyone want to do this?

"The bill was the latest and strongest of measures proposed after the 2006 anorexia-linked death of a Brazilian model prompted efforts throughout the international fashion industry to address the repercussions of using ultra-thin models."

One dead model, ban thin.

Millions of dead fatsos, nothing.

Makes sense, in a French sort of way, I guess.

"Fashion industry experts said that, if passed, the law would be the strongest of its kind anywhere. Leaders in French couture are opposed to the idea of legal boundaries on beauty standards."

Seems reasonable.

"Doctors and psychologists treating patients with anorexia nervosa — a disorder characterized by an abnormal fear of becoming overweight — welcomed the government's efforts to fight self-inflicted starvation, but warned that its link with media images remains hazy...

Marleen S. Williams, a psychology professor at Brigham Young University in Utah who researches the media's effect on anorexic women, said it was nearly impossible to prove that the media causes eating disorders."

Well, proof cannot stand in the way of politics or public opinion.

"But Boyer insisted in her speech to lawmakers Tuesday that the legislation was much broader and could, in theory, be used against many facets of the fashion industry.

It would give judges the power to imprison and fine offenders up to $47,000 if found guilty of "inciting others to deprive themselves of food" to an 'excessive' degree, Boyer said in a telephone interview before the parliamentary session.

Judges could also sanction those responsible for a magazine photo of a model whose 'excessive thinness ... altered her health,' she said."

A sane reaction:

"Didier Grumbach, president of the influential French Federation of Couture, said he was not aware how broad the proposed legislation was, and made no secret of his strong disapproval of such a sweeping measure.

'Never will we accept in our profession that a judge decides if a young girl is skinny or not skinny,' he said. 'That doesn't exist in the world, and it will certainly not exist in France.'"

Why aren't fat sick care workers, educators, politicians, etc. in jail for inciting fatness?

For another viewpoint, see here. (this link is not an endorsement)