shame based advertising
For those of you who live in an area where Kaiser health care is near, you will know the advertising to which I speak. In their Thrive campaign, Kaiser Permanente posts billboards displaying a girl about age 9 saying "I will not be a part of Generation XXL". This is just the type of advertising that I think contributes to eating disorders in children!
One, the billboard reminds us that being fat is bad. This thinking is what leads to discrimination, prejudice and shame. Two, if you are a chubby child (or adult), are told you are, or perceive that you are (usually because someone told you this), this billboard reminds you to feel shame about yourself. Shame will lead one straight toward the kitchen to numb the pain.
I could continue on about this topic. However, I will stop here and invite you, the reader, to comment and/or add to the reasons this advertising is hurting us and our children more than it is helping.
One, the billboard reminds us that being fat is bad. This thinking is what leads to discrimination, prejudice and shame. Two, if you are a chubby child (or adult), are told you are, or perceive that you are (usually because someone told you this), this billboard reminds you to feel shame about yourself. Shame will lead one straight toward the kitchen to numb the pain.
I could continue on about this topic. However, I will stop here and invite you, the reader, to comment and/or add to the reasons this advertising is hurting us and our children more than it is helping.
I've seen this ad while I'm on my way to work, and it's definitely upsetting. Kaiser has another ad along the same lines, "turn your Sunday drive into a Sunday walk." Thanks for pointing out how insidious this is Anne. I think there's a tendency to think Kaiser must be promoting a health care agenda because Kaiser is where we see our doctors.
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Thanks for a sharing this articles. That's very interesting.
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