The Problem with the Victoria Secret Fashion Show
A quick scroll down Twitter last night revealed a plethora of tweets–gathered under a single hashtag–in which girls shamelessly debased their bodies, while binging on ice cream and chicken wings. The hashtag in question? VSFashionShow.
The Victoria Secret Fashion Show–which aired last night–is an annual event that seems to have a rather magical ability to inspire both avid fans, and aggressive self-hate. Girls from around the world wait all year to watch the event, and then plop themselves down on the couch with a bucket of ice-cream and a box of tissues when it finally rolls around.
Why this show seems to have such an appeal to young woman is a mystery to me. I understand the emotion. I myself feel it–the strange compulsion to watch beautiful, semi-naked women strut down the catwalk, all the while comparing myself shamelessly with their impossibly perfect physiques and flawless hair. What I don’t understand, is the desire to watch something so obviously detrimental to my mental health. What I don’t understand, is the fact that, judging by last night’s Twitter feed, this desire is not in any way unique.
I’ve never watched the show before–though, as mentioned above, not because I haven’t wanted to. My avoidance of the Victoria Secret Fashion Show is more for personal reasons–and for moral ones. First, I choose not to watch the show because I respect myself and would rather not watch something that I know would cause me psychological harm. Second, I avoid watching because I would rather not support something which does so much damage to men and women alike.
Let’s be honest. The “clothing” that the Victoria Secret models wear don’t exactly leave a lot to the imagination. This show plants so many harmful ideas and images in the minds of young people–it emphasizes society’s fixation with the sexualization of women, it desensitizes people to the objectification of women, and it manipulates the mind into believing that this is what beauty must look like.
The Victoria Secret Fashion Show hurts its young models as well, though they may not know it. It turns them into something to be objectified. To be lusted after. It robs them of the opportunity to present their bodies as a gift that only their spouses will see. It lures them into forgetting just how sacred their bodies are–so sacred that they should be lovingly covered and protected, not laid bare for the world to see. These girls may feel empowered–able to wear what they want and be adored by the masses, but no action can ever be empowering when it takes power from so many others. If even one girl felt the need to hate her body after watching this show, it is not worth it. If even one man risked his eternal soul by falling prey to lust as a result of this show, it is not worth it.
Let me emphasize that there is nothing wrong with how these women look–provided they have achieved their physiques in a safe, healthy manner. Beauty is not evil. God himself is the creator of all beauty, and as such, it is very, very good. Physical beauty is a gift from God, and these models have it in abundance. But beauty must be recognized in its proper place–as a gift from God, designed to draw us to contemplation of him who created it. When we seek physical beauty for its own sake, apart from God, we corrupt it. We turn something good into something that has the power to destroy souls. We raise beauty to the level of a god, and forget that anything else has meaning.
Really, that’s the problem here. The problem is not the fact that there are women in this world who look absolutely stunning. The problem, is that we’ve somehow convinced ourselves that physical beauty is better than every other talent, and every other gift. We’ve convinced ourselves that being physically beautiful, is the only thing worth being.
In a perfect world, the Victoria Secret Fashion Show would not be harmful. Rather, it would be a celebration of beauty. This is not such a world. This world is a world that has been tainted by sin. Sin is real and we must be aware of that fact. The evil one likes to hide sin and disguise it, making it seem attractive. He can use something as holy and pure as physical beauty as a tool for his own agenda.
I find it ironic that the Victoria Secret Fashion Show aired on December 8th, the same day as the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. If you are unaware of what the Immaculate Conception is, it is a catholic teaching that explains how Mary, the Mother of God, was conceived in her mother’s womb without original sin. That’s right, Mary never sinned–how awesome is that? The Feast of the Immaculate Conception celebrates the conception of the purest, most holy woman to ever have walked the face of this earth.
Mary is one of the devil’s worst enemies. She is well known as being the one who “crushes the head of the serpent.” We can cling to our Mother to discover what true beauty is and we can ask her to help us combat the lies that the evil one is placing in our minds. Mary reminds us what true beauty is. What it is supposed to be.
13 Comments
Stephanie
This was so good! I so agree that these shows, while I have not watched them either, are not healthy for the reasons you mentioned! To me, that kind of fabric on the body reveals too much and also shows that tons of fabric is missing! Mystery is very alluring and can be achieved by dressing modestly. Victoria’s Secret and what they are promoting is an exploitation of women’s true beauty. Excellent article, well done as always!
Erin
Thanks Stephanie!
Mystery is so very alluring! The clothes these models wear are so very revealing, and it completely takes away any chance for mystery. I am reminded just how important modesty is, when thinking about something like this. To quote Jessica Rey (actress and designer of a modest swimwear line): “Modesty isn’t about covering up our bodies because they are bad, modesty isn’t about hiding ourselves…it’s about revealing our dignity.”
Stephanie
That’s a great quote!
Dave
I too binged on chicken wings last night. The circumstances were unrelated.
Erin
Haha! Dave, you’re hilarious. You should come over tonight…and bring some of those chicken wings with you :p
Britt
First of all, this is very well written. Furthermore, I find what you wrote so relateable, especially about our bodies are gifts from God and we need to protect them. You made excellent points about how we also need to protect our mental and emotional health. It was a strong relief to see that you wrote that there is nothing wrong with the bodies of these models, as long as they are healthy. That is a pleasant step up from the weight bashing against them. I honestly can’t give you enough positive feedback. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I’m glad that I found this.
Erin
Thanks! (again lol). And sorry, again, that your messages took so long to post. I’m so glad that you appreciated what I had to say on the subject. It means a lot 🙂
Alex Lasota
What’s even more ironic is that they chose to film a commercial in Rome (which in some images, looked like you could see the Vatican in the background) or so I saw in an online article this morning. I’m with you on this one.
So many young women watch this show and wind up having health issues because of it. Thinking that in order to be loved you have to be a size 0, when that is exactly the kind of love you’d want to repel. Beauty comes from within. It would be such a beautiful thing if there was a fashion show where women were covered and celebrated for their deeds and good works rather than how big of a thigh gap they have. Maybe that’s something to possibly put together in the future… 😉
I’ve truly never understood the attraction to this show – religious or not – it’s disservice to women and men alike.
Erin
I didn’t know about the commercial in Rome. That is pretty ironic. Wow.
That would be awesome to put together something like that! I wonder what that would look like? It would be pretty cool 🙂
Britt
I really enjoyed reading this. How you feel on this subject so relateabl. I love how you pointed out that our individual beauty is a gift from god, and that there is nothing wrong with the bodies of these models, as long as they are healthy. That is a huge step up from the people who are weight bashing. I appreciate how you put so much emphasis on self love and respect, and protecting your mental and emotional health. Your faith and understanding are incredible. Thank you for writing this.
Erin
Thanks for the comment!! Sorry it took awhile for it to show up, it was sent to my spam folder for some reason 🙁
Weight bashing is such a terrible thing! I’m so sick of people putting down women based on their weight (or for any reason). If you are healthy, why should it matter? Even if someone isn’t healthy (too skinny or too heavy for their body type), putting them down for it is cruel and unhelpful. If you really cared about a person, you would support them and encourage them in becoming healthier–NOT make them feel ashamed of their body.
Maddy
As someone who spent years working at VS I choose not to watch the fashion show. For me it would be hypocritical to ask my husband to not watch such a thing and watch it myself. I love the products and how empowered and beautiful a woman can feel in the clothing but when the clothing is used to turn women into objects as they are in the fashion show I cannot support it.
Erin
Thanks for the comment, Maddy!
I agree with you completely. It’s not the products I have a problem with, it’s the way they are promoted. I don’t shop there, but their stuff is beautiful, and I can understand how wearing their clothing could make a woman feel beautiful and empowered (when done for her eyes only or for her husband’s). What I don’t like is how the fashion show (and a lot of their advertisements) helps perpetuate the objectification of women in our society. I’m not okay with that.