maggie goes on a diet
Maggie Goes on a Diet. A recently released picture book, depicting a young girl, the aforementioned Maggie, who decides it’s time to go on a diet. Apparently the book was written to cash in, I mean, raise awareness of the obesity “crisis” rates in young children.
Or, young girls. The book, despite starring an apparently teenage Maggie, is aimed at 6-8 year olds. Children who are, hopefully, focused more on the latest tv program, their schoolwork and playing with their friends than on how much they really need to go on a diet.
The book caused a bit of an uproar, particularly with this feminist. Maggie Goes on a Diet? When it’s been proven, time and time again, that diets don’t work? That, in fact, they can be dangerous to a person’s health? That the vast majority of people that undertake diets gain back the weight lost and then some? That a great deal of the time, it’s not just physiological issues, but psychological, economical and educational issues that contribute to a person’s health and well-being? That it is nobody’s business in the first place what another person’s body looks like or what they choose to do with that body?
A book that is purely directed at young girls? Well, you know, we have to start that body hate and obsession with our bodies pretty young nowadays. The younger you can get them to hate their bodies, to think there is something wrong with the way their bodies are growing, the better jobs marketing products to “fix” these “problems” will do. The more you market exercise as punishment, food as “good” and “bad”, the more problems you create (and money you can make).
Thankfully, I wasn’t the only one appalled at this book. People with higher artistic skills than mine (stick figures are the extent of my artistic talent) decided to protect this book, with “book covers” of their own. It started with one, and has snowballed into many. They make me smile. Here they are, consolidated into one Tumblr.
The covers promote body love. They promote exercise and healthy eating for the enjoyment of it, not for the sole purpose of reducing body mass. They encourage becoming stronger and instilling confidence in one’s self and being happy with one’s self. Surely these messages are better messages to send to growing girls. They may not have marketing potential or teach them there is something wrong with them that needs fixing, but the message of love and confidence is one I feel like every young child needs. Hell, every adult too.
