Prada and its Poor Eating Habits

It's Eating Disorder Awareness week, so I thought I'd touch on that today.

I went to an event on Wednesday where we watched The Devil Wears Prada and then talked about some of the eating disorder issues it raises. I was really surprised; I'd never noticed all of that before. The supporting character, Emily, is constantly dieting, even though she can barely weigh more than 105. In order to fit into her expensive coutour, she tries this "really effective diet: I don't eat, and when I feel like I'm about to pass out, I eat a cube of cheese." How disturbing is that? I understand that Prada presents her as a sort of comic relief, and doesn't intend to condone eating disorders, but still. Later, she says she is "only one stomache flu away from her goal weight." Even I think that's pretty funny, but when you really think about it, it's pretty disturbing.

The lead character, Andrea, is totally unconcerned with her appearence, and weighs more than the clothes-obsessed women she works with. Not that she is at all fat. Played by Anne Hathaway, Emily is still very slender. She's just not a waif like her coworkers. But if thin, sexy Anne Hathaway is the fat girl, what does that make the rest of us?

I like that Devil shows that girls don't have to go for the waif, cocain-shic look to be beautiful. Unfortunately, Andrea's before and after looks do reiterate some negative gender norms. Before, she is somewhat frumpy, with long lank hair, and an average build. After, she is (of course) stunning. She fixes her hair and makeup, and dons new and ridiculously expensive clothes. And she drops a pants size. I understand all of the other changes. She really does look much better with her new clothes, and her hair pulled back, but was it really necessary to have her lose weight. To me, this just says that beauty is relative to a number on the scale. Disappointing.