Why one size never fits all

To understand what it is to be human, we need to ask some big questions about how society is run, organised and managed and explore how our culture has adapted and developed over time. Jayne Raisborough, Professor of Media at Leeds Beckett, examines how these big ideas get into our imagination, our hearts and belief systems. She is fiercely passionate about challenging the prejudices and stereotypes presented by the media, particularly when it comes to weight and body issues.

"We live in a culture where appearance and body management are perceived as being of paramount importance, with many people increasingly anxious about how their bodies look. I’m both fascinated and appalled at the way that fat bodies are represented by the media, especially on television, and the implications that this has for us all."

Jayne’s research shows that weight stereotyping in the media leads to us developing a very different relationship with our bodies as we become more anxious about our own fat. This can create a whole host of psychological and social problems, including loneliness and bullying, and it has massive implications for how people interact and become members of society. “We must stop thinking ‘thin equals good’ and move towards body positivity and a greater appreciation of different types of body shapes."