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==Origins of the phenomenon==
==Origins of the phenomenon==
The first occurrence of the idea of the "thigh gap" was a post on popular website [[The Chive]] made on March 22nd, 2011.<ref>http://thechive.com/2011/03/22/mind-the-gap-20-photos</ref> The site has since made "Mind the Gap" (a wordplay off the phrase heard throughout the [[London Underground]]) into a recurring post on Mondays,<ref>http://thechive.com/category/girls/mind-the-gap</ref> and have further branded the concept by releasing a T-shirt with the phrase and their logo in the style of the Tube's roundel logo.<ref>http://www.thechivery.com/products/mind-the-gap</ref>
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The idea of the "thigh gap" received widespread news coverage in December 2012 after the [[Victoria's Secret Fashion Show]]<ref name="greenberg">{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barbara-greenberg/the-thigh-gapa-distubing-_b_2647646.html |title=Barbara Greenberg: The Thigh Gap - A Disturbing New Trend Among Teen Girls |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date= 2013-02-11|accessdate=2014-02-11}}</ref> which featured many models with thin and highly toned bodies and who appeared to have a thigh gap. As a result, hundreds of blogs, Twitter accounts and [[meme]]s were created on the internet,<ref name="The Times of India">{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-10-31/fitness/41496554_1_inner-thighs-indian-women-thigh-gap |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20131112170410/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-10-31/fitness/41496554_1_inner-thighs-indian-women-thigh-gap |archivedate=2013-11-12 |title=Why thigh gap is so important to women |publisher=[[The Times of India]] |first=Gitanjali |last=Chandrasekharan |date=31 October 2013 |accessdate=7 November 2013}}</ref> and images of thigh gaps featured in "[[thinspiration]]" [[blogs]]<ref name="huffingtonpost1">{{cite news|author=Posted: 04/02/2013 4:47 pm EDT |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/02/body-image-students-exper_n_3000258.html |title='Thigh Gap': Students, Experts Talk Body Image And 'Thinspo' Obsession On HuffPost Live (VIDEO) |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date= 2013-04-02|accessdate=2014-02-10}}</ref> and across [[social networking]] sites.<ref name="kplctv">{{cite web|url=http://www.kplctv.com/story/24083391/dangerous-obsession-over-the-thigh-gap |title=Dangerous obsession over the "thigh gap" - KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana |publisher=Kplctv.com |date=2013-11-27 |accessdate=2014-02-10}}</ref> A Twitter account, ''Cara's Thigh Gap'', was started named after model [[Cara Delevingne]] who some felt exemplified the "thigh gap" body shape.<ref name="The Times of India"/><ref>[http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/fashion/news/cara-delevingne-victorias-secret-rihanna Cara Delevingne Talks Rihanna & Victoria's Secret at the British Fashion Awards 2012] graziadaily.co.uk, 28 November 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2014. [http://www.webcitation.org/6O7IuIhYp Archived here.]</ref>

⚫
The "thigh gap" received widespread news coverage in December 2012 after the [[Victoria's Secret Fashion Show]]<ref name="greenberg">{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barbara-greenberg/the-thigh-gapa-distubing-_b_2647646.html |title=Barbara Greenberg: The Thigh Gap - A Disturbing New Trend Among Teen Girls |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date= 2013-02-11|accessdate=2014-02-11}}</ref> which featured many models with thin and highly toned bodies and who appeared to have a thigh gap. As a result, hundreds of blogs, Twitter accounts and [[meme]]s were created on the internet,<ref name="The Times of India">{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-10-31/fitness/41496554_1_inner-thighs-indian-women-thigh-gap |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20131112170410/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-10-31/fitness/41496554_1_inner-thighs-indian-women-thigh-gap |archivedate=2013-11-12 |title=Why thigh gap is so important to women |publisher=[[The Times of India]] |first=Gitanjali |last=Chandrasekharan |date=31 October 2013 |accessdate=7 November 2013}}</ref> and images of thigh gaps featured in "[[thinspiration]]" [[blogs]]<ref name="huffingtonpost1">{{cite news|author=Posted: 04/02/2013 4:47 pm EDT |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/02/body-image-students-exper_n_3000258.html |title='Thigh Gap': Students, Experts Talk Body Image And 'Thinspo' Obsession On HuffPost Live (VIDEO) |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date= 2013-04-02|accessdate=2014-02-10}}</ref> and across [[social networking]] sites.<ref name="kplctv">{{cite web|url=http://www.kplctv.com/story/24083391/dangerous-obsession-over-the-thigh-gap |title=Dangerous obsession over the "thigh gap" - KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana |publisher=Kplctv.com |date=2013-11-27 |accessdate=2014-02-10}}</ref> A Twitter account, ''Cara's Thigh Gap'', was started named after model [[Cara Delevingne]] who some felt exemplified the "thigh gap" body shape.<ref name="The Times of India"/><ref>[http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/fashion/news/cara-delevingne-victorias-secret-rihanna Cara Delevingne Talks Rihanna & Victoria's Secret at the British Fashion Awards 2012] graziadaily.co.uk, 28 November 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2014. [http://www.webcitation.org/6O7IuIhYp Archived here.]</ref>


In 2013, author Camille Hugh published her book ''The Thigh Gap Hack: The Shortcut to Slimmer, Feminine Thighs Every Woman Secretly Desires'',<ref name="spry">[http://spryliving.com/articles/diet-plan-review-thigh-gap-hack/ August 21, 2013]</ref> and in June 2013 she was interviewed about the book on ''[[The Dr. Oz Show]]''.<ref name="Doctor Oz">{{cite web|url=http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/americas-dangerous-new-diet-trend-achieving-thigh-gap | title= America's Dangerous New Diet Trend: Achieving the Thigh Gap Dr Oz Show | publisher=[[Mehmet Oz]]|accessdate=2014-02-25}}</ref> The book was criticized by Lisa Delaney of Spryliving.com, who said "the bottom line is that the ''Thigh Gap Hack'' feeds girls' and women's obsessions with their bodies, promotes thinness at the expense of healthfulness (because of Hugh's disdain of fitness, exercise, muscles, etc.), and promotes flaky, unproven methods for weight/fat loss.".<ref name="spry"/>
In 2013, author Camille Hugh published her book ''The Thigh Gap Hack: The Shortcut to Slimmer, Feminine Thighs Every Woman Secretly Desires'',<ref name="spry">[http://spryliving.com/articles/diet-plan-review-thigh-gap-hack/ August 21, 2013]</ref> and in June 2013 she was interviewed about the book on ''[[The Dr. Oz Show]]''.<ref name="Doctor Oz">{{cite web|url=http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/americas-dangerous-new-diet-trend-achieving-thigh-gap | title= America's Dangerous New Diet Trend: Achieving the Thigh Gap Dr Oz Show | publisher=[[Mehmet Oz]]|accessdate=2014-02-25}}</ref> The book was criticized by Lisa Delaney of Spryliving.com, who said "the bottom line is that the ''Thigh Gap Hack'' feeds girls' and women's obsessions with their bodies, promotes thinness at the expense of healthfulness (because of Hugh's disdain of fitness, exercise, muscles, etc.), and promotes flaky, unproven methods for weight/fat loss.".<ref name="spry"/>

Revision as of 20:25, 25 July 2014

A woman with a thigh gap

A thigh gap in women is a space between the inner thighs when standing upright with both knees touching.[1] Some women aspire to have a thigh gap because they believe it will increase their attractiveness, with some considering it a sign of femininity and fragility.[2] Some go as far as to say it symbolizes "the ideal body shape".[3] Reportedly, some teenage girls have taken the view that the bigger the gap, the more beautiful the girl.[4] According to The Times of India, however, few women have this shape naturally,[1] and some have resorted to extreme dieting[5] and surgery[6] in order to try to obtain it.[7] Critics are concerned that young women may develop an eating disorder by trying to obtain a body shape that is unnatural for most women.[8]

Origins of the phenomenon

The first occurrence of the idea of the "thigh gap" was a post on popular website The Chive made on March 22nd, 2011.[9] The site has since made "Mind the Gap" (a wordplay off the phrase heard throughout the London Underground) into a recurring post on Mondays,[10] and have further branded the concept by releasing a T-shirt with the phrase and their logo in the style of the Tube's roundel logo.[11]

The "thigh gap" received widespread news coverage in December 2012 after the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show[12] which featured many models with thin and highly toned bodies and who appeared to have a thigh gap. As a result, hundreds of blogs, Twitter accounts and memes were created on the internet,[1] and images of thigh gaps featured in "thinspiration" blogs[13] and across social networking sites.[14] A Twitter account, Cara's Thigh Gap, was started named after model Cara Delevingne who some felt exemplified the "thigh gap" body shape.[1][15]

In 2013, author Camille Hugh published her book The Thigh Gap Hack: The Shortcut to Slimmer, Feminine Thighs Every Woman Secretly Desires,[16] and in June 2013 she was interviewed about the book on The Dr. Oz Show.[17] The book was criticized by Lisa Delaney of Spryliving.com, who said "the bottom line is that the Thigh Gap Hack feeds girls' and women's obsessions with their bodies, promotes thinness at the expense of healthfulness (because of Hugh's disdain of fitness, exercise, muscles, etc.), and promotes flaky, unproven methods for weight/fat loss.".[16]

Backlash

A backlash quickly developed amongst those concerned about the potential negative consequences of the trend. Parenting experts and counselors formed anti-thigh gap movements including the Tumblr sites Touching Thighs and No Thigh Gap.[1] The medical community and female-empowerment advocates have also commented critically on the subject,[18] and the U.S. National Eating Disorders Association launched a website to promote healthy body image and attitudes to food and weight.[19]

Australian plus-size model Robyn Lawley has hit out at the thigh gap trend, denouncing it as "just another tool of manipulation that other people are trying to use to keep me from loving my body".[20] Target Corporation apologized after Cassey Ho discovered[21] that a photo of a model had a Photoshopped thigh gap for a girl's bathing suit ad.[22] Old Navy came under attack by Internet bloggers after a photo of a mannequin wearing women's plus-size jeans on their website appeared to have a small thigh gap placed into the photo so that the jeans on the mannequin would look thinner than they would normally look on a woman.[23] Old Navy subsequently stated on their website that they do not use any photo-altering techniques to deliberately alter how their products appear to fit.[23]

Media comment

The thigh gap has also spawned opinions from newspapers. The Times of India called it a "mania".[24] Columnist Kelly Richardson of the Sacramento Bee said "for most people it is next to impossible to attain."[25] In The Observer journalist Rosie Swash called the thigh gap "widespread, harmful and often unachievable".[26] Columnist Hadley Freeman called it the "most extreme body fixation yet".[27] Sylvia Pagán Westphal, who has a PhD in genetics, was inspired to write an opinion piece on them after her daughter brought the trend to her attention and was appalled by the results of her Google search for the term.[28] San Jose State University sociologist Natalie Boero has attributed the trend to living in a "sexist and sizeist culture"[8] and clinical psychologist Barbara Greenberg has dismissed the trend as a "pipe dream",[8] adding "most women are not built that way to have that space between their thighs".[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Chandrasekharan, Gitanjali (31 October 2013). "Why thigh gap is so important to women". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2013-11-12. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  2. ^ "'Thigh gap' measuring trend among young women on social media may be encouraging eating disorders: U.S. experts | National Post". Life.nationalpost.com. 2013-10-09. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  3. ^ "'Thigh Gap': New Teen Body Obsession? - ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. 2013-03-25. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  4. ^ "The Shriver Report – The Weight of the Heart". Shriverreport.org. 2013-11-19. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  5. ^ "Meisjes hongeren zichzelf uit voor een 'thigh gap'". AD.nl. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  6. ^ "Explosieve groei cosmetische ingrepen voor Thigh Gap - Ze.nl - Hét online magazine voor vrouwen!". Ze.nl. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  7. ^ "Why Girls Shouldn't Let The Thigh Gap Trend Leave Gaps In Their Self Esteem". Wibw.com. 2013-11-08. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  8. ^ a b c "Concern over teen 'thigh gap' weight loss obsession". Thejournal.ie. 2013-10-06. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  9. ^ http://thechive.com/2011/03/22/mind-the-gap-20-photos
  10. ^ http://thechive.com/category/girls/mind-the-gap
  11. ^ http://www.thechivery.com/products/mind-the-gap
  12. ^ "Barbara Greenberg: The Thigh Gap - A Disturbing New Trend Among Teen Girls". Huffingtonpost.com. 2013-02-11. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  13. ^ Posted: 04/02/2013 4:47 pm EDT (2013-04-02). "'Thigh Gap': Students, Experts Talk Body Image And 'Thinspo' Obsession On HuffPost Live (VIDEO)". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2014-02-10.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "Dangerous obsession over the "thigh gap" - KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana". Kplctv.com. 2013-11-27. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  15. ^ Cara Delevingne Talks Rihanna & Victoria's Secret at the British Fashion Awards 2012 graziadaily.co.uk, 28 November 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2014. Archived here.
  16. ^ a b August 21, 2013
  17. ^ "America's Dangerous New Diet Trend: Achieving the Thigh Gap Dr Oz Show". Mehmet Oz. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  18. ^ "'Thigh gap' trend for some young women worries culture watchers". TribLIVE. 2013-05-10. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  19. ^ Siassina, Maria (2013-10-09). "'Thigh gap' trend may be encouraging eating disorders: experts". Canada.com. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  20. ^ "Robin Lawley: 'Why the dangerous thigh gap trend makes me mad'". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  21. ^ Humphrey, Michael (17 April 2014). "A Chat With Cassey Ho: On Target, Thigh Gaps And Health-Body Balance". Forbes. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  22. ^ "Target Apologizes for 'Thigh Gap' Photoshop Fail". ABC News. 12 March 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  23. ^ a b Solé, Elise (20 March 2014). "You Too, Old Navy? Thigh Gap Strikes Again". Yahoo Shine. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  24. ^ "Now girls aim for gap between inner thighs!". The Times of India. 2013-04-28. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  25. ^ "Teen Talk: Obsession over 'thigh gaps' leads to unhealthy practices". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  26. ^ Rosie Swash (3 November 2013). "How the 'thigh gap' became the latest pressure point on a woman's self-image". The Observer. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  27. ^ Hadley Freeman (4 November 2013). "Ask Hadley: The thigh-gap obsession is not new but it's the most extreme body fixation yet". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  28. ^ Sylvia Pagan Westphal (2013-10-04). "'Thigh Gap': Reflections On Teenage Girls' Latest Obsession | CommonHealth". Commonhealth.wbur.org. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  29. ^ Campbell, Charlie (2013-10-01). "'Thigh Gap' Latest Goal for Teen Fashion Victims | TIME.com". Healthland.time.com. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
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