A photo of two fuller-figured Swedish mannequins is taking the Internet by storm after being shared by Women’s Rights News on their Facebook page last week. “Store mannequins in Sweden. They look like real women,” says the caption. “The US should invest in some of these.”
Related: Investigation Finds Shady Fur Labeling in Department Stores
According to the LA Times, the mannequins were located at Swedish retailer Åhléns and are receiving praise for more closely resembling “normal” physiques than typical department store mannequins. As of Wednesday, over 62,000 Facebook users had “liked” the photo and another 19,000 had shared it.
Since going viral, the image has stirred a fresh debate about body image and the role retailers can play in shaping unrealistic expectations of beauty. According to Yahoo Shine, most American store mannequins are a slender size 4-6, whereas the average American woman is a size 14.
Related: Our Fashion Assistant’s Top Picks for Spring
“I like seeing more realistic versions of women,” commented one Facebook user on Women’s Rights News’s photo. “We are not all a size 4 and never will be. Acceptance of women in all shapes and sizes is what we need.”
Said another, “Love it, but they definitely could be even more realistic, showing the true average size of women — or let’s have a variety!”
Although there’s a long way to go, the Swedish mannequins are certainly a step in the right direction (and a definite improvement from Gap’s famously emaciated-looking mannequin to promote the retailer’s “Always Skinny” line back in 2011).
Related: Money-Saving Shopping Sites
Tell us what you think. How can retailers help to improve unrealistic body image expectations?
Pertaining to the story about the Swedish full figured mannequins, OMG, I Love It! I definitely think the United States should adopted that way of thinking. When you are size 14 and up and go shopping, and see a cute outfit on these size 4 displays, well we know better than to even try on the clothes, because its not realistic that they will look that way on us. If the displays were closer to our sizes then we would be more apt to try on the clothes, which leads to purchasing them.
LOVE LOVE the idea of fuller figured mannequins!!! They are more realistic and show what the clothes will actually look like on you!!! let’s go USA start using some of these !!!!!!
It’s about time. They call it and you call it full figured, but in reality it’s just plain normal!
Average size woman in USA is a size 14.full figured is above this.I agree with other lady.This is average size.Yes I love these. WOMAN come in all sizes.keep your 00 in the children’s Dept.
Love it. The designers might actually have to have some talent & skill to design clothes. No real adult woman has the body of a prepubescent girl or boy – says something about the designers doesn’t it.