If you were old enough to read a magazine cover in the ’00s, chances are that you remember a few “of their time” phenomena.
The little lipgloss phone charms that I think should make an expeditious comeback. The automatic braiding machines that I have some questions about as an adult. And yes, the endless fat-shaming.
The ’00s idea of a ‘plus-size’ model was... different to ours at best. Renée Zellweger, playing a 125-pound Bridget Jones, was scrutinised for her 15kg weight gain to play the role. And Britney Spears’ 2007 VMA performance... let’s not even go there.
Of course, fatphobia is far from dead now. But there was a particular vitriol to the ’00s fatphobia that one Twitter user, Caroline Moss, recently posted about.
Here’s the tweet:
We thought we’d round up the responses of millennial women who remember the unreasonable body-shaming of the ’00s.
Here are just some of the outrageous cases people pointed out.
Honestly, we’re just glad to see the back of the early naughties...
Help and support:
- Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
- Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
- Beat, Adult Helpline: 0808 801 0677 and Youthline: 0808 801 0711 or email help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk (adults) fyp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk (youth support)
- CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
- The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
- Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org