OPINION: Does size always matter? Not in this case

A few years ago I gave a talk in Bratislava about socialisation and stereotypes.

I prepared for it by perusing a range of teenage magazines read both by young women and young men. The images of young women in both sets of magazines conformed to the pop star stereotype that verged on the anorexic. Indeed, there was serious public policy concern that teenage girls would increasingly be starving themselves into desired shapes that in fact bear little relation to what is normal and healthy. Now Michelle comes along, projecting a very different image of success. I recalled my very deliberate appointment of a woman, equally overweight and also a very good semi-professional singer, as a part-time youth worker because I wanted a different kind of "role model" for the girls in the youth club. I wanted them to see that a "bigger person" could exude confidence and command attention.