It is Respect Models Week here on deviantART, this is a week for reflecting on the respect or lack thereof that models get. There is something I've noticed here on deviantART, this thing is a phenomenon that centers around a model's appearance, especially female models (though certainly not limited to). This thing has everything to do with a model's body and how it is perceived.

In order to truly respect a model...you need to ignore the shape and size of his or her body. People seem to forget this all the time. Models know what size they are, they know what they do and don't eat, they know when they do it, and they know if they are proud of their bodies. Most people who are totally ashamed of their bodies don't put themselves out there the way models do. They don't need, and most of the time don't want, you pointing things out about them that they already know. They don't need or want you speculating on things that you have no idea about.

The biggest problems are with the comments people leave about the model in any given image. A model doesn't model so that you can point out something about his/her body...he/she models so that you can enjoy the art created WITH their body.

We all know that leaving comments like "You're so hot" is rather inappropriate and in some cases disrespectful...especially if you go into details about said hotness.

Yet what about comments about plus size models, i.e.:

"It's so refreshing to see a women so proud of her body."
"It's so nice seeing a REAL woman modeling for a change instead of some anorexic bimbo."
"This woman is my hero."
"It doesn't matter that you're big, you're still beautiful."

I realize that the people that leave these comments aren't trying to be disrespectful, but they are. First of all, just because a woman is plus size it doesn't make her any more 'real' than any other woman. It's all right for a plus size woman to be proud of her body, just like it's all right for a skinny woman, or an 'average' woman to be proud of her body. There is also the fact that these women may not consider themselves 'big', so you pointing out their bigness could just be construed as an insult. Comparing a plus size woman to an anorexic woman is also insulting, even if you mean it as a compliment. Some plus size women are plus size because they HAD an eating disorder. They gained strength for themselves, they gained pride in their body for themselves...you don't have to call attention to their body as though they don't know what they look like. By leaving these kinds of comments it's almost like you're putting up a front...it's like you're trying to claim that you aren't judging this person for their size...but comments like that are nothing but judgmental. Why would a plus size woman, or a woman with anything that you perceive as a flaw, be your hero? Because you aren't proud of your body? That isn't her problem and she doesn't need you telling her that she's your hero because she isn't ashamed of something you see as a flaw. She might not see it as a flaw, which is why she isn't ashamed of it. Sometimes, some women, are just happy with themselves the way they are. Some of them don't even have to work for their confidence because they just have it. So for you to act like they should have to work for their confidence because of their size is just insulting. For you to say things like "it doesn't matter that you're big, you're still beautiful" is insulting because they knew that already. The point isn't to call attention to these things that society has attempted to brain wash us into believing are 'wrong', the point is to leave them out of the equation COMPLETELY.

What about the comments about skinny models, i.e.:

"Get that poor girl/guy some food!"
"Won't someone please feed that woman/man!"
"She's/He's too skinny."
"I can see her/his rib cage!"
"It's terrible for a photographer to use a model that clearly has an eating disorder."

So large women are 'real' and skinny women have an eating disorder! Wow! That's a double wammy because it's an insult to both plus size models and very thin models. Basically, any model who is plus size is a proud person who isn't ashamed to show off their body...but any model is who is super thin has an eating disorder and is only a model because they need to prove their self worth to the world. Ouch. That's a dis if I ever did hear one. While it is true that some super skinny models do in fact have eating disorders, that is their personal and private issue and it is not your job to speculate on who might have such a disorder, or why. Thin models are real people too, not just big ones. Why is it that a large woman is applauded for her pride in her body, but a woman whose hip bones are sticking out is chided for her pride in her body. Why aren't thin women allowed to be proud? Why aren't they real? Most of the time, you're wrong about them having an eating disorder. A lot of women are just skinny. Seriously, for real, no joke...some women are just super thin, some men too. If you go to a large woman's page and leave a "you're my hero" comment and then go to a skinny woman's page and leave a "you should eat more" comment, you are just a judgmental jerk. There are a lot of judgmental jerks on dA apparently. The reason you leave a hero comment on the plus size models page is because you perceive yourself as larger perhaps...or you're just plain ashamed of your body in some fashion...so you call her your hero because there is something 'wrong' with her and she's actually happy with herself. Yet, the skinny model gets called anorexic? Perhaps that is because she is thinner than you and you're jealous. She is real, she is proud of her body...and she might even eat like a proverbial pig (WITHOUT throwing it up right after) and yet, she isn't your hero? Some skinny models work hard to keep their bodies in shape. Most of them are healthy examples of a human being. Their natural, healthy shape might actually just involve their rib cage being visible...you don't know.

More often than not I see comments like "beautiful body" on images with models that one could describe as average...not super skinny, not really thick...but why? Why even bother pointing out how beautiful their body is in the first place...aren't all bodies beautiful? (that's a trick question, the only answer is 'yes'

When it comes down to it, if a plus size model is your hero because she isn't ashamed of her size...ALL models should be your heroes...because NONE OF THEM ARE ASHAMED OF THEIR SIZE.

Please try to remember that the next time you see an image with a model in it. There is just no need to point out anything about her body or make specific mention about any particular feature. If you want to say a model is beautiful...say they are beautiful. The reason they are beautiful is not because they are big, or thin, or anything at all...the reason they are beautiful is because they are just beautiful. All models are real people and all of them are doing something that some people are too scared to do. Admire them all for the same reasons instead of admiring some for perceived flaws. Stop pretending like you are respecting a model by saying anything about their size...even if the comment is "big and still beautiful" or "I don't care that you're so skinny, you're still hot". Those comments are just as judgmental as "she is obviously anorexic" or "why are you a model, you're so fat" and in some cases, just as insulting.

Respecting models means realizing what they are doing and why. They are utilizing their bodies to create art. A photographer uses a model because they wish to convey some form of artistic message...the looks of the model are more often than not specific to whatever it is the photographer is trying to achieve. A photographer chooses a model that looks a certain way because they have a certain vision in mind. It isn't 'refreshing' or 'special' if a photographer uses a plus size model...it's ART. It isn't 'taking advantage' or 'disgusting' if a photographer uses a skinny model...it's ART (and said model probably doesn't have whatever eating disorder you assume).

All bodies are beautiful, and anyone who is a model probably knows that. Respect them by realizing that yourself. You don't need to comment on their size or appearance...all they want you to do is see the art that is them and appreciate it. There is nothing wrong with any of the models here on dA...nothing at all. They are all beautiful people.

I realize the words 'her/she/woman' appear a lot in this article, but it is certainly not limited to female models only. These words can be applied to a man or a woman, they all deserve the same respect.