New Study Wants Us To Believe Obesity Is Increasing Because There Are Too Many Plus-Size Models

In a twisted study published by the American Marketing Association’s Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, researchers looking at the increasing use of plus-sized models in advertising campaigns determined their prevalence is a contributing factor to growing rates of obesity. How did they come to that conclusion? According to Science Daily: “The researchers conducted five experiments to see how subjects would react to cues suggesting that obesity was acceptable. In each instance the subjects displayed a greater intended or actual consumption of unhealthy food and a reduced motivation to engage in a healthier lifestyle, driven by an increased belief that obesity was more socially acceptable.” That finding has been labeled the ironic dove effect as a reference to the popular Dove #realbeauty campaigns which featured ethnically diverse women of all shapes and sizes…

[MadameNoire]

Japan’s Supreme Court Just Banned Married Women From Keeping Their Maiden Names

The fight for gender equality just took a hard blow in Japan where the supreme court ruled married couples must continue to use only one surname. The decision upholds a law dating back to 1898 and rejects the claim of discrimination alleged by five plaintiffs who brought forth a lawsuit seeking the right to keep their maiden names. While the law doesn’t explicitly state women have to take their husband’s name, an overwhelming majority of married women (an estimated 95% according to the New York Times) in the country do. “When I heard the ruling I started crying, and even now it hurts,” said Kyoko Tsukamoto, one of the five plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit…

[MadameNoire]

David Banner Hosting Annual Heal The Hood At Christmas In Mississippi

David Banner has used his visible platform to advance his strong views and compassion towards social justice issues of varying sort. This coming Friday, the Grammy Award-winning rapper, producer, and activist is hosting his 9th annual Heal The Hood At Christmas in his native Mississippi. The event takes place on Dec. 18 in the city of Jackson via The Banner Foundation, which is an organization that aims its effort to assist youth and families across the state. The group also focuses heavily on education, civic participation, and leadership training among other areas of focus. More from the press announcement: The day will kick off with David Banner as the featured speaker at the Re-engaging in Education for All to Progress (R.E.A.P.) Program, which provides academic opportunities to the over-age, non-traditional, at risk of dropping out student, to help them attain a high school diploma…

[HipHopWired]

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