Comments on: R.I.P., Anita Roddick

By: Katrina

Katrina — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:48:45 +0000

I’m surprised and pleased to see other people got so much out of the Ruby ad. I still have a problem with its premise; there are a lot of women around who are as beautiful as supermodels, but no-one notices because they don’t have a whole industry dedicated to doing their hair and makeup and Photoshopping their photos and writing breathless articles about their beauty.
I suppose that the ad was more about the very small number of women who can be model thin without their hair falling out and their eyesight failing and all the other symptoms of starvation.

By: Stephanie B

Stephanie B — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:17:31 +0000

I always had a good feeling about The Body Shop, and not only because I love love love their products. I had seen that ad, but it didn’t really register that it was a big (no pun intended) deal in its day until I read this. Awesome.

By: Sue

Sue — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:57:33 +0000

“And for a long time, I really liked the idea of fat acceptance, while still really, really not wanting to be fat ”

Thank you for this, Kate. I’ve been reading your blog for a while now, and this is the stage I’m in right now. And I’m struggling with it – this love of the positive, fat acceptance I find here going against the dieting I’m still doing. I can’t reconcile it right now, so instead I’m just reading and taking it all in. I’m not sure what I’ll end up believing or thinking, but for now I’m glad I found your site (and the other wonderful bloggers you link to, and the studies you’ve made me aware of) and have been made aware that there’s something to even think about, explore and confront in the first place. I’m glad to read that you understand where I am and that it still might be okay to be here.

By: Niki

Niki — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 06:11:39 +0000

anyone know anyone in the plastics industry? what a great homage to Anita – lets get together and put the Ruby doll on sale world wide!!

By: Nikki

Nikki — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 18:42:45 +0000

like everyone has said, thanks for posting this. i had no idea anita roddick had passed, and i feel like we’re all a little less off for it.

By: Sherie Sanders

Sherie Sanders — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 19:46:58 +0000

A very sad loss for the world! Susie Orbach, on her Anybody site, also did a tribute to Dame Roddick and included a picture of Ruby standing. I am including the link for anyone who doesn’t have any of the original ads and wants to print oneL

http://www.any-body.org/

By: apricotmuffins

apricotmuffins — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:55:41 +0000

i remember ruby with awe, and a lot of admiration for the people behind that campaign. I was barely a teenager when it came out, but even then i was horrified that it got banned! I couldnt believe it, really. It disgusted me. I remember things in the papers like ‘my little girl cried when she saw it, youve scarred her for life!’

oh my god. people are really, really, really, REALLY stupid.

and yes, the only reason it got banned was because it made a mockery of all the insidious, poisonous beauty advertising out there, and people didnt like that it made women feel satisfied, instead of striving for more impossible standards.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:22:06 +0000

I knew about the Body Shop and Ruby, but wasn’t aware of Anita Roddick’s other achievements. Thanks for the post; it’s really educating and inspiring.

By: Celeste

Celeste — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:10:50 +0000

I think you should make the tribute a permanent fixture on your site. I’d love to see this image kept alive as a testament that will inspire those who come after.

By: Jon B.

Jon B. — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 06:03:44 +0000

Thanks for this mourning piece. It was a kind deed

As an attempt to lighten the mood a little:
http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=w070910&s=campos091107

Paul Campos is kicking some more weight bigotry ass! This time: Harvard is up.