Body Image - Who is Target Targeting?

Just today in the mail I received a catalog from Target. I decided to wait for the kid's bus to arrive. As I was waiting I flipped through the ads. I had a few thoughts.

They have one picture of a plus size model in the magazine. Now I'm not a plus size, but I thought "WOW! A lot of my friends would like to be that size." Either they doctored that photo or she wears that absolute smallest plus size. Maybe she's above average size, but I've seen a lot of girls and women her size and larger.

As a matter of fact, the models in the magazine didn't at all represent what I see when I'm out and about. On average, the women I see are heavier and not quite so young.

Speaking of young, I only saw one, OK maybe 2 models that might be older than 40. One of the models was wearing a plaid coat, which you'll never catch me in. The other model was wearing a sweatsuit. What does that say about the 40+ female crowd?

As I closed the magazine, I realized that I'm just not part of the right demographic for Target. What does that say to my children who read and watch the advertisements? What can I say to them when they wonder allowed if they are too fat or not perfect enough?

The catalogs that clog my mailbox starting around this time of year confirm what I've known for a long time. It's up to me to be a good role model for my kids.