Women's groups, netizens voice support for London's ban on body-shaming ads

Many people and some rights groups have responded positively to a recent decision by Sadiq Khan, London's newly-elected mayor, to ban ads stirring up "body confidence issues" on the city's public transport network starting from July.

"A great start for London's 'feminist Mayor' @sadiqkhan as he bans body-shaming ads on Tube, buses and trains," Women's Equality Party, an active female empowerment group in Britain, said on Twitter.

The ban means that there will be no more posters of "hot bikini babes" for Londoners in the subway starting from July. Such images have been controversial as they are seen by many as objectifying women and promoting an "ideal" body image that women must conform to.

But the decision favoring the ban has sparked a debate. Some suspect it might be associated with the religious beliefs of the new Muslim mayor, while others voiced support for the ban.

A Londoner by the name of Emma said on Twitter, "Good on you, @sadiqkhan."

Grace Barret, an activist from Self-Esteem Team, said, "Sadiq Khan has given us the opportunity; we have to go and seek out these images rather than have them thrust upon us."

The Independent ran an editorial saying that the new mayor is doing the right thing. "If it prevents even one young person from feeling bad about her body, if it keeps one young girl from developing anorexia, if it strengthens the confidence of even one student, then surely he's done his job," it said.

(APD)