The press doesn't stop publishing, by the way, in a fascist escalation; it simply watches what it says. That too can be an incremental process, and the pace at which the free press polices itself depends on how journalists are targeted.
It is never smart, even in a strong democracy, to declare some debate off limits. In a weakening democracy it is catastrophic.
If you look at weak democracies, the oligarchies that have taken undue control of them always seek to tamper with the vote. It is important for oligarchs to have elections to give their guy a veneer of legitimacy - and important for the vote always to turn out 'their way.'
Most urgently, women's identity must be premised upon our 'beauty' so that we will remain vulnerable to outside approval, carrying the vital sensitive organ of self-esteem exposed to the air.
The First Amendment was designed to allow for disruption of business as usual. It is not a quiet and subdued amendment or right.
To ask women to become unnaturally thin is to ask them to relinquish their sexuality.
