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Body Image (Archive)
Thursday, November 20, 2003
posted by TheBroadroom.Net at
11:25 AM (Pacific)
Hmmm...I've been thinking about it, now I've finally put my finger on it.
I feel there is a certain "fat women vs. thin women" mentality going on, here at least (U.S.). Actually that's not new, it has just become more prevalent as Americans get fatter.
It's been bothering me for some time because we are running a women's site. I never wanted one of those obligatory "fat is beautiful" articles on the site. To me, having a politically correct heart attack is not good. Would anyone suggest to men that being fat carries innate virtue? No. If men's lives are that important, I think ours are too.
That said, I've never particularly wanted Atkins on the site either, or diet pills. Good money no doubt. But not healthy.
What I've put my finger on, is that "fat v. thin" feels like just another form of the old dichotomy for women.
Before, say, it was the madonna/whore syndrome. There were two kinds of women. Some did, some didn't. Those who didn't, were to feel morally superior to those who did. Those who did, were to feel judged by those who didn't.
Yet there has always been only one kind of man. It was up to the women to become hopelessly divided.
Another form of the dichotomy of course is "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful." I used to laugh at that ad (yes, there was a real ad for Pantene in which the model made such a proclamation). Then I grew up and realized it was true.
Again the division. There are beautiful women and then there are the rest of us. Those who are not beautiful, are to hate those who are. Those who are, are to try to make as much money as they can while they're still young.
Are good-looking men ostracized by other men? They may be disliked, but I seldom see that same level of outright and righteous hatred.
Well that's one reason why I really like this site:
High Class Cho
It's not only because I like Margaret Cho and think she's funny. It's not only because instead of sitting around complaining, it seems to me she's done something. It's not even the clothes per se. I'm not a big clothes buyer; every time there's toothpaste flying or sticky little hands, I am reminded why I wear jeans all the time. It's not even to support a local gal.
It's that I've never seen anything like it. It's so...reasonable.
Maybe it takes a woman to be that reasonable. To explode the dichotomy.
Well that's today's deep thought.
--J.
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