fat little rant

[seedycorner]

ok, I saw an add for Kristie Alley's new "Fat Actress" show, and I got really annoyed. I don't really watch tv, unless comedy central happens to be on a friend's house, so I haven't seen the show. It's nothing against her, but I'm so tired of seeing (I'm so tempted to say women of size, but that's really bizarre, since presumably, we're all of some

Comments

why can't they

[_emerging_]

name ally mcbeal something like "really skinny neurotic actress with an eating disorder?"

good idea!

[seedycorner]

I really like that. Why not qualify everyone by there size?

One other thing: have you notice the trend in sitcoms lately that places overweight husbands with small/skinny wives? King of Queens is the only name I can think of at the moment, but I don't really wach TV. I'm just thinking of ads I've seen for tv shows I've seen in passing. Or think of the classic fat male football fan in beer and electronics advertisments. Why don't we see women of comparabele sizes? You never see "overweight (which is really a problematic term, but we'll save that for another day) women advertising lotion or makeup, let alone pantyhose, or even playing the role of the concerned friend who tells a girlfriend about great new long distance rates. Not even in commercials that are supposed to have some kind of casual/conversational/real element do we see non-thin women.

Re: good idea!

[_emerging_]

you know what's even worse? the newest anna nicole trimspa add. i hate that thing. it makes me wanna vomit.

you're right. how come we get our fill of ugly "beer belly" fat men...but even their wives are gorgeous? are women not allowed to be normal? and more importantly, why do we let it bother us. i feel weight obsessed myself, like if anyone read this they'd go, well that figures for a bunch of fat chicks to complain. they're just negative. i don't agree with them at all, but i hear them in my head. i have to get rid of the voices. i'm going to burn all my fashion and health mags right now, maybe that will do the trick

GREAT IDEA

[seedycorner]

Actually, I'm trying to systematically avoid things that I know reinforce negative body image. You're going to see enough of it in passing on billboards, movies, etc. There is no point in going out of your way to put yourself through things you know will make you feel poorly about yourself. Why give your money to companies that do everything in their power to tell women that they are only valuable and worthy of affection if their ribs are exposed? I strongly suggest seeking out alternative media sources for women. Bitch magazine is my personal favorite. There are also a handful of LJ communities that embrace and celebrate female figures in all their varieties that I find very valuable. I suggest doing this for a while, and after you have quit seeking out unhealthy reinforcements for a significant length of time, go back and reevaluate the mainstream magazines. I quit looking at Victoria Secret magazines, and quit going in the store for maybe a year now, and last night I looked at their catalog for the first time since I had decided to

I went over the word limit

[seedycorner]

Anyway, I looked at the VS catalog yesterday and it was strange. I didn't put it down feeling huge and disgusting, because I had spent so much time seeking out alternative media sources and communities that celebrate woman of all sizes, and I didn't feel resentment towards the women pictured. I thought to myself, "yeah, a lot of these ladies are incredibly attractive. However I realized that I wasn't looking at an exclusive set. It's just as wrong to fall into the trap of thinking negative thoughts about thin women, and we devalue each other when we look at another women and think "oh she's too skinny, etc" like we did with our insecure girlfriends in junior high (ok I did anyway) Well, I'll save the rest of my thesis on the objectification of the female form and the difference between eroticism and exploitation and why I like some porn, and how the media is misogynistic and why the whole girl power movement is degrading...............I think you get the picture.

ditto?

[_emerging_]

i think you hit a point. i'm a little drunk, i can't respond academicly, cally? to this one right now. but as a friend....you're beautiful. i love you. you porn is cool cause i don't really like other porn, but i can look at yours. hope florida is great. call me when you get back.