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Stop the Fat Jokes!
Jennifer Graylock / AP Photo
A Fox NFL Sunday skit made vicious fun of Jessica Simpson’s weight. Meghan McCain says cheap shots like that are harmful to women of all shapes and sizes.
Last weekend’s Fox NFL Sunday broadcast featured an offensive animated segment making fun of Jessica Simpson’s weight. Yet again. The cartoon, which was set in the Dallas Cowboys' locker room featured several players joking about the singer in front of her ex-boyfriend, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. "Man, I still can’t believe Tony dated Jessica Simpson, even after she blew up bigger than Flozell Adams!" (Adams is the team’s 340-pound offensive tackle.) The segment—ironically sponsored by Burger King—was disgusting for many reasons and very damaging to the body-image epidemic that is assaulting young women in America.
I joke that some of these political Web sites should have separate sections for people to blog about the size of my ass (still a size 10, for those of you who are keeping score).
Why anyone at Burger King or Fox thought that this was acceptable is absolutely beyond me. Jessica Simpson is a multimillionaire pop star, actress, and fashion designer, and one of the most beautiful women on the planet. But because she dares to not conform to the media’s unforgiving beauty standards, none of that seems to matter. It always comes back to her weight. (Both Fox and Burger King issued public apologies to Simpson Wednesday night.)
It’s not just Jessica Simpson of course. This week, Ralph Lauren drew criticism for doctoring a photograph of a model to make her head look double the size of her pelvis. Although the company later apologized for the exaggerated Photoshopping, the size 4, 120-pound, 5-foot-10 model, Filippa Hamilton, was fired in April for being “too fat.” Elsewhere in the fashion world, Chanel’s powerhouse designer Karl Lagerfeld said that only “fat mummies” object to thin models after the German magazine Brigitte announced they would only use “realistic” women in their magazine from now on instead of professional models. By contrast, the overwhelmingly positive reaction to plus-size model Lizzie Miller’s nude photo in Glamour in August, was completely inspiring.
Here’s what I want to know: What is it going to take and how many women have to die from eating disorders until things like this Jessica Simpson cartoon and doctored Ralph Lauren ads end?
• Meghan McCain: Don’t Call Me a SlutThis is something obviously very close to my heart because I have been mocked for my weight as well. And I always hit back. My most infamous moment was telling Laura Ingraham to “kiss my fat ass” on The View a few months ago. But here is the reality—as my public profile has grown and people recognize me more and more, an unsettling anxiety has set in, something that has come as a surprise to me. Every time I am on television, give a talk, or have a picture taken, inevitably the weight comments follow. It’s a new part of my life and by far the most consistent. I have started speaking at colleges and was recently asked why the media is so obsessed with my weight. I didn’t have an answer but I did say that I could probably cure cancer and solve all the Republican Party’s problems, and people would still make fat jokes. I am strong and stay strong because I have to be. But I have seen too many of my friends suffer from eating disorders and have seen firsthand how it can quite literally ruin a young woman’s life.
Kelly Clarkson recently said that she doesn’t have a problem with her weight—the media does. I know exactly how she feels. I joke that some of these political Web sites should have separate sections for people to blog about the size of my ass (still a size 10, for those of you who are keeping score). After my recent appearance on Jay Leno, one Web site posted a comment from the editor saying, mockingly, they have a “NEW ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for comments of a certain strain about young Meg’s physical appearance. She is an impressionable young brilliant Republican strategist!” You can imagine the kind of charming comments that followed.
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Meghan McCain is a columnist for The Daily Beast. Originally from Phoenix, she graduated from Columbia University in 2007. She is a New York Times bestselling children's author, previously wrote for Newsweek magazine, and created the Web site mccainblogette.com.
While I appreciate what you've written, I'm wondering why you posted a pic showing off your boobs on twitter???
seems quite hypocritical if you ask me.
ADRaye, what's wrong with the boobs? Do you have something against them?
is not hypocritical... it a picture of Meghan being Meghan, tweeting to her "followers"/friends that press the button "follow". If she does something that you don't like, you should stop following her. for each person complaining I'm sure there is 1,000 that see nothing wrong on that picture. She looks gorgeous, she is famous, people ask her questions... how can we be sure that maybe you think like that because you are jealous? nobody is forcing anybody to follow Meghan. I'm about to start 'following' her just because she is a smart person and funny also.
No kidding. Complains about people focusing in on women's bodies and then she goes and posts a booby shot. No wonder she gets no respect.
YOU are STOOPID
She was showing people the book she was reading. Strangely the letters, in the mirror, looked Russian, and she was wearing a tank top, like 35% of the female population in North America under 25 do.
If it had been a topless picture, she would have got a lot more than 150 thousand views which that one got and she took it down cause of the hassle I guess.
Totally overblown.
What is the fuss about the d飯lletage? This is a young woman's personal twitter account... if you don't want to catch glimpses of her normal, every day life moments then don't follow her on twitter, keep your "relationship" formal and just read her articles. I don't understand why anyone felt they had the right to comment or criticise. If there was a sexually explicit image that would be different. But real bosoms to heave in to view when one is at home and curled up on the couch... it's not slutty, it's not an excuse for abuse, and it's not on that this furore ever took place! I am speaking as an Australian, left wing voter, who, despite my natural inclinations to be a bit critical of conservative figures, is utterly outraged that any woman has endured such nonsense to the point where I, a citizen of another country, has come across the story. It not just ridiculous, it's offensive that Meghan has had to justify and even remove a picture of herself casually relaxing at home due to being called a slut because she had d飯lletage in view. Every time you think America is getting to be smarter... something like this reminds us why the world rolls their eyes every time they hear your country's name spoken.
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Of course that would be the first thing you would notice and the only thing you would truly see. It's that exact type of a narrow mind that she was just speaking of.
Because her self-portrait was a sarcastic commentary on her boobs being part of her 15 minutes of Andy Warhol fame. What are you, a fat-brain?
And it was cleavage she showed, not her boobs. Kinda like you showing your bulge in a photo, not your cock. What's the big deal, other than your double standard. Who is hypocritical now?
this is interesting - meaghan wants to talk about how people treat because of her weight, but what about the conservative movement who say harsh negative and irresponsible comments about obama who trying to get the country on track? the most worhless part of this piece is there are more people overweight and she's not even willing to come up with an answer to a solution - its like saying "don't talk about it". has she watched the biggest loser recently, those people lose weight and give it all they've got.....meghan mccains' father has 7 houses so he can give up at least house or some money to get her in shape.....oh yea, stop showing your boobs too!!!
MEGHAN IS SEXY AND BEAUTIFUL AND SHE HAS NOTHING TO BE SORRY FOR.HER LUSCIOUS MODEL IS AMAZING,AND SHE'S NOT FAT-SHE IS PHAT-PRETTY HOT AND THICK.AND HER BOOBS ARE MOUTH WATERING.
People who type in ALL CAPS don't think this chubby young lady is chubby.
Maghan showed her clevage, not her boobs (and honestly, whats wrong with boobs? people feed from it when they were babies.) And if you didnt notice, she's doing a self portrait and showing off an Andy Warhol biography.
Whats with "to get in shape" she's not overly obese or something like that.
you are right with her fellows that are really hitting Obama hard with their desperate attempts.
She wasn't showing off her b00bs. As you can clearly see in the picture her b00bs are mostly covered. Only the tops of them are visible. How is that "showing off [one's] boobs"?
The reason she showed her boobs is because she has blonde hair, no brains and big boobs are more acceptable than a large backside. The only reason this goofball is paid any attention is because of her father and mother's accomplishments. Otherwise, she's just another slut.
Wow...note to self...never snap a shot of myself wearing my pajamas and post on facebook. Calling her hypocritical is this most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. She is a beautiful, attractive woman who happens to lounge around the house in a tank top. In my opinion if she intended to be overly "sexy" then don't you think she would have thrown in a little lace?? Don't lynch the poor girl for being blessed. Pay attention to what she says or stop following her. If you don't like her casual wear hit the little X on the top corner of the page and leave her alone.
All McCain demonstrated was that support undergarments can create illusions. Not a very nice opne, at that.
All puffery - typical Republic.
Very good article.
During the last two days, I watched a small little park, that had one picnic table, a couple of trees, get demolished because I heard, people were complaining homeless people were sitting at the picnic table.
People seem to be getting meaner. I think that is why people we accept it. It is scary to question mean people.
People get used to injustice, as the years go by, that is why we need younger people, to look at things and question why it can't be better.
Fascist and fashion are so close in the dictionary, for a good reason I suppose. I know you can't change that. But lots of things people can change.
Here Here. My wife is a real woman with curves and I love every little bit of her. I worry about the effect that the media and the fashion industry may have on my (very) young daughter. I'm with you 100%, it's time to stand up and say that this type of riddicule is not OK and to help real woman feel confident in themselves. And for the record, Meghan I think you're a beautiful woman. Never forget that.
Yes, but from your nom de guerre, we can see you are a fan of larger mammals.. Not everyone shares your 'big and beautiful' whale woman fetish. You should be more concerned of the affect you will have on your daughter's diet. Don't plump her up just to serve your own jaunted view of attractiveness.
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You keep your let me heave up my dinner after i just ate it to keep my figure women. A women of every size can be healthy and sexy. There is a big difference between thicker and fat! Men with that type of attitude should be careful because we know why you like the smaller women and you wouldnt like it if we started telling everyone why that was would you?
A size 10 equals a whale woman? You're a pig.
Yeah, Dan, let's starve the kid, instead. That way she'll be nice and emaciated and drooling, archaic cavemen such as yourself can woo her in order to fulfill your sick fantasies of dating women who look like prepubescent boys.
Ahem. It's "effect" not "affect." Just sayin'.
1. Just because her name is on shoes doesn't make Jessica Simpson a fashion designer.
2. She is a not a talented actress.
3. Her music is forgettable at best.
3. The primary reason she is famous is because of her good looks. Just look at her role as Daisy Duke, her Boots Made for Walking video, or really, any of her videos. She has cashed in on her looks for years. She's been more than willing to perpetuating the myth that famous women should be skinny and hot.
4. She is no victim.
JohnnyH, you're looking at the frame while missing the paint Sir.
You got the analogy?
See, MM is bringing a topic to the table in light of what has been said 'bout JS.
You might be right on most of your points about JS, but the issue is not JS, nor her artistic qualities, or lack of them.
JS is just circumstantial in the message of the article, the issue here is the perception of how a woman should look, according to mainstream America...
You're right on all counts but number 3. She's not attractive in the least, and never has been. Not all men are turned on by bleached blonde girls with a half gallon of makeup on their faces. The people who made her famous are 16 year old girls who mistakenly think men find this attractive.
What are those two jokes you posted on twitter? Way too freakish-looking to be sexy.
Those were her knees right?
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Why aren't any comments being posted except for one? Are they all un-postable???
Very powerful and thoughtful article. Doubt we agree on much regarding politics and other errata, but I found this to be very good stuff.
Unfortunately, if you choose to be involved in mass media, the medium is the message. Image is everything. You know this.
Didn't say I agree with it. But it's our current reality. You approach it in an admirable fashion. You go girl!
I constantly hear ugly, horrible fat comments from friends. I am saddened by this each time as I usually never look at these friends the same again. I find it telling as to what they are really made of. Jessica Simpson is beautiful. Ralph Lauren makes beautiful clothes. I will boycott them. Megan, you must hold strong and let it go. You will never change cruel, mean spirited people. I think they enjoy feeling the power. I have been too skinny and later chubby, I see the looks and hear the comments too. You must carry yourself with grace and be proud.
Get over it!! These are people who are making money and really are not in the business of tell the public in general how to look! Skinny model.Super models, octopii, all about nothing. Models have NEVER been the average.
Think if you were from a racial group that was naturally lean how would you feel if they were barred from a career? The same people who are making this a political football also have a bridge in New York to sell you!!
I go onto Asian web sites as well as all over the world. There are vast differences in the "ideal" in male and female between cultures. We are not the only people on this planet! We now live in a global world;with a global economy. One point that I will make is that this controversy is hiding the HEALTH questions that everyone could be asking about themselves. The waist/hip ratio!!! The British study found that that was the leading indicator of future health!!! One thing to notice of the "pluse sized" model is that they have a waist!!!
For once Meghan makes a valid point.
" body-image epidemic that is assaulting young women in America "
We have an OBESITY EPIDEMIC in this country who's fault lies with the person in the mirror . . . short of having a severe hormone problem.
We did not look like this two decades ago.
We have forgotten what it means to live by MODERATION.
The " Industry " has made this bad self inflicted behavior acceptable
by excusing it as " FULL FIGURED," or " PLUS SIZE. "
There is no such thing. It's OBESE, and there is NO such thing
as a Healthy Full Figured or Plus Size Woman.
I'll never forget the day I was getting cash from an ATM
outside a fast food joint, and out walks two morbidly obese
parents with their ROUND grotesquely overweight daughter
who couldn't have been more than 5 years old.
I felt like walking up to them and telling them their bad habits
are a form of child abuse, feeding their child garbage to the point
she literally was shaped like a Medicine Ball.
Put down the SUPER SIZED Burger, Fries, and Sugar Drink.
Just look around.
WE ARE A COUNTRY OF FAT ASSES . . . And that's no joke.
A few things:
There's a difference between being "fat" and healthy like Meghan and fat and unhealthy like so many other Americans. I'm quite sure that Meghan probably does make smart eating choices and exercises, probably just not to the point of losing weight rather than maintaining. That is not lack of moderation, it's just normal metabolism. There are a great many truly heavy people out there, but Meghan is not one of them. As for me, I'm "fat" too -- like Marilyn.
How about a little constructive criticism?
Two productive things need to be implemented: access to healthy foods and nutritional education. The fact is that a lot of Americans either don't know better, or live in rural areas that don't allow them easy access to groceries, or simply can't afford the healthy foods. The food industry needs to stop selling a majority of cheap crap (sweetened with corn) and start selling us food that we can actually eat in places where we can get it and at prices that normal people can afford. (Interestingly, this is one of the few positives, I've been told, of Walmart.)
As to education, even people who have some idea what is bad for them can find themselves surprised; one of my friends didn't know that an omelet was better for her than granola until she joined Weight Watchers. Or maybe we don't monitor how much sugar goes into a chai mix, but we think that because it's chai, it's somehow healthier than a coffee beverage. I wonder if it wouldn't be worthwhile to include nutrition in health classes, even have an exercise in which students have to figure out what's in their food and how many calories there are, if for no other reason than that it is an eye-opening process. The point is, if people like me who have grown up with access to healthy foods still find ourselves ignorant about some food contents, imagine people who are not in such a position!
My experience comes from this: I once spent a week in rural Alabama. I had to struggle to find anything healthy when I ate out -- even the collard greens have pork fat in them -- and when I tried to go for a walk to get exercise, people stopped to ask if my car had broken down. I'm not sure how much I put on from that week, but I know that I gained something. The point is that education and access have to go together. How much can knowing how to care for yourself help you if you can't access the healthy foods or do any kind of exercise?
The words you use will not encourage anyone to change. They are mean and bitchy. Are you perfect in every way ? I'm sure you think so.
i beg to differ with you im a bigger women who has had for kids and yes buy doctors standards im overweight but im also a very well built women im not a boby builder but i can leg press 750 pounds since middle school and so on. if you look at all of my medical records all of my blood work for everything is better then a women half my size no blood pressure problems nothing so a full sized women can be very healthy dig for your facts better before you post them.
I never understood the "Full Figure" crap. Full of what? From the looks of it, full of Oreo cookies, MacDonalds French Fries, and frosted donuts....
Yes, sophia5, we have an obesity epidemic in this country and it has been caused by many things--our fast food, our processed foods, our giant portions, etc. The fashion industry needs to get away from using stick thin models. A woman who is 5' 10" and weighs 120 pounds and is a size 4 is not a healthy, fit example. Plus-sized models are "regular" women. They are usually a size 10 or 12. Most American women used to be that size. But we have now labeled anyone larger than a size 6 as overweight. We don't even know what real women look like because no magazine uses the image of real women, no designer uses real women. We use grotesquely thin manipulated images that make women look freakish and not human. I was slightly overweight as a teen and worked out and ate healthy and lost weight. My body size and shape never allowed me to be smaller than a size 8 and I maintained a healthy size 10-12 for most of my life. However, I believed I was fat. Without severe starvation, my body was never going to be a size 4 and even with severe starvation I only could squeeze into an 8. Many of these gorgeous "full-figured" or "plus size" models have that beautiful size 10 body I never saw in the mirror. I never saw it because all I saw was some size 2 whose hand was as big as her waist. We are creating mental health issues for women and men that are grossly unnecessary. Why can't Ralph Lauren use a size 8 model? That's whose walking down the street in his clothes. Why not show reality versus some fantasy?
We do need to put down the fast food and sugary drinks. But we also have to be diverse in our offerings. Magazines and fashion need to show women of all sizes and shapes. Tall, petite, curvy, athletic. Stop the airbrushing, the photo manipulation and let us see the beauty in flaws as well.
You know what caused the obesity "epidemic?" For starters we have a metric for measuring it, Body Mass Index, which is completely useless when an obese person and bodybuilder can have the same BMI number since it's only a ratio of height and weight. Then we have the suburbs and a car-centric culture that encourages spralling cities like Houston instead of compact cities like New York that encourage walking. Then we have poverty and absentee parents. Then we have focusing almost all of our attention surrounding childhood obesity on the schools with "wellness policies" that cannot possibly work when they only have the kids for 1/3 of the day...etc.
So is it the person in the mirror? Ultimately, yes, but it's not just about learning to cook instead of eating fast food every other day. It's about how we've socially and physically structured our lifestyles to leave no time for health and a faith that someone else will come along and solve the problem for us.
For once? Here's a newsflash for you: for once TODAY! Meghan's made hundreds of valid points overall.
There are no words to describe how much I look forward to my weekly lecture from Meghan McCain. As far as the fat jokes go, I'm afraid that's a problem you're going to have to live with, Meggers. I'm not a big fan of calling people "Fatty" unless they happen to be people like you...people who have a bitchy, bratty, "kiss my ass!" attitude and sense of entitlement. In that case, fat jokes might be a little bit okay.
ChocolateLab I find your comments rather interesting. Did you actually read the article? It was well written and if it wasn't by Meghan McCain, you might have actually liked and agreed with it. The article has some really good and valid points. If someone makes a compelling argument, you can't simply hate the argument just because you don't like the person who wrote it. ChocolateLab, even though your comments have a bitchy, bratty, "kiss my ass!" sense of entitlement to them as well, I wouldn't think about calling you a "fatty." Those two things have nothing to do with each other. I might say your correlative logic is flawed but I definitely wouldn't call you a fatty. That doesn't even make sense.
Fat jokes are never ok.
Make fun of her political leanings, bad writing, questionable source of fame - whatever. I'm sure there's plenty of ammo out there for anyone to find; why sink so low as to make fun of her for her body? That's just lazy - get more creative.
I abhor Meghan's political views. For me they're alien and (like aliens...) scary. But making fatty jokes or other jokes about physical features isn't OK. Ever.
So why is Meggie all over the internet with her latest booby shot? She's a bit of a hypocrite.
Can we please get a new photo of Maggie up there? She looks like she either just took one in the pop shoot or stole from the candy store. Either way she looks like she has a dirty secret that is just not that interesting...also, its hard to take someone seriously when they keep saying the same thing over and over. YES, your a blond Republican. YES you have liberal social ideas. So what?
It's hard to take someone seriously who misuses the words "its" and "it's"; "your" and "you're."
c'mon! it's a freakin blog! u don't have editors on a blog!
what's an "it's" or "its" mistake?
in a blog u're trying to type as fast as u can only to convey an idea. that's it.
a couple of typos won't change the blog value, unless the reader is rounded.
fortunately most readers are not.
hopefully you're not... :p
u know, blogging, is not like u're writing a book!
by the way... i'm pretty sure u'll be totally whinny 'bout me writin' like if it's a txt message, dont cha?
Like she said. Also, you did that and went to COLUMBIA? Glad I got rejected by that outfit. At least my English teachers at my backwater college taught me something.
Same old same old, always whining and telling others how they should think or act. You seemed like a priveleged brat on Bill Mahrer, and your posts here are preachy and screechy. Also, please put up a new headshot, because that one looks like a tranny photo from 70's studio 54.
My late wife of over 30 years struggled with weight all her life. It was apparent to us that the psychic damage inflicted by other's comments were ultimately more toxic to her than the fat itself was to her health.
She finally did get skinny; we were able to joke about the "cancer diet" and for a few months she was able to wear "skinny clothes".
Ms McCain is correct here; somehow we've got to get better at this. It's a pointless, toxic distraction, and it likely does stop some women from being "public".
Sorry for the loss of your wife Gpim, sounds like you two had a great relationship.
And the cancer analogy is a good one, what we revere as sexy thin is so rare it's probably found more in people that are ill.
Meghan, I promise I will never mock you for your weight -- it's a puerile, insecure, cowardly thing to do. You'll notice that people who comment online don't usually make available pictures of their own magnificent selves so that we can all see with what authority they speak.
Your efforts to reform a political party that has painted itself into a racist, misogynist, faith-based, Ghost-shirted corner under the leadership of a bunch of snake-oil salesmen in the process of chewing their own arms and legs off remains, however, completely fair game.
"a political party that has painted itself into a racist, misogynist, faith-based, Ghost-shirted corner under the leadership of a bunch of snake-oil salesmen in the process of chewing their own arms and legs"
that is the most accurate definition of the Republican Party i've read lately!!!
Meghan,
I have been reading your articles for a while, always spot on! Keep it up.
Fan in Amsterdam
Eating disorders hurt everyone. Men too...Not to deflect but man men out there from younger boys to teens to men my age (39) and above have it also.
It hurts..its painful and I need to remind myself that even a light hearted teasing can hurt EVERYONE. That was really crappy what they did to Jessica..I'm not a fan of her at all but she ISNT a fatass or whatever they called her.
Meghan, i will never get those who want someone who looks like they came from a hunger strike on tv, print ads, runways. Why media and entertainment types poke fun at you in particular i have even a harder time understanding. Your not only smart, thoughful, articulate you are astonishingly Breathtaking and have quite a sexy bod so...Try not to listen!!
I'm 6'3 1/2 tall..broad wide bodied man. Little and me aren't in the same sentence. From one non-waif to another You are beautiful!!!
Big in Chicagoland
btw...keep up the great work Meghan...I always look forward to your commentary, opinions and topics of discussion. Don't let these punks and bullies get you down! You be bootyfull. xo
Big in chicago
Wow, its amazing how many haters come out of the woodworks for Ms. Meghan. Someone who actually tries to promote a positive message. No wonder there is so much discord between parties today. So much ignorance and herd mentality. Its truly sad that people can no longer think for themselves. Please keep up the good work Meghan.
What's postitive about promoting unhealthy behaviors that lead to one being overweight?
It never ceases to amaze me how a lot of folks think nothing of slamming attractive women over the least little thing. You don't see it happening to men nearly as often, at least not famous ones, and certainly not the attractive ones, imperfect as they may be. It's particularly disgusting, to me anyway, when the offenders are unattractive men. As if! I guess they're just jealous!
Nicely put; and some folk here should be ashamed of themselves. Disagree with Ms. McCain's politics all you want, and I do, she makes a very valid point about how society judges women.
And then she goes out and posts a booby shot of herself all over the net. Kinda flushes the whole thang down the toilet.
would you get over it already is there a little green monster in your closet somewhere. you must be a women who is part of the IBTC the way you keep whining about it or a man whos women is. why dont you talk about some grownup issues
Actually, it intensifies her statement. Would you be as abhored if this were a picture of Sarah Palin's cleave?
I would hate to be a woman. You can't win for loosing. You are either too thin or too fat. There is no in between. Whereas on the flip side, men can be fat, ugly and scrawny and its ok. What a world.
"and we are not saved..."
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20 years ago and 20 pounds ago (118 lbs) I was a size 10. Now I'm officially average and I'm still a size 10 because sizes got bigger. My eating wasn't healthy back then by any stretch. I was still ruthlessy scrutinized by guys and other women.
Women are getting bigger, not smaller. I'm not arguing that society should be mean about size, but that the crazy meanness (it's not worse now) isn't making women any thinner.
Healthy habits including moderation are really important to live. Can't change what people say, but we can do that for ourselves.
Total BS. I'm over 6' tall and weigh 205 lbs, and am harrassed at work frequently for being fat. So, I have a 38" waist. I don't see the problem with that, but I can guarantee you others do, both men and women.
If I were a woman, I could be 50 lbs overweight and still go to any bar in town and take a guy home for the night. Guys look past most anything for sex. As a man who's 25 lbs overweight, I have to pour beer on my own right hand to get it drunk enough to touch me.
Curious about your signature. Saved from what?
Haven't you heard the news? Being fat is now the norm in the United States. You are just like millions of other Americans...women *and* men. 67% of Americans over the age of 20 are overweight or obese. Look around! YOU ARE NOT SPECIAL! Your dimensions are not extraordinary! You are, in fact, quite ordinary. You might even say you're Josephine the Plumber! Just an average, overweight American female.
Do you imagine that you and other "fat" people are the only ones who have been subjected to thoughtless, unkind, disparaging comments about your size and shape? Do you think that outside of your insular world, living within the bubble of the popular media, atypically thin folks are immune from similar mindless insults?
Not hardly. I was born slender. At 5' 7", I've always tended to be thin. One of my childhood nicknames was "Slats". In junior high, all of my girlfriends' curves were expanding and some of them were becoming downright stacked. But when I looked down at my own chest, I realized I wasn't ballooning much beyond teacup size. So, I don't have the requisite amount of Barbie-doll boobage (natural or fake) current American culture requires of females, if they're to be considered "attractive". Or, as they say, "hot". Does that make me not attractive and not hot? If I paid attention to what "they all say", I'd think so. But, like Popeye (or, actually, more like Olive Oyl), I yam what I yam. I joke that more than a handful is wasteful. Think of Kate Hudson in another 25 years if you need a visual cue.
So, in other words, I'm not just thin, I'm (horrors!) "flat" too. People -- sometimes virtual strangers I barely know -- have no problem saying to me, "You're so SKINNY!" As if "skinny" is a complimentary description of my appearance. Look it up in a dictionary. It's no more a compliment than, "You're so FAT!" is. And you know what? Some of the folks who unthinkingly say to me, "Wow, you're so skinny!" are, themselves, overweight or obese. Yet they'd be absolutely offended and outraged if I were to reply, "Wow, and you're so fat!"
Believe me, being "flat and skinny" has its downsides, too, just like being "fat" has. There is no perfect body size or shape. I'm a fully mature woman who often has a hard time finding reasonably-priced, age appropriate and stylish clothes that fit me properly. Women's sizes tend to stop at 4, so I have to shell out to have my clothes professionally tailored if I want them to fit the way they should. I can find plenty of clothes that fit me off the rack in the Juniors department, but the *last* thing I want to be is a skinny middle-aged lady, trying to look like she's a dewy 16.
Oh, sure, I could shop in the haute couture boutiques and departments...but all I can do is "shop". I certainly can't afford to buy anything there. There was this $385 pair of BrazilRoxx jeans I saw in Vail this summer that were to die for....but, never mind. It's Levis for me.
Hasn't your mother told you that someday, Meghan, when you're all grown up, you'll relax and accept yourself for who you are and what you look like, regardless of whether current fashion and culture consider your shape the "ideal". Your continued obsessive public focus on yourself, your hair, your size and others' opinions about it all, is evidence enough that you aren't there yet, no matter what you say.
Please. Spare us the ongoing narcissistic updates of your extended post-adolescent body-image angst.
Hey Kalikynos: no one cares about your body or your clothes. I would bet money that no one took the time to read your whole essay on how great you think you are... talk about a bunch of self-effacing drivel... and "skinny" is much more of a compliment than "fat" (coming from a skinny person)
I'll take you up on your bet, ncopas. At least one person read it: you. If you didn't read it, how do you know what I said in it?
But you're right. No one has any reason to care about me and my clothes but me, just like no one has any reason to care about Meghan McCain's body (other than Meghan McCain.) Still, she can't stop talking about how fat she is while complaining that people keep talking about how fat she is.
You completely "got" the gist of my post. Congratulations.
haha.. Note that i said "your *whole* essay." i read a few sentences just to pull out the glaring examples of self-absorbed stupidity (definitely didn't have to read the whole thing to find that). However I did read the whole article, and you clearly didn't.
I guess the problem is that you can't stand the fact that other people aren't as overwhelmingly vain and vapid as you, so you just invent reasons why they are as an attempt to compensate for your abundant inadequacies. Congratulations?
I read her entire post and found it thoughtful. I have the same issues and the same complaints. Honestly I have never overheard an overweight person get berated for being fat to their face. I see skinny people get harassed all the time for being skinny. That's because most Americans are fat and refuse to take responsibility for their overeating and lack of exercise. So to make themselves feel better they pick on thin people with "mock" bitterness that's not at all in jest. Things like, "I hate you! Just kidding" or "You make me sick" are phases I hear everyday. But if I were to share my disgust at how overweight people gorge themselves with more food then they need to sustain themselves, I'm a bitch and a monster and we need to raise awareness of how the fashion industry is killing little girls blah blah blah. More people die from overweight induced health issues than eating disorders but to hear Meghan tell it, there's this multitude of women killing themselves over some unrealistic body image. We all have our cross to bear. If Meghan wants people to respect her body then she to do a little self reflection the next time she goes off on the thin person who, like her, cannot help how she looks. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!
Nice try, Kalikynos. It's rather disingenuous to state that "you're so skinny!" coming from an obese person should be considered a slam.
Also: "I could shop haute couture but it's so ExPENsiVe!!" is exactly the same as not ever being able to wear it. You nailed it.
@Kalikynos- people may tease you about being "so skinny" or being flat-chested and you may be frustrated finding clothes that fit, but that does not compare in any way to the "contempt" that fat/obese/overweight women deal with on a daily basis. The only way for you to understand this is to walk around in a fat suit for a day and compare how you are treated as a "fat" person as opposed to a "skinny" person. I know, too much to ask, but I promise you that you would be amazed at the difference.
Even though the majority of Americans are considered overweight it hasn't changed the general attitude of individuals towards overweight individuals. the Media just makes it worse. Unfortunately for us women, appearance is everything.
Wow! you ask someone not to judge yet you judge, If your not the skinny one with people staring at you like you either don't eat or throw up what you you do eat have no idea what skinny people go through. It works both ways and you honestly sound no different than those making fun of overweight people
@celticgirl
There's having a relatively small weight and body image problem and remaining responsible. Then there's being totally apathetic, lazy, often morbidly obese, and a generally useless member of society. I consider these two totally separate categories.
Jessica Simpson isn't fat. She probably exercises. She can probably walk more than 100 ft without sweating or running out of breath. When I see fat f*cks trolling around Walmart in the handicapped cart because they're too lazy to walk, I want to put a bullet in their head. They're a drain on society and have no reason for living. In fact, they would quickly die without society to support them.
I generally agree with what you're saying but I think the distinction I made should be acknowledged.
@shahzadee
"skinny hot women walking around getting stared at like you either don't eat or throw up what you you do eat" What planet are you living on? Skinny hot women walking around get stared at because they're...
-wait for it-
...skinny and hot. Seriously, on what plane of the universe do you spend most of your life? That's THE dumbest argument I've seen on this thread so far... which says a lot. Especially when you look at Kalikynos, the blabbering mindless douchewaffle and self-proclaimed bean pole.
Blind ignorance and strong conviction are a bad combination. Next time you have a thought, just let it go.
Kailikynos, it has only been in the past few years that I understood that even skinny people have issues with self-image. While I yearn for a lush body like Jennifer Lopez, so does my skinny friends. A skinny friend of mine saw me drinking my SlimFast at work and asked if I had tried the vanilla flavor, because she really liked it. When I quirked an eyebrow at her in her size 2's, she confessed she drank 2-3 a day, just to try to keep her weight UP, because if left to its own devices, her natural weight was just skin and bones. That was my first inkling that a lot of people struggled with their weight, not just those of us who are overweight.
Maybe we should cut ourselves some slack, and not attack each other? Since it seems we are all post-adolescent and we obviously have some body-image angst.
Wow did you even read the article?? Meghan is not complaining that she's 'fat'...which she isn't! She's upset at those fools that would say that she is.
Before you unleash your tirad of how awful it is to be skinny take the time to read her article... I'm a skinny girl too, always have been, you just deal with it. And there are plenty of shops (well priced, not ridiculous) that you can buy clothing at! I will agree that when people say "Wow your so skinny", isn't a flattering comment - but when people scream throughout the media that a celebrity, or politician's daughter is fat, when they clearly aren't - that's something to stand up against! It's what shapes the young minds of girls that buy into those stereotypes. It's very scary to see that it's the media that controls body image - they talk and talk about others, but maybe they should be the ones hitting the gym - no one gives a damn what they look like! Maybe we should and see how they like their body image discussed in public forums.
I believe Ms McCain is very confident about her body image, it's others that have the problem with it! So Kalikynos take it down a notch, and keep your own 'narcissistic updates of your extended post-adolescent body image angst' comments to yourself!
Cheers!
Yes, I did read the article. Every word.
I would like to say to Ms McCain that if she truly wants to position herself as a positive role model and advocate for curvy, zaftig women everywhere, that she might have not considered it an insult to be compared to a "plus size model", as Laura Ingraham did.
Rather than retorting, "Kiss my fat ass," she might have replied, "Thank you. Plus size models are beautiful women who represent the majority of American women today."
Ms McCain apparently sees no conflict between her overly defensive response to *herself* being compared to a plus size model and her stated admiration for actual plus-size model, Lizzie Miller's, nude photo in Glamour Magazine (which, I agree, was refreshing to see.)
And yet, if you were on the new or on television, people would probably listen to you without dwelling constantly on your weight. Nobody's saying being skinny doesn't have disadvantages. It's just more culturally acceptable.
Hon, I hear you. But the answer isn't to make someone else feel bad about themselves.
The "real women have curves" people are just as offensive and ignorant as the "fatty-haters" people. They all, collectively, need to be whapped over the head a few dozen times with a rolled up newspaper until they learn to think before they speak - and if they can't think, not to speak at all.
Don't be one of those people.
Without Megan McCain we can't have Rachel Maddow.
I'm happy to have both!
The condensed Megan McCain, "Me, Me, Me!"
"When I was on the view! and when I meet famous people"
Can we still tell jokes about the vapid opinions of spoiled rich children?
Yes but not if they're fat.
Please do! We're trying to push the envelope on this thread of how far into the vast universe of stupidity and ignorance the human mind can reach.
Your comment is helping us on that journey ;)
Yes! How dare she write about things she has personal experience with!
Meghan's a pretty cool chick (how the hell did she come from John?). The only things I disagree with are that Simpson "dares to not conform to the media's unforgiving beauty standards," and that she's "one of the most beautiful women on the planet." She's considered beautiful because she's a pure conformist. I don't think she's that beautiful at all. She's a talentless waste of space who is only famous because she conforms (or at least did at one point) to America's beauty standards. I definitely agree with the thesis of the article though; beauty standards are extremely damaging to everyone.
Meghan, it makes perfect sense that in a patriarchal society, alpha males must attack a woman's body. If they didn't, that would be akin to legitimizing her intelligence. Can you imagine the ensuing chaos if suddenly our voices became audible above our racks? Why, men might actually have to start supporting equal pay for equal work. That would be anarchy!
Hey! Women are more then 50% in this country. Women are better educated. Women now are making more money then men and are more then 50% of college freshmen. Anyone who wonders if women really rule only have to spend the day in divorce court.Remember," he who has the gold rules". If you want society to stop putting focus on female bodies, stop your sexually appealing sisters from selling them.
Here, here!
Thank you.
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