A few days back I saw red when someone insisted on making repeated snide comments about "fat women" that were excused away as jokes (supposedly) - now to me, that kind of a repeated joke is akin to racism or marginilising of any other sort, be it towards a particular race, community, social class or in this case, physical attributes.
While I accept the importance of staying fit and not being obese, I find it extremely devoid of taste, class, not to mention intelligence and basic etiquette when people make continual references to someone's "size" in a pejorative manner. More so, when the person concerned is really not "obese" but merely not in possession of the perfect body...my first reaction is an urge to slap the daylights out of the speaker! What aggravates me more is that these comments are inevitably directed towards women! Even more when the speaker happens to be a male with no perfect body to boast of. And like, why is it that women have to bear a greater social pressure of being "in shape" while if a man goes around town porting a big bellly, it's considered a sign of "happiness", "marital satisfatcion" (WTF?) and the best - "wealth"!!!
Yes, it is good if you're in shape. Yes having a slim and trim body makes you feel good about yourself. But incase you didn't notice, the rule is applicable to both sexes! The way I see it, any guy who expects to his woman to be in shape bloody well be in shape himself. As for the rest of the world with nothing better to do than observe whether someone's "meat-rolls" are spilling over from his/her waistband - Go get a life!
Related reading :- Obesity Epidemic?
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7 comments:
Agree with all your points. Society has always been marred by stereotypes, and in this case, stereotypes that men set. It is upon each person that the rest lay their judgement. Being fat is just one anomaly. You could be thin, too tall, too short etc. Sad but true.
Ah, stereotypes...can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em. People always percieve me as "anorexic", when the ones closest to me obviously know that's not the case. My question is, if people are always judged on a stick, either bieng "too fat", "too tall", "too skinny" or whatever, what exactly society's perception of the ideal body type?
whoa!!! hehe now that is sumthing!!!
well for sum1 who is gravitationally challenged (read moi) it really is no issue. or mayb ppl have been more kind n lol, settle for cute n teddy bearish...expressing a desire to pull my cheeks n say "awww chooo cute"
true wud love 2 have really sexy stats but then it aint happening anytime.SIGH *rolling eyes* so settle for cute n a pat on da head and da usual cheek pulling.
Does this mean we should stop calling a spade a spade? ;-)
I think this is the reason why people came up with Euphemism's like "festively plump" or "big boned" , etc..
The androgyny related discussion continues. As I already, said I agree with you!
:-)
So true Parth, that's precisely what I am so fed-up of, people pouncing on an opportunity to criticise others....
A.Didy - LOL yeah I sailed in the same boat as you, remember? So glad I've put on weight "in all the right places" (or so they say) and stopped hearing those comments! Now it's targetted to others facets of my appearances :-)
As for your question of idealy body type - GAWD KNOWS!
Elixir - :-) It's not the occassional comment that I mind. It's the continuous reference to the body shape/size that has me itching to do the interlocutor some bodily harm. What starts as a joke, is repeated so often it gets internalised and changes your way of seeing - end result? You marginalise & you victimise...
Paddy - As I said, it's not about calling a spade a spade, it's about how you do it, and how often your do it!
August - Great minds think alike huh? ;-)
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