Letters to the Editor
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How Dare They
In addition to the "you can if you really WANT to," the "prove yourself" and all the other self-help that is more useful and more kindly meant, people have bought up the insensate, profane and semi-literate rage that is often expressed by men and women alike when the subject of obese white women is dragged into editorial columns yet again.
From the especially vitriolic women, I think it's a way of women establishing superiority over other women while expressing fear of losing status in their subtext. "I'm not like that. I'm not fat. I'm not disgusting. I'm special -- but, oh God, what happens if I gain weight? No, I've got to hate this so I won't and can maintain my special perfect thinness." Barf. And many of them do.
From the especially vitriolic men, it's "how dare these THINGS not do everything they can to 'prove themselves' in our eyes, but instead OFFEND those eyes. They're not LISTENING TO US." These characters, especially the semi-literates, seem to think it's the right of every man, regardless of how he looks, to have arm candy of his very own and to judge women who don't meet that standard for whatever reasons. Thyroid, anyone? Water retention? How about pregnancy? Want a woman with a big belly to hide out lest your eyes be offended? Repeat after me, and without four-letter words, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU.
Oh, and anyone thinking of an "ad feminam," I'm no longer the size six I was back when size six was appropriate, but I still turn heads. My wardrobe is fantastic. My skin is that of a woman 20 years younger, and I'm very much at home in it. I have nothing to prove and no one to blame.
To the people who don't like that attitude, too damn bad. It's really none of your business.