This letter is associated with the following article:
Letters
Thursday, June 7, 2007 12:00 AM

Healthy, my ass

Many blacks love big women, but having a rump the size of Buffie the Body's can put women at risk for disease.

Read other letters about this article

  • Friday, June 8, 2007 02:40 PM

    I'm not talking about sex, silly

    But of course none of that would ever happen because in our society women are the only ones whose worthiness as people depends so strongly on their appearance and weight.
    No, only women expect to be attractive based on appearance alone. Ordinary fat guys get A LOT LESS SEXUAL OPPORTUNITIES than ordinary fat girls, don't kid yourself (although it's probably a little late for that).

    You completely missed my point. I wasn't talking about sexual opportunities - everyone can find someone who's attracted to them if they try. I was talking about the extent to which a woman's worth AS A PERSON is defined by the shape of her body in our society. I'm talking about why it's socially acceptable to have a public debate about famous womens' bodies ("OMG look at Britney's cellulite", "Let's go on ad nauseum about how much Buffie the Body weighs", "Is Mischa Barton anorexic or naturally skinny?") though this has nothing to do with their abilities as entertainers, while famous men are largely left alone about their bodies and appreciated for their talents.

    I'm talking about how it's socially acceptable for men to go on and on about exactly how a woman's body has to look to pass muster with them (just read the letters here), while women discussing the minutae of men's bodies in the same way would seem shallow and distasteful.

    I'm talking about how many professional opportunities for women still depend on having a nice bod, while fat guys rise to the top of corporations all the time.

Most Active Letters Threads

342

A key British official reminds us of the forgotten anthrax attack

A vast array of establishment and expert sources do not believe this episode was really resolved.
323

Tough-guy John Bolton, hiding under his bed

As usual, right-wing pseudo-warriors are drowning in extreme cowardice.
162

Is Obama's civil liberties record understandable?

Was it unreasonable to expect him to adhere to his commitments regarding the Constitution?
154

Phil Carter's resignation from key detainee policy post

Many of the "War on Terror" policies he spent years condemning were ones expressly embraced by Obama.
99

Palin, Prejean: Beastly treatment for beauties

The governor turned author must fight what the pageant queen learned: Politics and hotness make strange bedfellows

View all »

Letters Help

Currently in Salon