Letters to the Editor
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Because it is true...
Marilyn Monroe weighed around 155 in Some like it Hot lol - and she was almost exactly my height. No one said she was tubby - She was a voluptuous, round and obviously an adult female with actual hips and butt. http://imdb.com/name/nm0000054/bio
She died the year I was born. Note her official measurements.
Note the pictures from the movie - http://imdb.com/title/tt0053291/photogallery
and most especially this one. http://imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1307/Mptv/1307/3733_0056.jpg?path=gallery&path_key=0053291
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Debra, stop pretending you give a rat's ass about our health
because if you really cared about our health you would be writing about a national healthcare system that our country so desperately needs.
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the many nuances of classism
There are currently many studies on the economy of the urban (largely black) poor. One common theme is that in every case, the American economy is structured to take advantage of the least affluent group of society - low interest loans are impossible to acquire, educational opportunities scarce, and few services (read high-quality grocery and dining options) are available while business that take advantage of the urban poor thrive. Most relevant here are the ubiquitous fast food chains and convenient stores that are often the only viable options for people to feed themselves and their children, especially to provide the nourishment required to perform physically taxing jobs.
Is it surprising that this exploitative trend has translated into a fashion of sorts? Of course not. The vast hip-hop industry is built on translating the misery and unique cultural traits of life in the ghetto into profitable and often highly inventive enterprises. While some of the results of these cultural expressions my be lamentable at times, the privileged in this country who have the leisure time to read and critique may want to devote some effort to uncovering the real inequalities that help to explain why black culture is more accepting of larger bodies, among other things.
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No solutions here!
I didn't get a smug vibe coming from Kitchengirl, and I happen to agree with her about feeling vastly better or worse depending on what I've eaten, but her attempt at a solution--"don't gain [excess weight] in the first place"--does absolutely nothing to help people who are already overweight.
Well, that wasn't really the point I was speaking to, so you're right it wasn't helpful at all for that purpose. I'm not a nutritionist or a dietician, and in fact I'm a lot more interested in the political- and social-science aspect of it (i.e. economic factors, factory farming and subsidies, food distribution systems, lobbying, city versus suburban infrastructure, etc.) so I don't have anything approaching an immediate solution for people who are already severely overweight. The only practical advice I can offer is from personal anecdotal experience: eat better, exercise more. Sorry, that's the best I can do.
See--it's easy to make the facile remarks, not that easy to come up with a real, applicable solution, is it? I realize I probably wouldn't be that great at it either (which is why I didn't become a nutritionist), but geez.
Well I guess you got me there, but again that's not what I was (attempting, badly apparently) to address.
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I understand.
This is an emotionally loaded subject, to say the least.
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Rob...
I, um...enjoyed your YouTube video.
*cough*
yeah.
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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).
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Here is a Real Motivator for Fat People to Loose Weight
I think it is time to apply the same standards to health insurance that auto insurers use in order to provide an economic insentive for people to lose weight. For example, if you stay trim you might pay $50 per month for health insurance but if you are fat (like a bad driver) you would pay $500 per month for health insurance.
Also, doctor should simply start saying, okay, if you don't want to lose weight then we are not going to give you any medicine. The fear of death would also serve as a good motivator to lose weight.
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@reality
This is an emotionally loaded subject, to say the least.
And bound to bring out defenseive over reactions. Some people have no problem with viciously attacking celebs and others for perceived anorexia, even though it is obviously a dangerously unhealthy disease. But point out that some women in the black community are deliberately cultivating their naturally big asses by living unhealthy lifestyles, and all hell breaks loose.
On the other hand,I made it plain that I'm kinda thick (5'9",size 10)and have no problem with maintaining my womanly figure, albeit in a healthy way. I suggested Buffie get on a Stairmaster, and people thought I recommended such to help her lose her ass, amd told me that it wouldn't work. I know! It will, however, lift up that big ass and keep it tight, AND her heart will thank her.There is absolutely no reason any woman, including myself, has to sacrifice curves to be healthy. It's called balance.
Do what I do. Eat healthy and exercise all week,(at least 20 minutes of cardio a day, three or four days a week. Throw in some weight training for all-over muscle tone.) Then, designate yourself a "free day" on the weekend or whenever, to coincide with parties, events, or family day, during which you eat whatever you like, within reason. "Free Day" is beneficial in a couple of ways: 1)it gives you something to look forward to and helps you feel like you are not in an endless diet grind 2)believe it or not, it "resets" your metabolism, especially if you have severely restriced your calorie intake all week.3)for me at least, it means I don't have to mourn the loss of mac n' cheese for the rest of my life.:)
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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.