Hey Tubby, Part II - Improvement in Media Representation
by Suzanne Reisman

Today I came across an article written by Lisa Daily for Lavalife, which appears on MSN.com in Canada. Titled Dating As a Size 12, I recalled the Vanessa Minnillo size 12 fat suit debacle on Entertainment Tonight and I braced myself for the worst. BlogHers will be happy to see that Lisa has heard your call for more positive portrayals of “large” women loud and clear.

Many of the great comments on my original post noted how great it would be to hear from real women, including ones who are happy with themselves. Lisa interviews one of my favorite authors, Jennifer Weiner, whose book Good in Bed is the only “chick lit” I have ever sited as one of my favorite reads. Weiner's protagonists are always "large" women, who lead normal, happy lives (eventually) without losing weight. There are also some great quotes from other real women, and positive reinforcement from men about how they don't have any problem with being with women who are not "perfect." (Not that we need their seal of approval, but still nice for those of us who worry about those things.) Definitely check it out.

Suzanne also blogs at Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS) & Other Rants

Submitted by Suzanne Reisman (view blog) on Fri, 11/17/2006 - 8:22am

Comments

 

20 pounds ago

I was a size 12, fit and at a healthy weight. What's more, when I step out on the street as a size 14, I am far from the largest woman around.

And then there's the practice of companies super-sizing their clothes (a woman who wore a size 10 a few years ago may now find herself a size 6 without have lost a pound).

I tell you, there's nothing like spending a year fighting for your life to give some perspective on all this. I have learned that maintaining a healthy weight is something everyone should be encouraged to do. However, what is healthy is not the same as what the media depicts as desirable.

laurie
www.notjustaboutcancer.blogspot.com

Submitted by laurie on Fri, 11/17/2006 - 17:27
 

Supersized

All that vanity sizing has done is made wearing a 0 or 2 desirable and a 12 fat. I swear I've seen clothing sized 00. Yeah, that's taking it a bit to far. (Says the woman in the size four pants that are really an eight or a ten.)

I found this article on vanity sizing.

Five Dollar Camera

Submitted by kperfetto on Sat, 11/18/2006 - 07:17
 

Hopeful Stuff

Here's some good news, though -- teen girls seem to be seeing through some of the hype. In a recent Sacramento Bee articcle, they pretty much called the new size 00 nonsense: http://www.commonsenseblog.org/archives/2006/11/what_girls_thin.php

Submitted by KateP on Tue, 11/21/2006 - 09:16