Humanities & Classics 1002
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Renaissance Forum
Humanities & Classics 1002 |
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In Reply to: Body Image in the Statesman and the Renaissance posted by Julie Hoffer on February 10, 1999 at 13:48:11:
I don't think the author was trying to say that women should all look anorexic. His point was a valid one-If obesity becomes thouroughly acceptable, how many more people in our country would be overweight? Societal restraints hold many people's weight in check. And what's wrong with an ideal, if it helps people strive to better themselves? Also, I think he's probably a little bit concerned about the health problems, because the list of health problems from being both overweight AND underweight takes up half of the article. He believes that people should be healthy, and not be influenced by anyone else's views or the current fashion. And his final paragraph sounds a lot like what you're saying-"Let's strive toward a nation where no one is branded because of their body shape, where healthy lifestyles are promoted instead of aesthetically 'hip' ways of looking that represent unattainable ideals," and refutes your comment "He is saying that women should play into society's (you spelled it wrong) idea of what is beautiful and what is 'normal'". Actually, I think he says exactly the opposite.
Also, I don't think his article is only directed to women. He never gives statistics on only women ("40 million AMERICANS are more than 20% above their desired weight", "one third of all AMERICANS are considered obese"). I think you are reading way too much into it and are maybe (please don't get mad) a little overly sensitive. The article was not directed at only women who are overweight. He does talk about the posters perpetuating an average wieght that is unhealthy for most women, but I don't think that is anti-women at all, because I haven't seen many posters around trying to build up men's self image. Actually, I resent being thought of as a member of a group of people that don't have enough confidence and need to have others build it up for them, and also as part of a group that can't distinguish obviously transparent arguments. Maybe his point isn't politically correct, but I, for one, think he's right. And yeah, Renaissance women did have to put up with and unfair body image also. But look at some of the thing men have had to wear!