Is there a prejudice for "fluffy" women? N/C

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Are women judged by size?

  • Yes

    Votes: 33 70.2%
  • No

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • doesn't matter to me

    Votes: 10 21.3%
  • who cares

    Votes: 4 8.5%

  • Total voters
    47

red

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recently there has been a growing debate between Meghan McCain (John McCain's daughter) & Laura Ingraham (talk show host) over weight issues. Laura is of the belief that for a plus size ("fluffy" as Gidget calls them) woman might not be as acceptable as a 0 size woman. Is this a socially accepted attitude? Is there a prejudice? Heavier men don't seem to have issues that women do.
Although I am on the thin size, there were times when I had a few extra pounds, my mom would ride me when I hit what she classified as an unacceptable weight. Oh yes, she's a joy to to be around.
Any comments? I know this isn't cattle related but we have discussed judging heifers based on a woman's size.  ;)


Quit Talking About My Weight, Laura Ingraham
by Meghan McCain
March 14, 2009

Meghan McCain responds to Laura Ingraham’s attack on her weight: Why is this topic still a socially accepted prejudice—and why in the world would a woman raise it?

Recently my not-size-0 body has come under fire again by the conservative pundit Laura Ingraham. On her radio show recently, she sarcastically commented that I was “too plus-sized to be a cast member on the television show The Real World” and needled me about my weight with a comment about Barbie's 50th anniversary. Instead of intellectually debating our ideological differences about the future of the Republican Party, Ingraham resorted to making fun of my age and weight, in the fashion of the mean girls in high school. I responded on Twitter by saying, “To all the curvy girls out there, don’t let anyone make you feel bad about your body. I love my curves and you should love yours too.”

My mother was constantly slammed for being too skinny, so the weight obsession of the media and our culture goes both ways. It also goes to both parties.

But now that numerous media outlets seem to have picked up on our tiff, I believe it warrants a more thoughtful response than can be contained in 140 characters. I have been teased about my weight and body figure since I was in middle school, and I decided a very long time ago to embrace what God gave me and live my life positively, attempting to set an example for other girls who may suffer from body image issues. I have nothing to hide: I am a size 8 and fluctuated up to a size 10 during the campaign. It’s ridiculous even to have this conversation because I am not overweight in the least and have a natural body weight.

But even if I were overweight, it would be ridiculous. I expected substantive criticism from conservative pundits for my views, particularly my recent criticism of Ann Coulter. That is the nature of political discourse, and my intent was to generate discussion about the current problems facing the Republican Party. Unfortunately, even though Ingraham is more than 20 years older than I and has been a political pundit for longer, almost, than I have been alive, she responded in a form that was embarrassing to herself and to any woman listening to her radio program who was not a size 0.

In today’s society this is, unfortunately, predictable. Everyone from Jessica Simpson to Tyra Banks, Oprah Winfrey, and Hillary Clinton has fallen victim to this type of image-oriented bullying. Recent pictures of Pierce Brosnan’s wife, Keely Shaye Smith, on the beach in her bikini raised criticism about her weight and choice of bathing suit—as if the woman should be wearing a giant muumuu to swim in the ocean. After Kelly Clarkson’s recent appearance on American Idol, the first commentary I read on the Internet was about her weight gain instead of her singing.

My weight was consistently criticized throughout the campaign. Once someone even suggested I go to a plastic surgeon for liposuction. Afterward, I blogged about loving my body and suggested critics focus their insecurities about women’s bodies elsewhere. On the other side, my mother was constantly slammed for being too skinny, so the weight obsession of the media and our culture goes both ways. It also goes to both parties. Hillary Clinton has consistently received criticism for her pantsuits and figure. Whatever someone’s party, these criticisms are quite obviously both wrong and distracting from the larger issues at play.

The question remains: Why, after all this time and all the progress feminists have made, is weight still such an issue? And in Laura’s case, why in the world would a woman raise it? Today, taking shots at a woman’s weight has become one of the last frontiers in socially accepted prejudice.

I also thought the media outlets that reported on Laura’s comments about me were out of line. I don’t listen to Laura’s show, so if journalists hadn’t picked up on it and reported on it, I never would have known what she said. I wonder how Laura would feel if at some point someone were to criticize her daughter’s weight and broadcast it nationally on the radio.

At this point, I have more respect for Ann Coulter than I do for Laura Ingraham because at least Coulter didn’t come back at me with heartless, substance-less attacks about my weight. All I can do is try to be a positive role model for women of my generation and, I hope, help show that no matter what industry you are in, what size you are has nothing to do with your worth.


URL: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-03-14/the-politics-of-size/p/
 

DLD

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Beautiful, as well as intelligent and capable women, come in all shapes and sizes.

What I find truly frightening about that article is the idea that discrimination sets in at size 8-10...
 

red

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DLD said:
Beautiful, as well as intelligent and capable women, come in all shapes and sizes.

What I find truly frightening about that article is the idea that discrimination sets in at size 8-10...

a size 10 model is considered plus size! Give me a break!!!!!
 

Show Dad

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When it comes to women I live by one simple rule (brace for impact!), I never trust a skinny cook! :D

All too often the skinnier the girl the more maintenance it takes to keep her looking good. I just don't have the time. :eek:
<alien>
 

CAB

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 IMO, Laura Ingraham is just proving to everyone how shallow & thoughtless that it seems a lot of the PPL that we are suppose to respect and look up to are. Take a quick look @ Paris, Lindsay, the Kardasian's, and the whole worthless spoiled bunch. We used to enjoy The Dr. Phil show , now even he has become a propagator of these shallow "stars".Almost daily he has one of the jet set as a guest, that's of coarse when he's not trying to sell us his next self help book or one of his family member's next book. I wish they would take his show off of the air. All we need is another Access Hollywood.
 

aj

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I don't like Meghans ideas. I think the Republican party needs to swing to the fiscal conservative right.jmo
 

Jill

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One of the women on I think it was Good Morning America put on a a fat suit for several weeks and went around town and they documented the difference of when she was dress normal and when she was dress fat and it was amazing to see the difference in how people treated her.  One of the episodes she was actually in tears over how she had been treaty and it wasn't even really her.  It is sad, but without a doubt people have prejudice for "fluffy" women.
 

ELBEE

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As I see it, women are their own worst critics. By in large men are happy with any look within reason. I agree whole heartedly with SD. When it comes to hands on, fluff is funner!  <cowboy>


Sorry Red! Still friends? ? ?
 

justme

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wooohooo!  I'm a fluffy girl lol (eventhough I'd like to be a skinny one! lol)

SD...do you remember that silly song "Make an ugly woman you wife?" lol
 

Dusty

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With regards to a womans weight I think it's all about balance and how she carries it.  Some women look good at 115lbs.  Others would make you want to puke if you they weighed 115lbs.  I agree with Elbee, women are their own worst critics.  

I have a rule when it comes to women, it has nothing to do with weight.  I don't date chicks that would make a better middle linebacker than me...  
 

ELBEE

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Hey now! There's lots of difference between ugly and fluffy.

I've always said, "I'm not interested in a woman that can't saddle her own horse". That pretty much eliminates the scronie ones. But I've seen some pretty big girls that could still ride really fine.  (clapping)

Now Red you don't count, your already grandfathered (grandmothered) into the cowgirl hall of fame!
 

VJ

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Don't we all like our girls stout, soggy made, sound, big boned, and hairy?  (lol)
 

knabe

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girls on the prowl tend to wear their hair down.  those hooked up wear it up.  those who are hooked up looking to unlatch, wear it down.  the one's who aren't looking mostly just have short hair.

men are always on the prowl
 

red

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knabe said:
girls on the prowl tend to wear their hair down.  those hooked up wear it up.  those who are hooked up looking to unlatch, wear it down.  the one's who aren't looking mostly just have short hair.

men are always on the prowl

what about those of us that cut our own hair? Hubby was sure I killed something yesterday when he saw a huge lump of hair in the trash can!  O0

Red
 

knabe

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red said:
knabe said:
girls on the prowl tend to wear their hair down.  those hooked up wear it up.  those who are hooked up looking to unlatch, wear it down.  the one's who aren't looking mostly just have short hair.

men are always on the prowl

what about those of us that cut our own hair? Hubby was sure I killed something yesterday when he saw a huge lump of hair in the trash can!  O0

Red

i've been cutting my own hair for 30 years.  my wife says the same thing when my hair ends up in the bathroom garbage can, and then it's a potty type fight because a couple hairs stay when the trash is emptied.
 
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