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Sultana · 02-01-2006, 08:49 AM

Quickie note here, due to time limits for the moment, but I truely believe that the emphasis on being so ridiculously thin comes from Hollywood. Believe me when I tell you that cameras add 5-10 lbs on anyone. Add to that the desire (in media producers) for women to look slender on film, of course. So in order to look thin on film, from every angle one needs to be actually *very* slender. Most actresses are willing to do this in order to get work. And don't forget, some women are this way naturally, too.
Then the General Public sees these actresses and models, and wants to emulate them, not illogically. Then the bar is raised for our *Super Heroines*, to become even more...more beautiful, more thin (poor grammar I know, but it flows better with the thought :P), more...whatever. It becomes a self-motivating spiral.

I'd also like to throw out a caution against villifying (sp?) women who perhaps do fulfill our image of "perfect". It's already been amply illustrated that no one is completely satisfied with their appearance, even if others think they look fantastic, maybe they even could fill that perceived "PERFECT" role for others Right Here On This Board.

Just because a gal may be perceived as *perfect*, or slender, or good at makeup application, or whatever, it's not right to cast dispersions on her. Sure, it might make us feel better to call her shallow, or vain, or self-obsessed...but we actually don't know. *YOU* very well may be *that woman* to others, as much as you may laugh at the thought. OK, so Gilda (please forgive me for picking you as a specific example) is, in her mind, too small. To me, she's slender as a dancer, bringing to mind the elegant beauty of a young Audrey Hepburn, and I know I will *never* look like that. But it's not right for me to say, "OMG, she probably diets herself to distraction and spends all her spare time at the gym to look like that, how shallow!"

There is nothing wrong with working out (or not), or wearing makeup (or not), or looking polished (or not). What makes a difference is our attitude about it.

Bah. I sound like one of those corporate motivational posters.

02-01-2006, 08:49 AM	#35 (permalink)
Sultana Falling Angel Location: L.A. L.A. land	Quickie note here, due to time limits for the moment, but I truely believe that the emphasis on being so ridiculously thin comes from Hollywood. Believe me when I tell you that cameras add 5-10 lbs on anyone. Add to that the desire (in media producers) for women to look slender on film, of course. So in order to look thin on film, from every angle one needs to be actually very slender. Most actresses are willing to do this in order to get work. And don't forget, some women are this way naturally, too. Then the General Public sees these actresses and models, and wants to emulate them, not illogically. Then the bar is raised for our Super Heroines, to become even more...more beautiful, more thin (poor grammar I know, but it flows better with the thought :P), more...whatever. It becomes a self-motivating spiral. I'd also like to throw out a caution against villifying (sp?) women who perhaps do fulfill our image of "perfect". It's already been amply illustrated that no one is completely satisfied with their appearance, even if others think they look fantastic, maybe they even could fill that perceived "PERFECT" role for others Right Here On This Board. Just because a gal may be perceived as perfect, or slender, or good at makeup application, or whatever, it's not right to cast dispersions on her. Sure, it might make us feel better to call her shallow, or vain, or self-obsessed...but we actually don't know. YOU very well may be that woman to others, as much as you may laugh at the thought. OK, so Gilda (please forgive me for picking you as a specific example) is, in her mind, too small. To me, she's slender as a dancer, bringing to mind the elegant beauty of a young Audrey Hepburn, and I know I will never look like that. But it's not right for me to say, "OMG, she probably diets herself to distraction and spends all her spare time at the gym to look like that, how shallow!" There is nothing wrong with working out (or not), or wearing makeup (or not), or looking polished (or not). What makes a difference is our attitude about it. Bah. I sound like one of those corporate motivational posters. __________________ "Love is a snowmobile racing across the tundra and then suddenly it flips over, pinning you underneath. At night, the ice weasels come." - Matt Groening My goal? To fulfill my potential.