Weight

[idothattopeople]

I used to be fat. At least, I think I used to be fat. Old pictures of me show me as being kind of chubby, but nothing too fat. I have a memory of my doctor telling me that I was in the 98th percentile of weight for my height/age class. I think that means I was fat. Also, I have stretch marks. Sometimes I think that I gave birth to an alien baby,

Comments

[mintyfreshsocks]

That's definitely a very different experience from the one I've had. I've been called fat when I've been skinnier than I am now (and I'm certainly not fat---I'm right in the middle of the healthy BMI range for women). And it sticks; I hate to say it, but I'm very conscious of my weight. There's not a day goes by that I don't have some sort of food-and-weight related thinking. And it bothers me, in a way that I suspect is similar to how it bothers you. It's like "How the fuck have I given in to this?!"

There's a lot that people don't talk about with men and weight/appearance, I think. But you look at a men's glossy and you see it (men should be ripped, tan, trim, etc.). It's often just as unattainable as the skinny models in women's glossies, and I would bet that it's damaging in a lot of similar ways, even if the type and amount of pressure is different.

[idothattopeople]

I've been really conscious of what foods I eat lately. Part of the story is the move away from eating land animals---having a restricted diet has gone hand-in-hand with being more conscious about my diet. I try to make sure I get fruits, veggies, starch, and some kind of protein-y thing. But the other part of the story is that I'm trying to keep my calorie intake low. Almost every day, I add up all the calories I've consumed, and that tells me what I'm "allowed" to eat at the end of the day. I've definitely internalized society's value of being low-weight. And I'm unsure how I feel about that, good or bad

[mintyfreshsocks]

I've kind of had the same quandary. I keep trying to eat healthier (often failing, oh sweet tooth), and often manage to. But I do that same sort of "not-allowed-to-eat-X" thing. Bleh. Dammit, I want my cheese and crackers. :P

Yeah, I should've added 'tall'. It's one I tend not to think of, because height isn't as important for women as men. But yeah---talk about things we REALLY can't change. . . .

I think I would agree with your assessment of the tropes. The consequences do seem to be less severe for men. I suspect this might be part of the underlying current where women are still, in many ways, valued most for their bodies, and not their brains or achievements. So, if you fail to meet that body ideal, you can't be anywhere near the ideal woman (whereas a man who fails to meet the body ideal could still be lauded for other characteristics).

[idothattopeople]

I'm reminded of the part of Gattaca where Ethan Hawk extends his legs to be taller. Eek!

I think you are absolutely right about how women are mostly valued for their bodies, and how this dovetails with the more severe consequences for women who fail to embody the physical ideal.

[idothattopeople]

That's a really positive way to look at it! Thanks hedgehog! :-)