I'm thinking of the people who get angry when any woman mentions that she'd like to lose weight, or just dissatisfaction with her body. This is, supposedly, buying into society's ideals, bowing to patriarchy, and misogynistic. Women who are not happy with themselves as they are bring down all women!
I call shenanigans.
Five points if you get this South Park reference.
It's possible to be happy and still want to do better. It's also possible to accept oneself while wanting to change. I'll use myself as an example.
Acceptance: That cute little sheet of a tummy with an almost emerging six pack? Gone. By the end of my pregnancy, my stomach aspired to be as big as a hot air balloon. You can't stretch skin that much and have it snap back into its former shape. If I wear shirts that are too snug, I still look like I'm about four months pregnant.
I suppose a tummy tuck is an option, but I'm okay with my stomach the way that it is. It marks a very important time in my life. Besides, when Bug is a defiant teenager who asks me what he's ever done to me, I'm going to point to my stomach, fake some tears and cry, "This!"
(But seriously: my stomach doesn't bother me.)
Complacence: My ass and thighs are big and flabby because of pregnancy and childbirth. It has nothing to do with the fact that I eat poorly, have no concept of portion sizes, and don't make time to be physically active.
I want to take a second and say that there really are some people who are naturally inclined to be bigger. This is why we shouldn't assume that every seemingly overweight person lacks self-control.
Of course, this can be turned around: we shouldn't assume that every person who wants to lose weight or change something is doing so out of societal pressure or unhappiness.
Worry about your own bodies. Leave me to take care of mine.
1 comment:
I want to be able to wear pretty, pretty dresses. If that makes me vain, immature, and shallow, so be it.
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