scrutiny
i hereby make a vow: i will never again talk about another woman’s body. (or at least, goshdarnit, i’m gonna try).
i won’t discuss how fat/thin/scrawny/cellulite-covered she is, whether or not her hair’s a mess or her teeth stick out or her bum looks big in that dress or should she show off her baby bump or did she lose her baby weight too quickly. i won’t compliment her boobs or criticise her bum.
NOTHING.
and i’m not even going to talk smack about my own body. i may not like it, but i’m gonna pretend i do until it’s the truth.
we can blame advertising for making us hate ourselves but maybe if we all just STOP talking about women’s bodies and act like there are more important things in life then we can move on from this looks-obsessed culture of ours.
there’s an old saying: praise and blame, it’s all the same. whatever you’re saying about yourself or other women - stop it. now. it’s all a judgement, it all puts negativity out into the world and conforms to the idea that we all have to look a certain way and that that’s the most important issue facing women today.
how many hours have we all spent trying to look acceptable to ourselves so other people will like us; wishing to be prettier, taller, thinner, with whiter teeth or clearer skin? what a waste. think of the world-changing stuff we could have done instead!
i’d love to see a new generation of women without those hang ups and we’re the only ones who can give it to them. we have to walk the talk - and the talk has to be about something, anything else.
September 30, 2007
I agree it’s wrong to criticise anyone about their appearance and women are other women’s worst enemies when it comes to that.
But then again I don’t think you should judge someone on their grammar or spelling either!
x
September 30, 2007
You mean you think *I’ve* done that??
I admit my ‘abit’, ‘alot’ etc. post was inspired by a blog by a PROFESSIONAL, very successful published writer who used both terms wrongly and I did judge her because of it, but I think that’s justified!
I don’t like it when people have really bad spelling and grammar, but I’m not perfect myself and I’d never not like someone because of it. x
September 30, 2007
I loved your “abit” and “alot.”
You know, we made this pledge in the seventies in our consciousness-raising groups.
What went wrong.
x-for Helen
X-for Di
September 30, 2007
Thanks Suz! I’d have loved to have been a fly on the wall at one of those groups! :)
October 3, 2007
Oh you are so right! I’ve tried this and it lasted a while, but then I slid back into bad habits. Will be inspired by you and try again.
As for judging people on their grammar and spelling, I totally reserve the right to do that! ;)
October 3, 2007
Well, it has to be easier than sticking to my healthy eating plan… ;)
and LOL xx
October 4, 2007
Oh, is it just women? Can we still comment on men’s bodies? (Both positive and negative…)
October 4, 2007
Well… women are primarily judged & valued by appearance in our society, whereas men are judged & valued by status and skills, so calling a man fat may not be such a body blow. But in the interests of fairness, I think I’d have to say that it should be a ‘one rule fits all’ policy.
Of course, you can always *think* what you like… ;)