Posted on 08/12/2004 7:27:38 AM PDT by SJackson
Don't expect to see much of Elizabeth Edwards on the campaign trail this fall. Oh, she'll be campaigning alongside her husband, all right. But the TV cameras just might decide to miss her.
After introducing her husband at the Democratic convention in Boston, she has all but disappeared, which is curious given that she is arguably the best thing the Democratic ticket has going for it. An intelligent and accomplished professional woman who exudes genuine, down-to-earth homeliness and warmth, Elizabeth Edwards also earned the respect of traditional-minded Americans by courageously deciding to have two young children in mid-life after losing her eldest child in a car crash. A woman of quiet dignity, refinement, and grace, she is the perfect antidote to the arrogant condescension of the "opinionated" Theresa Heinz Kerry.
So why won't you see a lot of her on TV? Because America doesn't like heavy women. It hides them away where they won't be offensive. They are seen as unattractive and are endlessly analyzed by armchair psychologists as to why they would have allowed themselves to become repellant. Worse, they are treated as if they have committed some sin.
This is especially true of women who, like Elizabeth Edwards, were once thin. The women who were always heavy elicit the public's sympathy. "Maybe it's genetic," they think inwardly. But women who were once thin and attractive, like Elizabeth Edwards, but who dare to put on weight – even after suffering horrific personal tragedy like the loss of a child – are treated as if they have violated some sacred commandment: Thou shalt always look pleasing for thy menfolk. And by menfolk, we mean here not only Elizabeth Edwards's husband but all American men who have a right to look at a young candidate's wife and see something that pleases the eye, like Jackie Kennedy.
By now you have no doubt heard the endless political commentary about how handsome and vibrant John Edwards is and how he nicely complements the long-faced taciturnity of John Kerry. Even Kerry himself praised his good-looking vice-presidential candidate for having "great hair." But those same commentators are utterly silent on the looks of Elizabeth Edwards because to them, as to the rest of America, the fact that she is overweight – itself a pejorative implying extremism – means that she is unsightly.
For the longest time, America has been waging a holy war against women that dare to be fat. The American tabloids have for months shown us pictures of the "obese" actress Kirstie Alley. The pictures of her at 300 pounds are invariably contrasted with photos of how she looked when she was thin and pretty on TV's Cheers. She is a legitimate object of ridicule, depicted as a circus elephant, replete in tent-like clothes. The implication also is that she is possessed of some grave mental illness to have allowed herself to mushroom to such proportions.
Now, I do not deny that shedding extra pounds can make us healthier, improve the quality of our lives, and enhance the self-esteem of both men and women. But do we really want our daughters to be numskulls like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, who have perfect bodies but rotting brains?
Just think about the message that American girls get when large women are unjustly treated as repulsive. They learn that personality, education, virtue, and motherhood – pregnancy often causes women to put on and retain weight – counts for nothing in the eyes of men. Spending all your time in a gym burning off fat, rather than being idle in a library and reading a book, is the only way to get noticed.
EVEN THE American TV networks these days seem to hire only thin, beautiful women to read the news, and highly intelligent women like Greta Van Susteren feel pressured to undergo plastic surgery in order to get ratings on their TV shows. Indeed, you are more likely to see a space alien on your rooftop than a heavy-set woman on your TV screen.
This is also part of an ugly double standard. Weight is not an impediment to power and success among men. Just look at Michael Moore and Harvey Weinstein. But the only women who are allowed to be heavy in America are funny women, like Starr Jones.
Thinness may have become synonymous with beauty in America, but it is decimating the erotic life of marriage. In multiple sexual surveys, one of the biggest complaints that husbands voice about their wives is that they rarely initiate sex and are far too reserved in the bedroom. But can we really expect the American wife to be sexually adventurous when she is permanently self-conscious about her weight? It makes sense that women who feel unattractive will choose to hide under the covers.
Indeed, Dr. James Watson, the Nobel prize-winning geneticist who was jointly responsible for discovering the structure of DNA, maintained that plumper women were more likely to enjoy a better sex life than their thin counterparts. He told an audience at University College London that extra pounds had the biological effect of making a woman well rounded in character and better in bed. "Thinness is never associated with sexuality."
He explained that extra fat had the effect of boosting endorphins, the natural mood-enhancing chemical that is also linked to sexual desire. "Kate Moss is probably the most famous thin person in the world, and she's looking particularly sad. Who has ever heard of a happy supermodel?" Watson asked.
He also argued that leptin, which is produced in fat tissue, boosts the chemical MSH, which enhances sexual desire. "Your mood is controlled by endorphins, and you make more of these when you are fat; hence, nobody has ever drawn Santa Claus thin. Thin people are discontented."
And the obsessive American war on fat is also decimating the American family because women are afraid to "disfigure" their bodies with pregnancies and post-partum pounds.
Elizabeth Edwards didn't worry about all that, and she has two young beautiful children who treasure her, even if the superficial American media does not.
I remember the Barbara Bush comments. I also remember her reaction about how much she and Nancy Reagan had in common. "She's a size 6. So's my leg."
ROFL! That guy just doesn't know when to give up, does he? I love how he almost gets run over by the police car -- which keeps on going!
I enjoy having female friends that are positive about life, who can not complain for at least 5 minutes...
I have this friend she's a great girl she's pretty thin, debt free, smart, yet she drives me crazy because she constantly is asking me " Do you think I need Botox? Do you think my boobs are to small? Do you think I am getting wrinkles around my mouth? Do you think I have ugly feet?
DO you think, Do you think Do you think UGH! I want to scream...
I like hanging out with girls who can enjoy Spa day down a few Jello Shots and talk about controversial subjects...
So why won't you see a lot of her on TV? Because America doesn't like heavy women.
Ah. So that explains why Oprah Winfrey is penniless.
SD
Boy if the Republicans can work a "pity the obese" plank into their platform...George Bush would be elected King!
I'm only half joking....if the Republicans could be seen as Obese Woman friendly, Bush would win easily!
*applause*
Theresa Heinz Kerry. The times I have seen her on TV she talks and dresses like she might be from:
"The Shady Lady Trailer Park"?
There is nothing charismatic about her? Her hair always looks like she just jumped out of bed and her clothes need an Iron....
If she manages to get in the White House she will look more like the Cleaning Lady rather than the First Lady....
See what happens when you post threads on Women and Animals?
Your friend sounds a bit self absorbed, but then again aren't we all? LOL
Well I find her attractive...I kind a like them a bit heavier myself!
***Fair enough. But I'm curious to know if you, and other like minded women on this site, would go out with a guy who was 5'6 and 135 lbs***
Why not? I would, of course, obviously need to have something in common with that person before I would agree to a date and he would have to be of my same religion. I've dated quite a few guys shorter than I am (since I'm 6'0")--interestingly enough, however, most of them (as well as most men I've met) are very intimidated by my height. Believe me, if anyone knows what's it's like to be judged by their height, it's me.
I think being 6'0 would be great but I am only 5'6...
I think every woman has there pet peeves when it comes to dating men..I never liked short men crooked teeth or ugly feet....
Well there is some truth to it. If you already have the pounds on, how many women are not having more babies because they have this insane need to lose the weight immediately? I have gained weight since being a mother and there got a point where I was like that and then I finally decided that I would forget anything but very moderate weight loss strategies until I was done having children because it was very tiresome to think of losing 60lbs only to gain it back again being pregnant and those initial months when there is no time for exercise(I have 3 children, there is not a spare moment--you can walk with the children, but you don't get any real good heart pumping walking action in with a 4 and 6 yr old in tow and unfortunately I am the type that needs to put in a good 2 hours of vigorous exercise to lose a thing--probably due to my thyroid condition it is so difficult). So now, I am happy how I am and will be like this until I am done having children. I have two strikes against me too--I am dealing with a thyroid problem that may need permanent correction so that is something else I am waiting to do until after I am done with children as well. Until that happens, I may keep a good percentage of my pounds.
My point is I understand why women might refrain from having more children with a fear that they will gain it back. You may not believe it, but I have heard it come out of the mouths of women time and again that they don't want to get pregnant again and gain all the weight back they lost. If it wasn't for that, they'd have a couple more children.
YOu really have to choose when you are already overweight--I have chosen to remain this way for the most part and then address it more vigorously when I am done having children and that isn't an endless excuse--I am 34 and don't want to go having children much beyond 36 so it will be something I will deal with more vigorously in short order. My time is winding down on the childbearing front and I am actually looking forward to thinking of myself more in regards to health now since I've put in so many years dedicated to the children. I think this is a much more positive and likely successful approach than trying to lose 30 or 40 lbs here and there between kids or stopping my family at 1 child so I can try to look like a teenager again. I think I'm more likely to succeed knowing there will not be anymore pregnancy events that will stall my weight loss efforts.
I don't recall specific comments about her "figure" but more of her overall appearance. She was regularly referred to as "the guy on the Quaker Oats box."
Barbara Bush was considered matronly. Many of us have memory of a gently round hugable grand ma.
The Edwards are intentionally pushing the youth thing. Young, vigorous, heathy, energetic. He image doesn't match.
I don't have an opinion about her weight. It's the policies, party, deception and profession of her husband that I object to.
Hi cupcakes. thanks for the good post. I try to keep my weight under a certain limit knowing that WHEN (positive thinking LOL) I get married I'll surely get pregnant and gain weight. I don't care about the weight if it means having babies. BTW, I know women who won't have any babies for that reason, and women who regularly have abortions for that reason.
here we go again ping..sigh...
Exactly- I made a note to email you about this thread tonight!!!!
I agree that everyone has little things that bug them physically about people they date, but the important thing is to put them into the right perspective by not letting how they look override who they really are. There's a big difference.
There were lots of little things about the last guy I dated that society wouldn't necessarily consider desirable (crooked teeth, a bit husky), but I loved who he was. A person's height or weight is not so much important than whether that person takes care of himself. Nobody wants to date a slob who doesn't at least make a valid attempt to make the most of what he is given.
I'm not trying to stand on a big soapbox here...I just wish that people would use their heads and stop worrying about what other people might think.
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