Claire Varley
You know when you are having one of those days and you feel like everyone is staring at you, judging you and making comments in their minds about how you look? I have that every day. And those comments? Not just in their heads.
For the past eighteen months I’ve been volunteering in a remote part of the Solomon Islands. How remote you ask? I didn’t know Osama was dead until a couple of weeks after. We’ve only just gotten limited internet access to the island. Did you guys know Prince William got married!? I read it on the internet…
If you happen to drop by you can tell who I am – I’m the only one who gets sunburnt with this highly inefficient white skin of mine and who stands out like a neon bulb at night. I’m practically the village light house. I’m the odd one out with my different culture and strange mannerisms; of course people watch me.
Here’s a couple of things about the Solomon Islands:
Solomon Pijin – the lingua franca – is a remarkably direct language. It doesn’t go for all this gentle-subtle-roundabout-way-of-suggesting-something-stuff that English does.
Also, in the Solomons it is perfectly reasonable to comment on people’s appearance even if you don’t really know them that well.
So not a day goes by when I don’t receive at least three comments about my appearance. Normally these come out of nowhere, like a shark or Chuck Norris, and I’m never expecting them.
Sometimes they’re just thrown at me: “Claire! You look fat today.”
Other times they’re a little more sneaky:
“What are you two doing?”
“Just going for a walk. Exercising.”
“That’s good. Especially for Claire.”
Sometimes they’re just plain bizarre:
“How are you today, Mary?”
“Good, Claire…You’ve cut down. When you first came here you looked like your thighs were about to explode.”
“…”
I’m not going to lie to you – at first it got to me. I’m not the most slender creature on this earth but I’m not Jabba the Hut either. My man-friend says I have a body like a Spanish guitar. I think this is boy-talk for exceptionally childbirth-worthy hips. Like most girls I know, I spent a fair bit of my late teens eating apples, jogging long distances and unhappily chewing on air. So initially having all these people call me fat to MY FACE? It was enough to put me off my rice and kumara (like sweet potato and a staple food in this culinary limited part of the world.) But then I sat down on my cushy Greek rear and took a good hard look at what was going on.
I realised that it’s all about semantics. What would happen if someone called me curvy? I’d bat my eyelashes like Marilyn, that’s what.
If they called me bootylicious? Yeah, I’m practically Beyonce.
Vivacious? I’m Sophie Dahl circa that Opium perfume ad.
Fat? I’m going to go lock myself in the bathroom and sit on the toilet sobbing my eyes out whilst eating a tub of biscuits and singing ‘Am I Not Pretty Enough?’ over and over to myself.
Claire again
But fat is just a word. It’s barely a word. Yet how much power have we given it in the West? Here in the Solomons it is not nearly as loaded with all the negative connotations we in the West have saddled it with. Here it is an adjective for describing people like tall or short or flat footed or hirsute. Here fat is the opposite of thin. In the West, it is more so the opposite of good. And that is not cool.
So I worked hard to remove the power this word had over me. And I had a lot of practice, believe me. I stopped letting the word fat punch me in the face every time someone attached it to me. I took it because in comparison to a lot of the tiny young women here, I am fat. Compared to most Solomon women once they hit thirty I’m practically Kate Moss, so it’s all a bit relative. I created a protective field around me, kind of akin to what my body has done after a year and a half of living off a predominantly carbs-based diet. After so long I’ve kind of lost interest in what my body is doing as long as it is operating the way it needs to. On any given day I can be told I’m fat, slim, have lost or gained weight. The other day I was told “You are so fat. Everyone covets your body.” And while initially this caused my brain to have a minor confused meltdown, whatever. Bodies are bodies and as long as they work properly it doesn’t matter what they look like.
For a long time in Australia I used to walk down the street convinced everyone was looking at my body and judging it. Now I know that they are because they tell me to my face. But it doesn’t make a difference to who I am or how well I do my job or my capacity to love people or them to love me.
And that word – Fat? It’s just a word. We give words power. And we can remove that power too.
Just some famous women who’ve been called fat in the past. Makes you think doesn’t it ?
Lara Bingle
Claire Varley has a degree in Media and Communications, majoring in Gender Studies. Pre-Solomons she worked in the community sector in women’s and family violence services.
Does the word “fat” have power in your life? Are there any other words that you’ve given more power than they deserve?
Comments
70 Comments so far
I loved this. All the things I’ve pondered put into a great article.
loading...
I was in Thailand about a month ago and they essentially throw the word ‘fat’ around, at least compared to how people use it in Australia. It was really refreshing learning that calling somebody fat in Thailand isn’t an insult – it’s just a fact. If you’re fat, you’re fat. So what? Some people were even referred to as Fat John, or Fat Sophia and sometimes their names had just been shortened to Fat!
People didn’t have a big whinge or cry about it as they do here in Oz.
From my perspective, Kelly Clarkson (for example) IS fat now. In my eyes there’s no denying it. But that doesn’t make her less of a person or ANYTHING, she’s still a great singer and one of my faves.
loading...
The word ‘fat’ has no power in my life, it is just another word.
but I have many, many friends who go on, and on, an on about it…
Oh, I’m feeling fat, I look so fat, I can’t wear that because I’m too fat, I can’t eat that cause I’m getting so fat, etc. etc.
What is a good response to these kind of comments? I just ignore them…which might not be right.
loading...
I reckon FAT is a MEDIA issue. All we see, hear and read about, especially in ‘women’s media’ but also more every day in mainstream media, is appearance based stuff about women. Not men. Daily papers now carry the best dressed lists, with marks out of 10. Every channel has ‘fatties losing weight’ shows. Miranda Kerr pops up daily in the papers showing off her post baby body and looking smug, and the papers lap it up. That’s why things are different in the Solomons…
Here’s an idea: expand your mind from the narrow focus of the media and look around at real life. People of all shapes and sizes wander the mall and don’t fret constantly about FAT. People on the beach strip down and don’t fret. Little kids don’t worry, older people don’t worry. People with disabilities don’t worry. The people who focus on the media a lot, they worry about this stuff. People *in* the media worry about it most of all. It’s all in the focus.
If all the media vanished tomorrow, people would go about their business just the same, and not worry so much about fat, appearances, fashion etc. Just like in the Solomons and so many other places in the world where life is lived without this intense media influence. We *give* the media the power to affect and even brainwash us by the incredible focus we give to what they serve us up. The media hates FAT. These days I allow this stuff to just wash over me, and my cynical eye has developed to the stage where I can see that so much of this stuff is just tripe. I don’t buy the mags anymore at all. After a while you stop taking it so seriously and it stops bothering you. Result = acceptance, life doesn’t change, but your focus does. Rant over!!
loading...
My boyfriends grandparents were adults during WWII (they are 90) and they will say “Doesn’t xxxxx look well? He’s gotten quite fat.” But the thing is they still sincerely mean that the person looks healthy. They went through the war years when there was rationing and people got thinner so to them thin isn’t necessarily a good thing. Thin is a consequence of war and to them fat doesn’t have negative baggage.
loading...
I came here because Mia wrote on twitter “A fantastic article about being fat”. Is it? Really? For a start sorry but going off the photo’s the author isn’t fat. She is at most average size – 14/16 and that’s pushing it going off the photo’s.
Fat is just a word but it’s a word ACTUAL fat people have to deal with every single day, it’s judgement that they have to contend with from family, friends and worst of all total strangers.
How about an article written by an actual “fat” person? You know like the one written by the slim small breasted author (sorry her name eludes me) the other day?
loading...
I totally agree with you. My sister is suffering from horrible comments by comPlete strangers at the moment and I was hoping this article might relate to that and the real issues that there is such a thing as size discrimination !
loading...
Geez I didn’t know there was a particular amount you had to weigh before your opinion and your feelings on your size are allowed to be heard. We’re all different and just because someone is a size 14/16 doesn’t make their feelings of insecurity (or acceptance for that matter) less valid than someone else who’s a size 22.
loading...
You don’t get it do you? I’m not saying someone has to be a certain size to be heard but honestly calling someone who is a size 14/16 AT THE MOST – fat is what’s wrong with the whole body image issue. They are NOT fat, they are average and if they ARE fat, what does that make a woman who is a size 20, 22, 24, 26?
I’m over hearing people complain about being “fat” when they aren’t, in MOST people’s, eyes. Think you’re “fat” at a size 14? Or 16? Try walking around as a size 20 or 22 for a day and see how many judgemental stares AND comments you get then! The word “fat” has lost it’s meaning in a way, feeling frumpy? Let’s change the word frumpy to fat. Bloated, again fat. Bigger than what society says you should be? Again let’s call you fat! I guess the word fat, to describe actual fat people, has been replaced by the word obese.
MM has featured posts from slim authors and average, I just wish, to cover ALL body types, they’d get an authors perspective from someone who actually IS “fat” – this author isn’t and Mia’s tweet last night was very misleading.
loading...
The article was about how the word fat is exactly that, a word. And if you take away the power of it, it’s simply a word and it’s only in our western world that it has negative connotations.
Also calling a size 14/16 “average”… Do you know why this is the new average.. It’s because our country is on average the fattest it’s ever been. I’m not calling anyone who is a size 14/16 fat, but lets get serious, it is overweight on the medical charts. You say someone a size 14/16 arent overweight overweight because there are people out there who are a 20/22 etc so what does this make them? I’ll tell you what it makes them.. Medically obese and at severe risk of heart attack, type 2 diabetes and the list goes on.
Any my whole point of previous post is so what if she’s a size 6, suffering from an eating disorder and feels overweight, if that is how she feels, then it’s an opinion she should freely be able to talk about without being told you’re only this size so stop whinging.
loading...
Thank you, you just proved my point.
“The article was about how the word fat is exactly that, a word.” Precisely, so it wasn’t “A fantastic article about being fat”.
That was MY point.
loading...
Anonymous, there is no deinition of ‘fat’ – its all relative. Some people might call a size 12 fat, to others, its a size 22. So as Mia apparently said that it is a fantastic article about being fat – the article is exactly that – about one persons’s experience of being labeled ‘fat every day of her life. Really, its not that controversial. And for the record, like someone said below, a size 14-16, whilst being ‘average’ size, is overwieght (fat?) and a size 22 etc is often called obese by the medical profession.
loading...
I know it depends on your height and build, but isn’t a woman who is a size 14 or 16 generally overweight? That might be the average size but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily healthy.
loading...
So um reading this article confirmed that I still have a clinical eating disorder (that I’m still in treatment for) because I’ve very nearly had a panic attack reading all the ‘fat’ comments. Even just the word! & comparing it to the Solomons & everything makes me feel pathetic for it because it shouldn’t matter but it does, so, so, so much to me.
loading...
I skimmed much of it. It was too difficult for me to read. Im still very much in treatment as well. good luck lovely. be safe xx
loading...
loads of positive thoughts both your ways. I’ve come out the other end, and while it’s still something I’ll always have to work on, it’s better on this side – despite how scary that thought is. stay strong x
loading...
Well I am not even big (size 6-8) but I do have a very curvy butt. I remember being in the gym in Japan and being mortified when I looked in the mirror in front of the treadmill and realised that the woman behind me was laughing at my bum lurching up and down as I ran.
loading...
Love this article.
“And that word – Fat? It’s just a word. We give words power. And we can remove that power too.” Heaven.
loading...
This article brought back so many memories for me. I lived in Thailand for 20 months in my early 20s (back in the early to mid 1990s). At the time I was size 12, curvy but very fit and ran every day plus regularly taught aerobics. It took a long time to get used to the local custom of commenting on people’s weight – what 22 year old wants to be told regulatly by both strangers and by colleagues that she is chubby or fat, even when it’s accompanied by ‘you’re so beautiful’?
I used to alternate between pretending I didn’t understand – despite speaking Thai very well at the time – and trying to act ok with it.
And don’t even talk to me about trying to buy underwear for a size 12D in Thailand in the early 1990s. It was beige granny girdle all the way! My mom used to mail me (pre Internet) catalogues of underway and swimsuits and I would ring with my preference for her to buy and mail over.
Thanks for the funny memories!
loading...
Where in Thailand did you live Jo? My husband is Thai. I agree underwear shopping is very disillusioning in Thailand! I remember before kids I was a size 10-12 and a girl in a lingerie store apologising to me that they don’t have ‘jumbo’ sizes. It’s sad really how we can’t appreciate the beautiful comments and only hear the fat isn’t it lol
loading...
Well. This hit home.
I’ve been way too preoccupied with my weight, or should I say, ‘fat’, since I was about 8. This article is so true…
Meanwhile, in regards to the photos, Joanna Lumley (Patsy in Ab Fab) was told that she couldn’t model because she was ‘too fat and too ugly!’
If you know what she looks like, you’ll know this isn’t true.
loading...
Pingback: “i’m fat today, how are you?” « how to be good
Oh Claire, great article.
We get it here in Malaysia too and not just the women. My male colleague was told: “Man, you’re getting so fat”.
I love finding a shop assistant that tells me “Can lah, We have XXXL.” and look so very proud (I’m a size 16). They don’t whisper the size either.
I’ve also been asked why I choose to wear glasses and once when I went out wearing full makeup I was told: you look so nice! You should wear makeup more often because you look so good. I can’t believe how good you look.”
I hate to think what they really think
I don’t even bother with bras and undies
loading...
While traveling in SE Asia last year I found myself having surgery for a badly broken ankle in Hoi An, Vietnam. It seems that every sentence spoken (in very broken English) started with “because you are fat……” there was absolutely no malice or judgement, just an explanation for various treatments.
In the same town (pre-accident) our large male friend was constantly called fat Buddha and having his tummy rubbed and patted by strangers in the streets.
loading...
Trying on clothes in a family dress shop in Hoi An, the shop assistant was so impressed with the size of my thighs that she called all the female members of her family round to see them. They didnt think I should be ashamed of my size, they just thought it was a bit wondrous. Im a size 12 by the way, but the women there are quite tiny. To me it was funny, not embarrassing.
My partner also got his round tummy rubbed fondly by people in Hoi An. Its considered lucky to rub buddha’s belly.
Maybe we met all the same locals?
loading...
OMG. Thank you Claire.
You’ve just provided me with an a-ha moment.
I am Fat (Capitol F). Yes, we do (including me) think of the word FAT not as the opposite of THIN. Thin is good – fat is bad. That’s how I process being fat myself. I dont know what I’ll go with this new insight but it will give me something to think about…. Thank you.
loading...
Awesome article Claire! I’m also in the sols and as a tall “fat” woman (no matter where I go!) I also had to adjust to the daily commentary about being “fat fat lidlebit” or being “smaller nah since last time mi lookim iu!” Like you, I’ve struggled but have taken the sting out of the words. The guys I work with used to laugh because I ate so little relative to them (here in Honiara I have the luxury of being able to avoid the rice!) they were fascinated that I “kai kai small” but that I’m big – and that they “Kai kiai big “but are smaller….. …and when I’ve travelled places like Thailand, Bangledesh and Italy I am stared at like I am a giant from outer space…some days its easier than others but at least I don’t have to put up with what my good friend got in Cambodia..the daily nicname that meant “baby elephant”!!
loading...
You’re fat today, how am I ?
I am also fat. I will probably still be fat tomorrow. Thank you for asking !
loading...
Bradley, I see a man at my local coffee shop quite often – I like to think he’s you. I don’t want to ask him if he IS you, though, because I don’t want to burst my own bubble if he’s not!
loading...
If he is very handsome and well mannered….then it just may be me that you are looking at !
Is your favourite coffee shop directly outside of a Woolies in a suburban Brisbane shopping centre ?
Please describe the man that you regularly see. I also look at people and wonder if they are someone I’ve spoken to via this blog.
loading...
I do that too! But surely people would recognise me…
loading...
That sounds oddly like my favourite coffee shop
loading...
Please can we hear the end of this story. If anything eventuates…
loading...
Oh no, I’m so sorry to disappoint you all! My local is an independent coffee shop just down the road from my house – no Woolworths or shopping centre in sight! Ah well, I’ll just have to keep my eyes peeled….
loading...
Sorry. I was looking forward to saying “hi” to you in person.
Never mind. I’ll just say “hi” right here ! Hope that you have a great weekend.
loading...
Hello Claire,
1) Good on you for volunteering on the Solomon Islands
2) If those photos are anything to go by, you’re not fat (by any definition)
3) SPF 30+ every day – be sun smart over there.
Best.
loading...
I am fat. It’s a fact. It’s not a fact that I love, but I’m actually ok with it. I’ve been through hell and back over my weight, and spent far too many hours in tears over my weight. But I am finally in a place where I am ok with my body. The word “fat” has power, but much less than it did in the past.
When I used to argue with my ex, he was quite fond of telling me I was a “fat slut”. It always made me laugh in his face. I would tell him that I would own the “fat” part, but seeing as he was the only man I had ever kissed or slept with, he could shove the “slut” part up his arse!
loading...
Well I am very glad to hear that he is your ex
loading...
FANTASTIC article!!
As someone who was in the Solomons as a child, I do remember the direct nature of the language, also the body shapes of the women there. But there is no “body image” issue over there like there is here. It’s just not that important. Not when a mosquito bite could kill you and the hospital is about to wash away.
I think it helps that they have very little mainstream media. It’s a totally different world.
Out of interest, what island are you on? I was on Atoifi.
loading...
Great article. Maybe the fact that we have become so politically correct and certain words are now almost taboo here, has not helped us. Makes me think whether it might be better if we came out and said things like they seem to in other cultures? Or maybe it is because we are all so hung up here on our appearance that we can’t stand to hear the realities!!
loading...
I really enjoyed this piece of writing. Great stuff Claire ! The more awareness we have regarding the issues that affect us all (ie weight, body image, etc) then we can begin our healing. Words are just words, and the amount of emphasis we place on “a particular word” can be so disastrous to ones self image.
loading...
“Oh Missy you so fat” is how I was greeted in Hong Kong clothes stores for years (until I learnt to go to gweilo-friendly establishments). I was size 12/10 with a BMI of 22, so I was taken aback but didn’t let it get to me.
My work colleagues also told me all sorts of things about my appearance (a favourite being that I looked ok except for my “age spots”, which are actually my freckles).
The upside of these comments, though, was that I am SURE they helped me stay healthy and fit during the years I could have let it slide (having two children). While it’s not healthy to worry about how you look, it *is* healthy to do something about it, and I really think that ultimately the frankness of the Chinese culture was good for me.
Great article and I love the idea that the power of the word ‘fat’ comes from how you choose to respond to it. Thanks Claire.
loading...
Being a pale skinned redhead can be interesting when travelling. I’ll never forget getting lost in Mumbai and wandering fair way off the tourist trail into quite a closed off area… and, literally, having a crowd of people gather around me to point, whisper and laugh. Did wonders for the self-confidence, that one.
loading...
I’m with you on that one! I was chased down streets in parts of Morocco and Turkey because of my fair skin and blondish/reddish hair.
And last weekend we were in the city (Melbourne) with our little daughters, who are very blonde and so many groups of Asian tourists were staring and pointing at them. Some even taking photos – didn’t please me.
loading...
I was treated ridiculously well in the Solomons because I had blue eyes and blonde hair. Many of the people had never seen a child like that! This was, of course, not in the touristy places.
loading...
LOVE IT! Fat is just a word. Remove its power and its still just a word. Great post
loading...
Love this! I had to do the same thng when living in China.
“Hello I’m your new teacher”
“oh miss teacher you are very fat and very beautiful. And your nose is so big.”
“…”
My funniest day was when I went swimming with a bunch of Chinese girls at the local gym. As soon as we went to the change rooms and got naked, preparatory to putting our swimmers on, there was a stunned silence from the thirty-odd women in the room. Then a flock to stand around me and laugh at my hairy white fatness. Strangers were literally pointing at me and saying to each other “wow, she’s really white and hairy”.
It is a great lesson to learn, that what other people say doesn’t have to have any bearing on your opinion of yourself.
Great article!
loading...
That is hilarious, from the comfort of my couch. Probably not so fun at the time.
loading...
I found it funny when I lived in Asia. Size 10/12 and I was considered huge. Bra buying over a b was interesting. One shop assistant just laughed her head off when she saw me.
loading...
great article! its not just other cultures that have a different approach to weight and ‘fat/thin’ etc… i moved away to uni when i was 18 and due to the dorm food, alcohol and no exercise managed to gain 10kgs in 6 months on my tiny very thin frame (therefore extremely noticeable). the first thing my brother said to me when i arrived home was “god u’ve got chubby”, followed by my dad who said “they must be feeding you well up there”. i was absolutely mortified and cried for two days straight, not because of the comments, simply because i just hadn’t really taken much notice. i then met up with a guy friend from school and after hugging me commented “gee u’ve got a good set of tits now”, which i was flattered by. not one female in my life commented on my weight gain, not my mum or nan or sister/girlfriends… all the comments i received were from males and very blunt.
i ended up losing all the weight and going back to my original size and again the first to comment was my brother with “your like ano now” (anorexic)… however this time the comments from females rolled in, girlfriends would exclaim “omg your such a skinny bitch i hate you”, my mum worried and said “i hope your not starving yourself” and even women i had just met would make comments like “your so tiny” etc.
i think woman really worry about offending each other if someone has gained but if they’ve lost (regardless of how) then its a free for all comments pass. Men however dont seem to see it as good or bad its just a detail like short/tall etc.
loading...
It’s called the “Freshman 10″ for all the reasons you’ve outlined! It’s mortifying but rarely fatal.
loading...
I can so relate to this post!! My husband is Thai and all his family live in Thailand. His parents live in an area of Thailand that very rarely sees tourists so I’m quite a novelty when we visit. Our last visit my baby was 6 months old and I was still about 10kg above my pre-pregnancy weight and I very much doubt that there was one person in that village who didn’t comment how fat I was now lol. I cringed the first few times but learned to smile and laugh it off, as they don’t mean it offensively at all. Funny how fat has become such a dirty word in our society
loading...
I’m a size 12 and it killed me when tiny Vietnamese women (in Vietnam) would ask if I was pregnant!! I knew it was just a difference in body-types but it made me want to hurl myself into the filthy Mekong river and disappear… Also their giggles after I said “no, I’m not pregnant” didn’t help
loading...
This happened to me practically everyday when I was in Vietnam, was not great for my self esteem. BUT the women who asked me seemed very excited of the possibility so I think they meant well….thats what i tell myself anyway
loading...
Sounds like something that would come out of a 5 year olds mouth too!!
My kids always tell me if i look ‘fat’ or ‘pretty’ or mummy you look like a princess today – I have even had ‘mummy why does your hair look like a birds nest’! ahhhhhh not sure?!
love the honesty
loading...
Yes, you’ve got to love the kids frankness. on any given day I can get both “Mum, you’re the most beautiful Mum in the whole world” and “Mum, I hate you you’re ruining my life”. and they’re only 5 & 7. Can’t wait for the teenage years
loading...
Its interesting really that this phenomena probably affects women more than men too. I remember a time when a colleague at work commented on my weight. At the time I thanked him, but later I told him he looked less bald today. Was he ever shocked? I explained to him that while I knew he was complimenting me it was a little inappropriate and that normal circumstances I wouldn’t comment on him, but I wanted to illustrate a point – that it seemed okay in society to comment on women’s appearance but men were rarely spoken to the same way.
loading...
Good on you. I hate it when people comment on weight. If someone asks me if I think so-and-so has put on weight, I usually lie and say “Oh, I never notice that sort of thing.” Of course I notice, but I refuse to comment on it.
loading...
I’m with you – I usually sidestep this sort of question. And sometimes I really can’t be sure if different clothing is making people look bigger or smaller, for instance.
loading...
A friend of mine got a massage in Thailand, and during the massage the Thai lady grabbed a handful of love-handle and goes “oh Westerners – too much cheese!”.
Still cracks me up.
loading...
Loved this post Claire. When I was 17 I spent 6 months in rural France (extremely different from metro France/Paris) as an exchange student. I arrived normal weight but had put on 18-20 kilos by the time I left thanks to the fatty cooking of my host family (none of which I enjoyed eating btw!). I experienced precisely the same frankness you did in the Solomon Islands. Every time I saw a family friend they would comment frankly about how much weight I had put on. Being a teenager it cut to the bone & made me hate my body. I lost the weight as soon as I got home as quickly as I was able!
Unlike you, I was never able to rise above the bluntness. I just couldn’t believe anyone could be so thoughtless & seemingly uncaring. I knew at the time their cultural differences were the key factor, but it still hurt.
Thank you for sharing your enlightening view on the subject. It’s always lovely to hear someone reinforce how we know we should be thinking, but can’t always get there.
loading...
Loved this article, but does every post have to have a gallery where we look at (and judge!) celebrities? I’m guessing all these celebrity galleries are an editorial decision. Can’t we go back to having one stock photo so that we can focus on the content?
Rant over.
p.s. I love Mamamia and will continue to read this site whether there are galleries or not.
loading...
Hey Anon,
Certainly don’t put galleries up to judge or ridicule anyone. They’re always there for an illustrative purpose. This one was to show how ricidulous and subjective the term ‘fat’ is.
loading...
I did notice that most of those photos seemed to be of the celebrities looking slimmer than the times when they actually were labelled ‘fat’. It would have been more illustrative to have the photos be of the actual time when the celebrities were called fat by newspapers, like that Gemma Ward bikini photo or Sophie Dahl before she lost all that weight to be thin.
loading...
Hi Mia. Thanks for taking the time to respond to feedback. I just think that the links between the articles and the celebrity galleries are becoming increasingly tenuous. I found this issue particularly evident in the article ‘Yes, you can be a “real woman” with a flat chest’ because the gallery actually worked against what the author was trying to say.
I think the galleries change (cheapen?!) the tone of the articles and take focus away from the quality work being submitted by guest writers.
I’m curious, is there a financial reason why the galleries are included (e.g., does it drive more traffic to the site?)? But hey, it might just be me and others probably love having a celeb perve
loading...
I agree to be honest. I just don’t always bother looking at the galleries. I don’t think they really add much dimension to the article whatsoever. I think it is a google reason – celebrity names are commonly searched with various other search terms (eg. fat jessica simpson) which means people are more likely to pick up mamamia stories even if they aren’t searching for them if celebrity pictures appear on them. This was a good piece that stands up on it’s own. It did not need pictures of celebrities who have been accused of being fat to illustrate it in anyway. I’m not fooled
loading...
Oh well, I guess the more people who visit Mamamia, the better. Maybe some effort is just needed to make sure the pictures match the theme of the article.
loading...
The best one I’ve ever had was when I did a season of apple-picking when I moved and couldn’t find a job.
Korean guy: Here in your country are you considered to be good-looking?
Me: er, uh, um…
Still cracks me up. Obviously in South Korea I’d look like I’d hit every ugly branch when falling out the tree.
loading...
I’m married to a ‘foreigner’ and we spend time living in both of our countries. Last time we were there, my husband’s friend (and godfather of our eldest child!) and I were walking through a shopping centre. Stares at me, as usual. He remarked that it felt strange to him, but I would surely be used to it, since it must happen in my home town, too.
Extremely flattered, but no…
loading...
That’s hilarious! Just genius!
loading...
I got this when I travelled to East Timor. I’m average height (for an Aussie) and about a size 10-12, but over there I’m a big fat giant. Honestly I quite enjoyed the honesty. I liked that people just came out and said “You have really bad skin”, “You’ve gotten fatter”, “You eat ALOT of food” instead of pretending not to notice these things. No judgement, just stating a fact. It seems harsh at first, by by the end of my trip it was like a weight had been lifted. I didn’t have to worry about what people were thinking, because they told me, and when they said it out loud it didn’t sound so bad.
loading...