Full Figured Women On TV (My daily Rant)
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But while overweight might be a norm these days, it's not healthy. As a country, the US is getting fatter and fatter. Vanity sizing is running rampant, trying to trick women into thinking they are smaller than they are. I get how hard it is to lose weight, to be healthy, and to get out of the mindset that overweight is ok. I've been overweight almost my entire adult life. I'm doing everything I can to get over the mindset, and change my brain, then my body, and maybe get back to healthy for the first time in 15 years.
But in my mind, we shouldn't encourage or accept being overweight, any more than we encourage or accept any other serious health risks, like smoking or tanning.
Same goes for the reverse though, shouldn't accept or encourage skeletal thin.0 -
Wow this post went 7 different directions! First off I agree with the original poster. I compare it to seeing nothing but Caucasians on TV shows and advertisements over faces of color and ethnicity. I personally prefer to see all the colors of the rainbow, not just one. As far as the last post about his employer not hiring anyone who is obese, I am not sure where you work so I can't full speak to that but I will say that, that is basically the last acceptable discrimination.0
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Unfortunately, women drive the industry. We're our own worst enemies and biggest critics. I don't know the actual psychology (psych majors, were are you??!), but fashion magazines, commercials, and sitcoms wouldn't feature [only] skinny women if the average American woman would stop criticising her fellow female.0
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We just do not hire obese people, smokers or unfit men or women - period.
Our bodies are the one thing we have complete control of, and if a person can't master that, they're not the right fit for our work culture. We only want can-do, result oriented associates who have ownership of their life and health.
A) I'm somewhat surprised you've been lucky enough to avoid a discrimination lawsuit, if that's your stated hiring policy, and b) Has it occurred to you that "can-do, result-oriented" people may not all prioritise their weight and/or physical fitness, preferring to focus on achieving results in many other aspects of their lives? I'm very can-do and goal-oriented, but I'm not in perfect shape, because my focus has been my work for the last decade. I'm in good health, and I consider that I have ownership of my life. I know a lot of very accomplished, professional people this would also apply to. The most competent person for the job might have got that way by focusing on the job, and his or her skills, exclusively, rather than splitting their focus. Not criticising, just curious about this mentality.0 -
As long as we (women) continue to buy into the TV idea of beauty they will keep doing it - so they can continue to sell us more make-up, clothes, shoes, etc... to give us the "perfect life". Beauty comes from within - it really does - starts in the heart and the spirit - but we continue to watch these ridiculous programs while munching our celery or chips.0
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I completely agreee! Two of my good friends, who also happen to be two of the most stunningly gorgeous women I know, fall into the "full figured" category. I have never met a person that didn't think these ladies are gorgeous, and I would like to see them more represented on television/the media. There are so many body types out there, and small boned, petite women aren't the only body type out there.
Also, skinny isn't the same as healthy, and many people on television are frigteningly small.0 -
Drop Dead Diva
I just started watching that show from the beginning, and one episode I watched I LAUGHED. I work in a plus size clothing store, and when the character said she was a size 16, I just had to go PFFFFFFTTTTT! And then there was a judge that said she was a size 16. Now compare those two characters, and I would say Miss Drop Dead Diva, is actually an 18 or 20.
That pissed me off too. They lied about the size. Shows need to be MORE realistic.
They are saying she is a US 16- which is a UK 18 or 20 (depending on which charts you look at, US sizes are equivalent to 2 sizes smaller than UK)
Another beautiful lady with a bit of meat on her bones is Sara Ramirez who plays callie in Greys Anatomy. She's stunning.0 -
While we're at it, why are so many men portrayed as complete idiots? King of Queens is a good example ... The husband couldn't make it a day without his 'hot wife' ... why? It's like Homer Simpson in the flesh ... why can't there be more shows that portray a couple that respects each others' strengths and weaknesses, and uses them to be awesome, good people??
I don't watch a lot of television because I think the average prime time television show sucks *kitten*.
Agreed0 -
I see too many woman walking around heavier then me and I cant consider them full figured or normal or real or whatever you want to call them and btw I aint skinny.
So we shouldn't encourage or accept being overweight.
Stop making excuses!0 -
I was thinking about this the other day. it drives me nuts, especially Mike and Molly and that one blogger who said she didnt want see fat people kissing. WHAT THE HELL!!! I wanna know why there isn't a heavier Bacholorette?!?!!? Big girls need love. I am 185lbs, I had 245lbs when I had my daughter, my husband is 160! every guy I have ever dated was never over 180lbs. That is just how it happened, it wasn't planned that way. It pisses me off that our society is still so ashamed of big people. I know we are all here to get smaller and whatnot. Honestly when I have been big I have always been comfortable in my body. I am trying to get healthier to live long for my daughter sake. I wanna see her graduate and have babies. HOnestly though, I know for a fact even still being 185lbs you can put me ina doctor office with someone who is a 120lbs and I could be healthier than her.0
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Drop Dead Diva
I just started watching that show from the beginning, and one episode I watched I LAUGHED. I work in a plus size clothing store, and when the character said she was a size 16, I just had to go PFFFFFFTTTTT! And then there was a judge that said she was a size 16. Now compare those two characters, and I would say Miss Drop Dead Diva, is actually an 18 or 20.
That pissed me off too. They lied about the size. Shows need to be MORE realistic.
They are saying she is a US 16- which is a UK 18 or 20 (depending on which charts you look at, US sizes are equivalent to 2 sizes smaller than UK)
Another beautiful lady with a bit of meat on her bones is Sara Ramirez who plays callie in Greys Anatomy. She's stunning.
Sara Ramirez is a beautiful full figured woman. As you said she has meat on her bones, but it isn't unhealthy. She would be a good example of full figured vs. Fat.
Sara Ramirez vs. Rosanne?0 -
I think the new UK Ann Summers model is gorgeous, and shes a size 16.
On the same note I know a size 16 who is less than attractive (although that may be her personality shining through.meow)0 -
I understand what you are saying BUT you have to remember that all the extra FAT causes DISEASES!!!! yes women should not be scary skinny but they need to be close to their height/weight..there is a good reason for that....YOU live LONGER..cardiovascular disease strikes people overweight...I am a middle aged women and I hear all the time that people I went to school with are dieing way way too young....diabetes has also increased.....My niece is a massage therapist..she makes all her clients fill out a medical record of the meds they take..she tells me how bad it is...that most PEOPLE are taking LOTS of MEDS!!!!!..I don't want to be among the NORMAL that take MEDS..so I am doing something about it..
We are so overly aware of this, we are politically corrected to death. We all know the misgivings being overweight, must we be slapped with it constor a movie be entertantly. Can't we watch a show that represents every shape, color, and size without a surgeon general's warning across the bottom of the screen. Can't televisionment and movies be sheer entertain anymore must everything sent social and political messages. I say let the "fatgirl" be smart, stylish and pretty and let her get the man she deserves, smart, handsome, and witty. It's what most of us want to see, and by the way, we like or Santa plump, too.0 -
I'll take the Marilyn Monroe body over a Twiggy body any day of the week. I want my womanly curves but in a healthy way. When I look at profiles of women who are almost 6 foot tall and they say their goal weight is 105, I cringe inside but this is what women are told is beautiful by the fashion industry. And recently I read that a size 6 is the new plus size for models???? I see too many plus size catalogs or websites that have size 8's or so modeling plus size clothing? Really? Plus size starts at a size 16 or 18. To me that is false advertising. And there is my rant for the day!
Oh and the other thing I hate hearing from people is......You would be so much prettier if you would lose weight! And yeah you would be so much prettier on the inside if you found compassion in your heart butthead!0 -
Yes I agree, and lovely to see a man saying so... Zara0
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Sara Ramirez is a beautiful full figured woman. As you said she has meat on her bones, but it isn't unhealthy. She would be a good example of full figured vs. Fat.
She is beautiful, yes. Maybe even the prettiest of the women on the show. But she's gained quite a bit of weight since she started on the show, and she's now overweight, saying herself that she's a size 14. I'm sure she's under intense scrutiny, given the sizes of the other women, but I think she's more than full-figured. She was full-figured when she was first on.0 -
Glad so many ar thinking the same thing and are sick of super skinny women on tv.0
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After my accident, I took medical leave and did not return until I was down 50 lbs from my top weight.
We just do not hire obese people, smokers or unfit men or women - period.
Our bodies are the one thing we have complete control of, and if a person can't master that, they're not the right fit for our work culture. We only want can-do, result oriented associates who have ownership of their life and health.
A) I'm somewhat surprised you've been lucky enough to avoid a discrimination lawsuit, if that's your stated hiring policy, and b) Has it occurred to you that "can-do, result-oriented" people may not all prioritise their weight and/or physical fitness, preferring to focus on achieving results in many other aspects of their lives? I'm very can-do and goal-oriented, but I'm not in perfect shape, because my focus has been my work for the last decade. I'm in good health, and I consider that I have ownership of my life. I know a lot of very accomplished, professional people this would also apply to. Not criticising, just curious about this mentality.
And even then I was encouraged to continue progress.
I am just a hair away from the pants I was wearing the very day of my accident.
It's been a long, hard journey, and what makes it more difficult and sad is that I know now that my associate's regard for me is conditional. When I gained all that weight, I was written off. It was like I never existed.
And now that I'm back, I can't just move on as though nothing happened.
Things are just not the same, and now I make it clear where these people stand in my food chain.
It's been a nice season of vengeful PAYBACK!
That beats any law suit, because I sit as judge, jury and executioner.
I'd say I am more than even with the ones who tried to take advantage.0 -
You are right. I believe it is because our society has adopted a terrible, destructive attitude towards heavy women. Women in particular. So, tv doesn't represent a true reflection of society, but of how they think we want to see society.
The stereotypes are downright cruel. The actresses lose weight to keep their jobs. A man that skinny would look emaciated and wouldn't likely be hired to act. But the skinnier the women, the better. This is unfair and unhealthy.0 -
Sara Ramirez is a beautiful full figured woman. As you said she has meat on her bones, but it isn't unhealthy. She would be a good example of full figured vs. Fat.
She is beautiful, yes. Maybe even the prettiest of the women on the show. But she's gained quite a bit of weight since she started on the show, and she's now overweight, saying herself that she's a size 14. I'm sure she's under intense scrutiny, given the sizes of the other women, but I think she's more than full-figured. She was full-figured when she was first on.
Okay haven't seen the show since she first started. But still to me there is a difference in full figured vs fat.0 -
The problem with judgements made on clothing size, or weight alone is that it's just a number. A 16 can look very different on two different people, as can a size 4, or 180lb or ... I'm tall and built like the proverbial tank. In a UK 16-18, I look 'normal', squeezing into a UK 12 (US 8/10), my doctor told me I had gone too far, and needed to gain a little back, despite my BMI still registering as 'overweight'. For someone else, that size or weight might have looked perfect, and my 'normal' would look very overweight.
Coming back to the original topic, the camera notoriously adds 10lbs, so imagine how unhealthily small some of the women we are being encouraged to emulate actually are off-screen, if you can see their ribs when they are on TV. It would be better for women's mental and physical health if the 'ideal' was a)achievable for the average woman not built like a ballerina and b)actually healthy in the first place.0 -
The problem with judgements made on clothing size, or weight alone is that it's just a number. A 16 can look very different on two different people, as can a size 4, or 180lb or ... I'm tall and built like the proverbial tank. In a UK 16-18, I look 'normal', squeezing into a UK 12 (US 8/10), my doctor told me I had gone too far, and needed to gain a little back, despite my BMI still registering as 'overweight'. For someone else, that size or weight might have looked perfect, and my 'normal' would look very overweight.
Coming back to the original topic, the camera notoriously adds 10lbs, so imagine how unhealthily small some of the women we are being encouraged to emulate actually are off-screen, if you can see their ribs when they are on TV. It would be better for women's mental and physical health if the 'ideal' was a)achievable for the average woman not built like a ballerina and b)actually healthy in the first place.
So true!!!! besides one person may have more muscle than another person, who is the same size, or even same weight!!! When I was younger I used to see women 2x my size fitting into smaller clothing. At that time I was a healthy weight, and would be considered full figured. I had a flat tummy, and all, but I am bigger framed, with more muscle. So while they were fitting their extra weight into a size 8, I was a size 16..0 -
I too share you opinion. I am so tired of double standards. Women have to BE a certain way, usually on the skinny side. And men seem to have more leeway as to size and facial appearance as regard to being distinquished with lines and wrinkles. No gal on tv would be acceptable without "facial" correction... multi-billion dollar industry. And the "heavier woman" are used for comic relief, while the men seem to have more license to be who they are.0
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If you have ever watched Glee, there are a couple of plus sized girls on there that have had romantic relationships with "normal" sized men. Mercedes is an ongoing character and has a plus sized boyfriend now, but had a relationship with a skinny guy last season. I can't remember the other characters name, she was only on one season, but she had Puckerman panting after her and he is the school womanizer. They are a very diverse show in many ways...0
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Thats exactly who i was thinking about while reading this post. She is STUNNING. I asked my husband who he thought was more attractive on the show." Joan" or" Betty". He picked Joan hands down, but he said some of it had to do with the fact she had more confidence than " Betty" . She carries herself WELL!! .
I read an article that Christina had a problem borrowing a dress from a designer for some award event. Apparently they only have sizes 2 and 0. She is a 14, just goes to show how we have dictated what equals a " perfect" size. Good luck everyone on your weigh loss goals.0 -
Okay haven't seen the show since she first started. But still to me there is a difference in full figured vs fat.
You can have extra fat and look good with it but its still extra fat.
AndThe stereotypes are downright cruel. The actresses lose weight to keep their jobs. A man that skinny would look emaciated and wouldn't likely be hired to act. But the skinnier the women, the better. This is unfair and unhealthy.
All man that woman like are less then 10% body fat and they look good because they have muscle but they are still skinny as hell.
And honestly if You think that Victoria secret models are unhealthy skinny you are just jealous.0 -
Rather than casting agents/producers etc only choosing skinny women for their shows I think it may be more a case of the majority of actresses and people who want to appear on tv caring about being thin. I think it's the women who drive it. They don't want to appear on tv fat so they make sure they are thin. So the producers have a disproportionately small sample of fat women from which to choose.0
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This reminds me of that Criminal Minds episode - the one where Penelope meets a hot guy and Derek tells her to be careful - she gets pissed - hot guy shoots her. Like a hot guy could never really be interested in someone like her... sad.
That being said - if people stopped watching the shows they are complaining about - they wouldn't continue to air.
I watch very little.... lots of garbage on TV these days.0 -
I so agree with you! Thanks for saying so:happy:0
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Love Drop Dead Diva, as does my boyfriend. He even commented during a show that she's sexy because she's so confident in herself, dresses well, and simply shows pride in how she looks. (In his opinion, my perfect weight loss would include healthy curves. He wouldn't want a girl so skinny her body could be confused for a prepubescent boy's.)
Having said that, I was commenting to an MFP friend the other day that I love BBC America and British shows /because/ their actors look like real people. Not everyone is a size 0. They have physical flaws. But they'd never pass over here in America. Now, that isn't to say there aren't stunning people in British television, I just don't think they perpetuate the same body (and "looks") standard we do in America (I could be wrong). Look at Absolutely Fabulous or The Vicar of Dibley, though those are older shows. The movie Calendar Girls was a celebration of age and differing body types. I think that's a healthy thing. No one /has/ to be perfect. And though I'm here to lose weight and be healthy, I refuse to obsess about ending up looking "perfect."
If I end up a size 12, and I feel good about how I look and how I feel, I'm absolutely okay with that.0
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