I don't doubt that that happens as well. I'm just saying that women also police women and that when it's happened to me it's had nothing to do with internalized shit from the patriarchy.

That sounds terrible - what jerks. My experience has been different, and I'm not talking about online. I have been asked (by a woman) while sitting at a meal why I'm not eating more / eating a particular food, etc. It's been in front of other people, and it's embarrassing to be put on the spot like that. And I've been…

It's really hard to find authentic food in the US or Canada. Years ago, I used to eat a lot of souvlaki, thinking it must be healthy because it's Mediterranean. Hah! I found out from one of the cooks that the souvlaki we get here is nothing like souvlaki in Greece. Here they use sour cream instead of yogurt, white…

My experience of women policing other women's bodies has been about them trying to shame or embarrass thin women into eating more. Those women aren't enforcing any patriarchal rules.

In my experience, the only people policing women's food intake are other women - not the patriarchy.

I just watched it, and the actual scene is completely different from what I was expecting when I first read this article. First of all, he doesn't say "I'm going to take control..." WHILE he's trying to drag her somewhere (where? how do you know it's to his bedroom?). He says it afterwards.

Second, Pamela says all…

Thanks, I read The Beauty Myth a long time ago. And yes, I'm aware of the pitfalls of the media - but they are also a reflection of our desires. They don't exist in a vacuum. It's not like there's some evil genius rubbing their hands together and picking "thinness" out of the air as a way to harm women. Have you read…

Why does any discussion of obesity end up being about starvation? It's like people are willfully ignorant of any kind of balance. And how is that any kind of response to the dangers of obesity? It's not a competition - both are harmful. And why is it "concern trolling" when people point out the dangers of obesity, but…

"Are you seriously trying to say that beauty is indivisible from sexual attractiveness?" Yes, that's why I said "People who are not sexually appealing can be beautiful in some other way, too, of course."

"She isn't saying that "fat is beautiful, and you have to be turned on by fat", idiot, shes saying that she is…

2. Nobody is forced to be "in the pursuit of Western Beauty" - that's a choice. This is unlike the force-feeding of girls in Mauritania, where they do not have a choice.

3. Standards of looks mirror healthy reproductive capabilities. That's why fatter people are more valued in times of starvation. You can't separate…

I'm sorry, but this is getting tiresome. I DO NOT think she is wrong to call herself beautiful. I have said over and over again that I think it's great that she's happy with herself. I am just defending the right of others (who have been vilified here for sharing their opinions) to disagree with the assessment that…

1. I don't think either that or the opposite. I was just asking. I don't agree that the concept of beauty is meaningless or subscribe to the kind of extreme relativism that would render it so. Beauty has always had meaning, particularly to young people when choosing a mate. There are reasons for it, and if you're…

Soooo... he's supposedly an environmentalist, but then turns a blind eye to the impact of population growth. I guess encouraging the creation of as many indoctrinated people who become lifelong financial supporters of the RCC trumps any environmental concerns. What a racket.

I don't disagree with a fat woman calling herself beautiful - I think that's her right. However, I don't find her to be beautiful myself.

"If you think everyone is intent on glossing over the word beauty, then you are fixated on it." I don't think "everyone" is doing this, but it does seem to be pretty common here.…

Yes, I've seen that in countries like Mauritania girls are fattened up for marriage because obesity is a sign of wealth - it's a horrible practice that causes all kinds of illness. I just wanted to see what YOU were referring to in order to respond to your point specifically. So do you think that practices like these…

I am not fixated on it - the fact that she brought it up in the first place is a necessary aspect to the conversation that you and so many others seem intent on denying. And your last question is misrepresenting my argument and begging the question: I am not uncomfortable with someone claiming they are beautiful. She…

So your views on children ignore science. That's just stupid. And what's with the rude response? Looks like all the airy-fairy fantasy about how children view beauty is a thin facade to a whole lot of rage.

"For a woman to do what she did and to be a feminist ... you have to believe that a person's worth does not reside in their level of physical beauty. ... it's basically the foundation for the point she is making." Then why does she have to claim herself to be beautiful? You and others seem to be intent on glossing…

A person can't just decide that they are beautiful and expect everyone else to agree - any more than I can decide I am a great singer. You, the woman in the photo and others on this thread are trying to subvert the entire idea of beauty. But it's a useless and dishonest exercise. Physical beauty is a real thing that…

I'm curious: In what culture would she be considered beautiful? Do you have any photos of women considered beautiful in that culture? Do they look like her?