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is it funny if we say it about ourselves?
A friend forwarded the image below to me. The text that accompanied it read:
Check out the new mirror I’m selling - taking orders now!
—– My Reply—-
We already have this mirror - only it works in reverse and is often called “anorexia.”
::::::::::::::::::::::::
Am I being oversensitive? See, here’s the thing: I “get it,” I do. But I can’t help focusing on the fact that females send stuff like this to their female friends. Sure, everyone laughs, BUT, does anyone stop to wonder why we’re supposed to want this mirror? Yes, I know it doesn’t really exist, yet to me it is symbolic of the messages we (females) receive that, under the guise of humor, deliver pretty strong messages about how we ought to look.
And going from a pudgy, soft-cheeked woman to one with a more socially acceptable body isn’t easy. It takes a hell lot more than a magic mirror; no doubt, if such mirrors existed, many American women would have bodies like this. Why? Because we’re supposed to. It’s in the overt and covert messages we receive from the time we are tiny girls throughout our lives. But really, such a change would require not just a change in diet (perhaps), not just a change in exercise (perhaps), but also a change of mindset - a new set of goals. And for what? What is the goal? To look like a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model? To feel less old, to fit in, so that males of all ages will find us attractive?
And why do we care what all those nameless, faceless men think of us, anyway?
Maybe we don’t. Maybe I just see images such as this and wonder why we do it to ourselves. Yes, funny, the mirror shows YOU (not an audience, just you!) a completely different body than the one you have. Why would we want a mirror that lies to us? Hell, why would we want to lie to ourselves? What this tells me is that it is better to have a magic mirror that lies to me about my body than it is for me to love myself - flaws and all.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Hmph.
pfft!
That pretty much sums up all my feelings about that picture. Good job, I totally agree.
Comment by kmw — 5/13/2007 @ 8:13 pm
Sorry, sweety, I do think you’re being a bit oversensitive, but if you are like me it just comes naturally! I think that this is image is mildy humorous…cute maybe? The first thing that comes to mind are positive thoughts of a woman actually enjoying her own body, absorbing in her own sumptuousness! It is not the mirror that is causing the beautiful reflexion, but the woman’s own mind and heart. But, then I kept thinking…if the woman really enjoyed her body you would see the image of a “fuller” woman in the reflection and perhaps even with a smile or coy grin. I’m still optimistic, however, that she isn’t trying to imagine her body conformed to what society demands of her, instead, maybe she is imagining herself a year from now after she starts a new way of life that treats her body with respect by doing HEALTHY exercise and having a HEALTHY diet (not just some fad diet). Maybe she is giving thought to taking more care of herself and throwing the TV out the window. Afterall the reflected woman is not anorexic…she looks to be in good shape to me… not freakishly skinny. What really bugs me is the title… it takes any creativity away from the image. It turns the image into a cheap commentary. I would forward this image… only without the ridiculous “Check out the new mirror I’m selling - taking orders now!” It leaves more to the imagination, if you will. You can take away alot more from the image without the lame sales gimmick
On another note, i’m kind of tired of the epidemic…to put it mildly…of obesity in the US. I’m not encouraging anorexia… but could we please not encourage either extreme with a pitifull line like “socially acceptable body.” Obesity should NOT be socially acceptable and if you haven’t noticed….IT IS!!! Fat people are everywhere! Being obese is a choice afterall…its not like having a long nose or protruding chin or something like that, that one is born with. Facial variations, deformities, disporportions, etc, are things one should accept. I don’t think obesity is something anyone should accept…. I feel silly pointing this out, but obesity is the cause of hundreds of diseases and illnesses. All of which could be avoided. So, instead of getting all sensitive over the fat lady in the image, perhaps we should step away from the twinkies and turn off the tele. Sorry to go on and on like that, if you have medical condition, obviously , that is an exception to the point that I’m trying to make. I’m just tired of people who defend poor behavior (OVEREATING) which is just as dangerous and far more prevelant ( at least in the US) than anorexia or bulemia. Look, we all have our faults, inside and out, but I think we should all encourage one another to be the best we can (reasonably, of course) instead of making excuses for eachother or feeling sad for ourselves.
Thanks for listing to me rant! And thanks for the website! Hope I didn’t tick off too many people…I’m just a natural pouncer too
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