On the outset, it seemed like March was going to be a great time for women. This month, we celebrated International Women’s Day recognizing women’s social achievements and ongoing struggles in pursuit of economic, social, and political justice. Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton came together to recognize women’s human rights activists. And President Obama signed an executive order establishing a White House Council for Women and Girls. Yes, ma’am! This is our month! And just days later, the nation has come to focus on … Meghan McCain’s dress size. Oh.
By now, most people know about the fight that conservative talk-show host Laura Ingraham and wannabe-political-pundit Meghan (daughter of none other) McCain are having in the public sphere. For those of you who had the pleasure of missing it, I’ll spare you the discomfort of reliving it through Google. The synopsis: Laura, in the process of addressing Meghan’s lack of credentials, infers that Meghan is overweight. A rightly offended Meghan addresses the attack with the 2-prong-Jennifer-Love-Hewitt approach: You shouldn’t attack me, and all women, by focusing on my weight. Besides, I’m a size 8. That’s not fat.
Oh Meghan. You had me until the dress size. So what if you weren’t a size 8? What if you were a size 12, 16 or 22? Is there a number at which it is acceptable to publicly attack someone for her weight? There is no threshold where it is fair game to diminish a person because of her size. I don’t want to know what size you are, wish you were, or are pretending to be. It doesn’t matter and your protest is weakened by divulging what should be personal, and more importantly, inconsequential, information.
For years, women have been judged, at least in part, sometimes in whole, by how we look to the eye, instead of how we sound to the ear. When females defend ourselves against these kinds of disparaging remarks by revealing the numbers on our scales, a disservice is done to every person judged by her weight. Women across the career spectrum from Oprah Winfrey to Jessica Simpson should never have to answer for their sizes. Let’s do ourselves a favor and stop engaging in this self-destructive dialogue.
Save the dress size for your tailor.
This garbarge pops up frequently. When it does our "media" spends more time on it then it is worth and distracts people from real critical newsworthy issues facing our Nation and world.
It is all over and both sides of the aisle. It is unfortunate that people (politicians, talking heads, journalists and so on) can not simply disagree and debate the issues without swerving off point and making pointless, childish digs at one another.
But it is just the same and sometimes worse from the likes of Keith Olbermann, the White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, our Vice President and so on. When ALL these people say something stupid just to deflect attention from real issues, they should all be called out.
Look at the attention being focused on the 18 year-old daughter of GOV Palin and her on again off again relationship with the 19 year-old father of her baby? What honest purpose is the media serving by digging in at the former VP candidates daughter? Where is the concern? Is this newsworthy and should her relationship with that guy concern any of us?
Ingrahim was clearly out of line as well and perhaps she believes any publicity is good publicity. Meghan responded well for a 24 year-old…stating first that she shouldn't have been attacked AND oh by the way, I'm not fat. Perhaps she didn't need to go there, but by doing so doesn't in anyway suggest she thinks it is ok to make personal attacks against people who are larger then size 8. You chose to spend 2/3 of your post to be critical of her response.
All this is designed to keep people occupied and try to make them not focus on or forget the fact we are still in Iraq, the Pres is adopting Bush detainee policies, we are throwing trillions of dollars around with little accountability and at a time the nation is in incredible debt, unemployment on the rise and the economy tanking. So…we can have a discussion about this, or Rush Limbaugh vs. Michael Steele, or Reverand Wright, or that dude that tried to bomb police, judges and the pentagon during Vietnam, etc…
So…I fell for the same trick and here I am talking about Ingrahim calling Meghan fat and Meghan saying "no I'm not".
This garbarge pops up frequently. When it does our “media” spends more time on it then it is worth and distracts people from real critical newsworthy issues facing our Nation and world.
It is all over and both sides of the aisle. It is unfortunate that people (politicians, talking heads, journalists and so on) can not simply disagree and debate the issues without swerving off point and making pointless, childish digs at one another.
But it is just the same and sometimes worse from the likes of Keith Olbermann, the White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, our Vice President and so on. When ALL these people say something stupid just to deflect attention from real issues, they should all be called out.
Look at the attention being focused on the 18 year-old daughter of GOV Palin and her on again off again relationship with the 19 year-old father of her baby? What honest purpose is the media serving by digging in at the former VP candidates daughter? Where is the concern? Is this newsworthy and should her relationship with that guy concern any of us?
Ingrahim was clearly out of line as well and perhaps she believes any publicity is good publicity. Meghan responded well for a 24 year-old…stating first that she shouldn’t have been attacked AND oh by the way, I’m not fat. Perhaps she didn’t need to go there, but by doing so doesn’t in anyway suggest she thinks it is ok to make personal attacks against people who are larger then size 8. You chose to spend 2/3 of your post to be critical of her response.
All this is designed to keep people occupied and try to make them not focus on or forget the fact we are still in Iraq, the Pres is adopting Bush detainee policies, we are throwing trillions of dollars around with little accountability and at a time the nation is in incredible debt, unemployment on the rise and the economy tanking. So…we can have a discussion about this, or Rush Limbaugh vs. Michael Steele, or Reverand Wright, or that dude that tried to bomb police, judges and the pentagon during Vietnam, etc…
So…I fell for the same trick and here I am talking about Ingrahim calling Meghan fat and Meghan saying “no I’m not”.
American, all of the issues you mentioned are dire. But the way that women respond to attacks based on weight is important, too. The point is that, even subconsciously, Meghan's oft-repeated size-8 defense fuels the type of judgement that she is fighting against. And that is worth talking about.
American, all of the issues you mentioned are dire. But the way that women respond to attacks based on weight is important, too. The point is that, even subconsciously, Meghan’s oft-repeated size-8 defense fuels the type of judgement that she is fighting against. And that is worth talking about.
I think there should be a bipartisan congressional inquiry into this travesty.
Sorry for my sarcasm.
Keep fighting the good fight over name calling and the "I'm not fat, I'm a size 8" defense.
I'll stick with my Mom's lesson "sticks and stone may break my bones, names will never hurt me".
I think there should be a bipartisan congressional inquiry into this travesty.
Sorry for my sarcasm.
Keep fighting the good fight over name calling and the “I’m not fat, I’m a size 8” defense.
I’ll stick with my Mom’s lesson “sticks and stone may break my bones, names will never hurt me”.
Of course I am more concerned about my tax dollars going to AIG, Israel's murder of Palestinian children and its criminal occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, and President Obama's unwillingness or inability to adopt the right policy re: Gitmo detainees.
Nevertheless, I find this post very important and relevant as it captures, at least for me, several gender, class and race issues. First, the post, if you read creatively and think outside the box, indirectly raises the issue of white privilege. Meghan McCain, Anne Coulter and Laura Ingraham command so much attention from a white, male-dominated media simply because they are rich white women! As such, I am not surprised that this "cat fight" has dominated the air waves and trickled to the classic American buffoonery sessions that we call day time talk shows (i.e. the view). Second, as the author of the post indicates, women of all races and class strata have to go above and beyond to fit a certain image that is created and nurtured by a white-male dominated American society. That image, as displayed in every fashion and glamour magazine and every men's magazine is of a skinny white girl. Again if you think critically, what this posting exposes is the class and racial inequities in the areas of equal access to proper/adequate healthcare, nutrition, etc. We should absolutely care about a woman's size, especially if she is overweight. But our concern should have to do more with her health (diabetes, heart disease, cholesterol) and her equal access to proper medical care and not because we want her to fit into that two-piece before her next trip to Cancun!!!
White Priviledge? Meghan McCain? Give me a break.
Meghan is the daughter of John McCain who was the Son and Grandson of self-made succesful military career men. John McCain retired a CPT/O-6 field grade officer after serving his country and the U.S. Navy for 24 years. He was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for 5 1/2 years…TURNING DOWN the Viet Cong's multiple offers to release him since his Father was an Admiral at the time. He refused to leave earlier then any other man being held longer then him or receive special treatment.
After his military service he paid his dues starting his political career at the bottom and rising successfully to the U.S. Senate. HIS PATRIOTISM, SERVICE, WORK AND LEADERSHIP got him where he is today and in the position he is in to take care of his family NOT THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN.
I don't know much about Ann Coulter or Laura Ingraham…but the McCain's are not a product of "WHITE PRIVILEDGE". GIVE ME A BREAK.
Knock the chip of your shoulder. This is the USA and 2009. Anybody with the intestinal fortitude and personal drive can rise to be successful.
Brian, regarding your first comment, the issue may seem trivial to you, but the way women and girls in the U.S. are judged for their weight is a serious matter. This kind of discourse inspires millions of people to starve themselves in pursuit of a smaller size. The statistics are frightening. The Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness states that 1 in 5 women struggle with a disorder around food. 90% of the people with eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25. This is the "young women" audience that Meghan says she impacts. This isn't just about name-calling. It's about the influences that push far too many people into starving themselves, sometimes to death.
I assume white privilege had nothing to do with McCain getting a "don't do it again" response to his central role in the Keating scandal that cost American tax payers $120 billion. I assume white privilege had nothing to do with McCain referring to a Columbia and Harvard educated man (Now President)as "That one" Please forgive me for I digressed from what I identified earlier (and I do not suggest that this is the intention of the post's author) as a side issue that for me, represents the "real" hidden point: class, race and gender issues relating to inequities in access to proper health care/nutrition for women.
I am really worried for you if you think that I need to get rid of that boulder on my shoulder as this is 2009 America (and by that I assume you think race is no longer an issue since we have the first African American president and first African American Attorney general). White privilege, if you understand it properly, has nothing to do with your life story. And that's the sad part about that privilege: a dirt poor coal miner from Appalachia, just by being white, enjoys some sort of that privilege. As Eric Holder properly put it, we are indeed a nation of cowards when it comes to discussing race in an honest and transparent manner.
Of course I am more concerned about my tax dollars going to AIG, Israel’s murder of Palestinian children and its criminal occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, and President Obama’s unwillingness or inability to adopt the right policy re: Gitmo detainees.
Nevertheless, I find this post very important and relevant as it captures, at least for me, several gender, class and race issues. First, the post, if you read creatively and think outside the box, indirectly raises the issue of white privilege. Meghan McCain, Anne Coulter and Laura Ingraham command so much attention from a white, male-dominated media simply because they are rich white women! As such, I am not surprised that this “cat fight” has dominated the air waves and trickled to the classic American buffoonery sessions that we call day time talk shows (i.e. the view). Second, as the author of the post indicates, women of all races and class strata have to go above and beyond to fit a certain image that is created and nurtured by a white-male dominated American society. That image, as displayed in every fashion and glamour magazine and every men’s magazine is of a skinny white girl. Again if you think critically, what this posting exposes is the class and racial inequities in the areas of equal access to proper/adequate healthcare, nutrition, etc. We should absolutely care about a woman’s size, especially if she is overweight. But our concern should have to do more with her health (diabetes, heart disease, cholesterol) and her equal access to proper medical care and not because we want her to fit into that two-piece before her next trip to Cancun!!!
White Priviledge? Meghan McCain? Give me a break.
Meghan is the daughter of John McCain who was the Son and Grandson of self-made succesful military career men. John McCain retired a CPT/O-6 field grade officer after serving his country and the U.S. Navy for 24 years. He was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for 5 1/2 years…TURNING DOWN the Viet Cong’s multiple offers to release him since his Father was an Admiral at the time. He refused to leave earlier then any other man being held longer then him or receive special treatment.
After his military service he paid his dues starting his political career at the bottom and rising successfully to the U.S. Senate. HIS PATRIOTISM, SERVICE, WORK AND LEADERSHIP got him where he is today and in the position he is in to take care of his family NOT THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN.
I don’t know much about Ann Coulter or Laura Ingraham…but the McCain’s are not a product of “WHITE PRIVILEDGE”. GIVE ME A BREAK.
Knock the chip of your shoulder. This is the USA and 2009. Anybody with the intestinal fortitude and personal drive can rise to be successful.
Brian, regarding your first comment, the issue may seem trivial to you, but the way women and girls in the U.S. are judged for their weight is a serious matter. This kind of discourse inspires millions of people to starve themselves in pursuit of a smaller size. The statistics are frightening. The Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness states that 1 in 5 women struggle with a disorder around food. 90% of the people with eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25. This is the “young women” audience that Meghan says she impacts. This isn’t just about name-calling. It’s about the influences that push far too many people into starving themselves, sometimes to death.
Speak for yourself if you consider we are a nation of cowards. And don't worry for me.
Race issues exhist alright…just study your "reading into" the whole Ingraham calling Meghan fat thing and pulling race into it??? It is time for help get some.
God Bless you,
"THIS ONE" is Signing out….not "THAT ONE" ohhh dripping with racism. Call AL Sharpton and the NAACP.
I assume white privilege had nothing to do with McCain getting a “don’t do it again” response to his central role in the Keating scandal that cost American tax payers $120 billion. I assume white privilege had nothing to do with McCain referring to a Columbia and Harvard educated man (Now President)as “That one” Please forgive me for I digressed from what I identified earlier (and I do not suggest that this is the intention of the post’s author) as a side issue that for me, represents the “real” hidden point: class, race and gender issues relating to inequities in access to proper health care/nutrition for women.
I am really worried for you if you think that I need to get rid of that boulder on my shoulder as this is 2009 America (and by that I assume you think race is no longer an issue since we have the first African American president and first African American Attorney general). White privilege, if you understand it properly, has nothing to do with your life story. And that’s the sad part about that privilege: a dirt poor coal miner from Appalachia, just by being white, enjoys some sort of that privilege. As Eric Holder properly put it, we are indeed a nation of cowards when it comes to discussing race in an honest and transparent manner.
Speak for yourself if you consider we are a nation of cowards. And don’t worry for me.
Race issues exhist alright…just study your “reading into” the whole Ingraham calling Meghan fat thing and pulling race into it??? It is time for help get some.
God Bless you,
“THIS ONE” is Signing out….not “THAT ONE” ohhh dripping with racism. Call AL Sharpton and the NAACP.
ok, brian. i'll bite. you're an insensitive jerk.
ok, brian. i’ll bite. you’re an insensitive jerk.
Brian,
I actually welcome our exchange because it is quite healthy. I am not certain that you appreciarte my perspective so I will accept your points of view and call it a day. I hope that you are better able to communicate your disagreements professionally and maturely.
Brian,
I actually welcome our exchange because it is quite healthy. I am not certain that you appreciarte my perspective so I will accept your points of view and call it a day. I hope that you are better able to communicate your disagreements professionally and maturely.
Sarcasm in a debate doesn't equal insensitive jerk, unprofessional or a lack of maturity…but my bad anyway.
I'm sorry. And you are correct, I don't appreciate your perspective and will never understand you or like minded individuals. Race relations will continue to improve, but slower because a perfectly innocent "That One" spoken by a white presidential candidate when debating a biracial presidential candidate can be twisted and read into by individuals like you and just has to be racist. Way too defense and over the top. There is no smoke and there is no fire….subtle or otherwise.
A stupid back and forth argument between two white women about weight and politics…and it is only because they are products of "white priviledge".
Like I said, I don't deny race relations continue to have some improving to do…start with the one in the mirror.
Sarcasm in a debate doesn’t equal insensitive jerk, unprofessional or a lack of maturity…but my bad anyway.
I’m sorry. And you are correct, I don’t appreciate your perspective and will never understand you or like minded individuals. Race relations will continue to improve, but slower because a perfectly innocent “That One” spoken by a white presidential candidate when debating a biracial presidential candidate can be twisted and read into by individuals like you and just has to be racist. Way too defense and over the top. There is no smoke and there is no fire….subtle or otherwise.
A stupid back and forth argument between two white women about weight and politics…and it is only because they are products of “white priviledge”.
Like I said, I don’t deny race relations continue to have some improving to do…start with the one in the mirror.
Brain,
Obviously you have not looked at a TV lately. This issue is very serious. It has gotten so bad that they make fun of it on the animated shows. The average American teenage girl starves herself to look like these stars on TV. Moreover, no matter what you believe the media caters to woman under size 12. I have never seen a heavy reporter or anchor woman. If they exist , there probably low in numbers. Only channel I see big woman on is BET and TV1. Most shows have woman with long flowing hair look about a size 10. Look at Victoria Secret, H &M and a few others that very rarely carry clothes for larger woman. When I go to the mall, there are about 4 stores for heavy woman and about 40 for smaller woman. Or either they have a small section for them. Every where you go there is a picture of a skinny woman half dressed. If that is not a statement I don’t know what is. Just last month they released a new picture of Dora the Explore with long hair and a curvaceous body. The average 1 to 12 year old looks nothing like this. The fact is that larger woman are over looked and sometimes left out because of there size. Look what they did to Jessica Simpson. The people who influence the young children have to do better. Instead of saying I a not fat, it could have been worded a better. Something like, I love my size and who I am. Moreover, I too have a lot of issues that are important job loss, crime rates etc.. However, we also have to put our kids at the top of the list also. As for the race thing, I wouldn’t bring Al Sharpen into to this, but its people like you that he needs to sit down and have alone on one with. And maybe you can be open to another point of view instead of just your own. It never too late to learn something. And you my friend have a lot to learn about race relations and woman.
Why do I want to talk to Al Sharpton, and what can he teach me? How to be a race bater? Al Sharpton is a racist AND I QUOTE:
“White folks was in caves while we was building empires…. We taught philosophy and astrology and mathematics before Socrates and them Greek homos ever got around to it.”
When asked about Mitt Romney: "As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyways, so don't worry about that; that's a temporary situation."
"If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house" "Jews are a bunch a diamond merchants"
I'd like to ask him about Tawana Brawley; the Crown Heights Riots; the Duke Lacrosse team….and why Don Imus appology about "nappy headed hoes" wasn't enough when it certainly is no more offensive then comments Sharpton himself has made over and over and over again.
I sympathize with both young girls starving themselves and morbidly obese people…but I don't blame Meghan McCain for either. It is time for parenting and individual responsibility. My children are all exposed to the same movies, videos, and TV that glamorizes supermodels and tries to tell them what is beautiful. Responsible parents need to raise kids and teach them what is and isn't healthy.
God Bless,
He is a hypocrite and a tax cheat. I would love though to sit down with him and listen to his crap if he would be willing to answer my questions about
Al Sharpton doesn't want to talk to me cause I wouldn't be afraid to call him out on his B.S.
"Reverand" yeah…
Somehow my message got jumbled around a bit…but hopefully you get my drift
Who is the number 1 talk show host, very wealthy and successful woman and what channel is she on?
I'll give you a hint, she has never been petite, has infact struggled with her weight — having infact been dangerously overweight at times, and she ain't white and her show isn't on BET? She frequently had Barack Obama and Michelle on her show….but didn't extend the same to John McCain or Sarah Palin. Figure it out yet?
Brain,
Obviously you have not looked at a TV lately. This issue is very serious. It has gotten so bad that they make fun of it on the animated shows. The average American teenage girl starves herself to look like these stars on TV. Moreover, no matter what you believe the media caters to woman under size 12. I have never seen a heavy reporter or anchor woman. If they exist , there probably low in numbers. Only channel I see big woman on is BET and TV1. Most shows have woman with long flowing hair look about a size 10. Look at Victoria Secret, H &M and a few others that very rarely carry clothes for larger woman. When I go to the mall, there are about 4 stores for heavy woman and about 40 for smaller woman. Or either they have a small section for them. Every where you go there is a picture of a skinny woman half dressed. If that is not a statement I don’t know what is. Just last month they released a new picture of Dora the Explore with long hair and a curvaceous body. The average 1 to 12 year old looks nothing like this. The fact is that larger woman are over looked and sometimes left out because of there size. Look what they did to Jessica Simpson. The people who influence the young children have to do better. Instead of saying I a not fat, it could have been worded a better. Something like, I love my size and who I am. Moreover, I too have a lot of issues that are important job loss, crime rates etc.. However, we also have to put our kids at the top of the list also. As for the race thing, I wouldn’t bring Al Sharpen into to this, but its people like you that he needs to sit down and have alone on one with. And maybe you can be open to another point of view instead of just your own. It never too late to learn something. And you my friend have a lot to learn about race relations and woman.
Why do I want to talk to Al Sharpton, and what can he teach me? How to be a race bater? Al Sharpton is a racist AND I QUOTE:
“White folks was in caves while we was building empires…. We taught philosophy and astrology and mathematics before Socrates and them Greek homos ever got around to it.”
When asked about Mitt Romney: “As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyways, so don’t worry about that; that’s a temporary situation.”
“If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house” “Jews are a bunch a diamond merchants”
I’d like to ask him about Tawana Brawley; the Crown Heights Riots; the Duke Lacrosse team….and why Don Imus appology about “nappy headed hoes” wasn’t enough when it certainly is no more offensive then comments Sharpton himself has made over and over and over again.
I sympathize with both young girls starving themselves and morbidly obese people…but I don’t blame Meghan McCain for either. It is time for parenting and individual responsibility. My children are all exposed to the same movies, videos, and TV that glamorizes supermodels and tries to tell them what is beautiful. Responsible parents need to raise kids and teach them what is and isn’t healthy.
God Bless,
He is a hypocrite and a tax cheat. I would love though to sit down with him and listen to his crap if he would be willing to answer my questions about
Al Sharpton doesn’t want to talk to me cause I wouldn’t be afraid to call him out on his B.S.
“Reverand” yeah…
Somehow my message got jumbled around a bit…but hopefully you get my drift
Who is the number 1 talk show host, very wealthy and successful woman and what channel is she on?
I’ll give you a hint, she has never been petite, has infact struggled with her weight — having infact been dangerously overweight at times, and she ain’t white and her show isn’t on BET? She frequently had Barack Obama and Michelle on her show….but didn’t extend the same to John McCain or Sarah Palin. Figure it out yet?
Geez opened a can worms with this one.
Brian — though I agree with almost all your points, I think you can chill out a little with the sarcasm.
You do however manage to make a keypoint when it comes to parents raising kids.
We have two daughters 11 and 14. It is a challenge and a little difficult at time, but not extraordinarily difficult for my wife and I to raise them and prevent TV and mainstream society to do it for us. It breaks my heart to honestly say my kids are smarter then some of the friends PARENTS.
You continuosly praise your children and build self-esteem// teach them right from wrong//talk with them all the time//maintain a greater influence then teen popstars//teach the importance and benefits of a healthy diet and living a healthy lifestyle//and though not for everyone Church — we are active in our Church — and I for one believe that is a huge positive factor in our Children's lives. You raise and take care of your kids–you don't have to worry so much about the effects of "pretty" women dominating TV.
Besides ALL OF THAT…my children don't care 2 cents what Laura Ingraham and Meghan McCain are talking about anyway.
Bottom line – raise kids to know better…turn off the TV and talk to them.
Geez opened a can worms with this one.
Brian — though I agree with almost all your points, I think you can chill out a little with the sarcasm.
You do however manage to make a keypoint when it comes to parents raising kids.
We have two daughters 11 and 14. It is a challenge and a little difficult at time, but not extraordinarily difficult for my wife and I to raise them and prevent TV and mainstream society to do it for us. It breaks my heart to honestly say my kids are smarter then some of the friends PARENTS.
You continuosly praise your children and build self-esteem// teach them right from wrong//talk with them all the time//maintain a greater influence then teen popstars//teach the importance and benefits of a healthy diet and living a healthy lifestyle//and though not for everyone Church — we are active in our Church — and I for one believe that is a huge positive factor in our Children’s lives. You raise and take care of your kids–you don’t have to worry so much about the effects of “pretty” women dominating TV.
Besides ALL OF THAT…my children don’t care 2 cents what Laura Ingraham and Meghan McCain are talking about anyway.
Bottom line – raise kids to know better…turn off the TV and talk to them.
Thank you for your post, Dalia.
The amount of female energy and creative power dissipated in the pursuit of (often unnatural) thinness is appalling. A grown woman who makes derogatory remarks about other woman's weight should be ignored or corrected – treated as though she's said something immature and embarrassing (which she has).
Thank you for your post, Dalia.
The amount of female energy and creative power dissipated in the pursuit of (often unnatural) thinness is appalling. A grown woman who makes derogatory remarks about other woman’s weight should be ignored or corrected – treated as though she’s said something immature and embarrassing (which she has).