Sunday, August 5, 2012

J.K. Rowling On Body Image

Our eldest came across this via Instagram - we love this:

“Fat’ is usually the first insult a girl throws at another girl when she wants to hurt her.

I mean, is ‘fat’ really the worst thing a human being can be? Is ‘fat’ worse than ‘vindictive’, ‘jealous’, ‘shallow’, ‘vain’, ‘boring’ or ‘cruel’? Not to me; but then, you might retort, what do I know about the pressure to be skinny? I’m not in the business of being judged on my looks, what with being a writer and earning my living by using my brain…

I went to the British Book Awards that evening. After the award ceremony I bumped into a woman I hadn’t seen for nearly three years. The first thing she said to me? ‘You’ve lost a lot of weight since the last time I saw you!’

‘Well,’ I said, slightly nonplussed, ‘the last time you saw me I’d just had a baby.’

What I felt like saying was, ‘I’ve produced my third child and my sixth novel since I last saw you. Aren’t either of those things more important, more interesting, than my size?’ But no – my waist looked smaller! Forget the kid and the book: finally, something to celebrate!

I’ve got two daughters who will have to make their way in this skinny-obsessed world, and it worries me, because I don’t want them to be empty-headed, self-obsessed, emaciated clones; I’d rather they were independent, interesting, idealistic, kind, opinionated, original, funny – a thousand things, before ‘thin’. And frankly, I’d rather they didn’t give a gust of stinking chihuahua flatulence whether the woman standing next to them has fleshier knees than they do. Let my girls be Hermiones, rather than Pansy Parkinsons.”

- J.K. Rowling

3 comments:

Marissa from 1st Birthday Outfits For Girls said...

Yes,i felt the same thing.Being an obese is really hard for me.:( But still trying to lose weight for my coming wedding.

Andrea from Blue Light LLC said...

You haven't heard what is worse. What if it is not even your friend who told you that you are fat? What if it is the Pediatrician of your baby? You just had a baby, probably 5 months ago and the Pedia expects you to have lost all your pregnancy weight or slimmer. Body shaming is rampant these days. SO don't be surprised whose gonna tell you those words next.

Iya from Kingdom Talents said...

Good for you Marissa! I hope you were successful on your journey to lose weight for your wedding. I on the other hand, is having a hard time. I didn't loose my pregnancy weight and my tummy stayed as big as when I was 8 months pregnant. I was ashamed to go out and mingle with friends even with relatives. They never forget to remind and rub it in how fat I am today. It's just a lovely greetings, telling you how fat and it's a sin that you let it that way. How cruel...

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