Heh! Heh!
What a thread! My 2 cents: (and I know you didn't ask for it)
I work with many women, actors mostly, where the pressure to be thin is preposterous. Some of them show up in class bone thin, and where there used to be energy and vitality, there is now a sort of anemic tiredness. But hey, their low slung jeans look great, the navel piercings are shining on their tight abs, and they're proud. That's not vanity, that's enslavement.
On the other hand Petie boy, I didn't take much offense to anything you said and found it all amusing. My mother, in her 90's, always said, "Put your nose in the air, and a smile on your face, and your $2.00 Woolworth's dress will look great." She was proud as a peacock, and yes, vain. I'm vain myself. Vain enough to know that what I see now in the mirror ain't what I saw 20 years ago. So, in terms of your visualization stuff, I rather liked what you said, and am in total agreement
when it comes to me . But then again, I think I have a fairly healthy maturity about these things.
Perhaps others here may be struggling with deeper and more complex issues, and the defensiveness you sense is just the shock troops guarding the camp: women who've gone around, been around, and know the landscape pretty well. We need them for those who can't do it for themselves. I only wish some of the women I teach could defend themselves so well. Most, sadly, would probably agree with you.
Anyway, to change the subject, try this visualisation: Who's sexier: Marilyn Monroe or Gwyneth Paltrow?
The typical female media role model now looks like a boy. No hips, not even waist definition.
It's a big deal that Camryn Manheim is working. What? SHe's fantastic!
I'm not as sophisticated as Karen, Nat and others who've devoted more thought to this subject. And I can be pretty cavalier and could easily get myself into hot water like you did here. Except for one thing: I'm a woman Petie. It helps. I keep hearing beautiful vibrant young women disatisfied with their bodies. And I'm pretty sure not many of them would debate you. Now how would you feel about that?
There ain't a whole deal of deductive and inductive logic going on here, in my answer, just some ideas I wanted to share with you, so you might have a better lay of the land.
I liked your original post and was going to say "right on! " --- till I read the analysis. At first I thought it was all so humourless, and felt a little sorry for you, still do, because I thought you started off rather earnestly. But then I reconsidered and understood that some people here have thought a lot harder, and a lot deeper about these issues than both me, and you, pal.
SO my advice Pete, is take it on the chin! And no hard feelings okay?
So long guy,
Ruby