Comments on: the Fantasy of Being Thin is not just about becoming small enough to be perceived as more acceptable. It is about becoming an entirely different person – one with far more courage, confidence, and luck than the fat you has. http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2007/11/30/the-fantasy-of-being-thin-is-not-just-about-becoming-small-enough-to-be-perceived-as-more-acceptable-it-is-about-becoming-an-entirely-different-person-%e2%80%93-one-with-far-more-courage-confidence/ She'd much prefer to read a good book Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:40:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Fence http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2007/11/30/the-fantasy-of-being-thin-is-not-just-about-becoming-small-enough-to-be-perceived-as-more-acceptable-it-is-about-becoming-an-entirely-different-person-%e2%80%93-one-with-far-more-courage-confidence/#comment-15315 Fence Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:41:48 +0000 http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2007/11/30/the-fantasy-of-being-thin-is-not-just-about-becoming-small-enough-to-be-perceived-as-more-acceptable-it-is-about-becoming-an-entirely-different-person-%e2%80%93-one-with-far-more-courage-confidence/#comment-15315 Red, you're lucky to be avoiding it all. The Health Service is basically fucked up. So I think that Harney deserves a lot of grief, I just object to it being about her weight. Red, you’re lucky to be avoiding it all. The Health Service is basically fucked up. So I think that Harney deserves a lot of grief, I just object to it being about her weight.

]]> By: red http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2007/11/30/the-fantasy-of-being-thin-is-not-just-about-becoming-small-enough-to-be-perceived-as-more-acceptable-it-is-about-becoming-an-entirely-different-person-%e2%80%93-one-with-far-more-courage-confidence/#comment-15311 red Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:08:03 +0000 http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2007/11/30/the-fantasy-of-being-thin-is-not-just-about-becoming-small-enough-to-be-perceived-as-more-acceptable-it-is-about-becoming-an-entirely-different-person-%e2%80%93-one-with-far-more-courage-confidence/#comment-15311 I'm really tired of the slagging she's getting too. That said I am abroad and don't follow what she's been up to so I'm not up to speed on how much of a mess the health service is. At the same time like you I don't see why comments on her weight and appearance have to come into the argument. I’m really tired of the slagging she’s getting too. That said I am abroad and don’t follow what she’s been up to so I’m not up to speed on how much of a mess the health service is. At the same time like you I don’t see why comments on her weight and appearance have to come into the argument.

]]> By: Fence http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2007/11/30/the-fantasy-of-being-thin-is-not-just-about-becoming-small-enough-to-be-perceived-as-more-acceptable-it-is-about-becoming-an-entirely-different-person-%e2%80%93-one-with-far-more-courage-confidence/#comment-15308 Fence Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:34:28 +0000 http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2007/11/30/the-fantasy-of-being-thin-is-not-just-about-becoming-small-enough-to-be-perceived-as-more-acceptable-it-is-about-becoming-an-entirely-different-person-%e2%80%93-one-with-far-more-courage-confidence/#comment-15308 @ James: I'm sure that is part of it, but I don't remember half as many comments about Brian Cowen. Course maybe it is just that there are more bloggers about now. @ James: I’m sure that is part of it, but I don’t remember half as many comments about Brian Cowen. Course maybe it is just that there are more bloggers about now.

]]> By: James http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2007/11/30/the-fantasy-of-being-thin-is-not-just-about-becoming-small-enough-to-be-perceived-as-more-acceptable-it-is-about-becoming-an-entirely-different-person-%e2%80%93-one-with-far-more-courage-confidence/#comment-15307 James Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:05:48 +0000 http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2007/11/30/the-fantasy-of-being-thin-is-not-just-about-becoming-small-enough-to-be-perceived-as-more-acceptable-it-is-about-becoming-an-entirely-different-person-%e2%80%93-one-with-far-more-courage-confidence/#comment-15307 True in general, and overall I'm sure there is sexism behind many of the widespread jibes from the public - I'm not denying the fact that an overweight woman will get more personal attacks focused on physical appearence than an overweight man in a similar position. I'm just saying that many of the individual jibes from bloggers and others are motivated by the "obese minister for health" irony moreso than some kind of "who does this fat woman think she is?" mentality. True in general, and overall I’m sure there is sexism behind many of the widespread jibes from the public - I’m not denying the fact that an overweight woman will get more personal attacks focused on physical appearence than an overweight man in a similar position. I’m just saying that many of the individual jibes from bloggers and others are motivated by the “obese minister for health” irony moreso than some kind of “who does this fat woman think she is?” mentality.

]]> By: Fence http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2007/11/30/the-fantasy-of-being-thin-is-not-just-about-becoming-small-enough-to-be-perceived-as-more-acceptable-it-is-about-becoming-an-entirely-different-person-%e2%80%93-one-with-far-more-courage-confidence/#comment-15306 Fence Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:04:28 +0000 http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2007/11/30/the-fantasy-of-being-thin-is-not-just-about-becoming-small-enough-to-be-perceived-as-more-acceptable-it-is-about-becoming-an-entirely-different-person-%e2%80%93-one-with-far-more-courage-confidence/#comment-15306 @ JP "deep-seated kind of sexism" I think that is it. It is almost an accepted part of society, so we don't really see it. @ JP “deep-seated kind of sexism”
I think that is it. It is almost an accepted part of society, so we don’t really see it.

]]> By: Fence http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2007/11/30/the-fantasy-of-being-thin-is-not-just-about-becoming-small-enough-to-be-perceived-as-more-acceptable-it-is-about-becoming-an-entirely-different-person-%e2%80%93-one-with-far-more-courage-confidence/#comment-15303 Fence Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:01:14 +0000 http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2007/11/30/the-fantasy-of-being-thin-is-not-just-about-becoming-small-enough-to-be-perceived-as-more-acceptable-it-is-about-becoming-an-entirely-different-person-%e2%80%93-one-with-far-more-courage-confidence/#comment-15303 I don't know James. I don't get the whole argument that because she is overweight she is a bad example or something. Especially considering the fact that you can look hugely overweight and yet still be quite healthy. Do you think that if she were overly skinny she'd get the abuse? I don't think so. As for the whole sexism? I'm not sure, because others do take flak, as you say, but it is something that comes up a lot more in conversations about female politicians. I don’t know James. I don’t get the whole argument that because she is overweight she is a bad example or something.
Especially considering the fact that you can look hugely overweight and yet still be quite healthy.
Do you think that if she were overly skinny she’d get the abuse? I don’t think so.

As for the whole sexism? I’m not sure, because others do take flak, as you say, but it is something that comes up a lot more in conversations about female politicians.

]]> By: jean pierre http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2007/11/30/the-fantasy-of-being-thin-is-not-just-about-becoming-small-enough-to-be-perceived-as-more-acceptable-it-is-about-becoming-an-entirely-different-person-%e2%80%93-one-with-far-more-courage-confidence/#comment-15302 jean pierre Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:56:50 +0000 http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2007/11/30/the-fantasy-of-being-thin-is-not-just-about-becoming-small-enough-to-be-perceived-as-more-acceptable-it-is-about-becoming-an-entirely-different-person-%e2%80%93-one-with-far-more-courage-confidence/#comment-15302 i think there may be some sexism in that. in that woman certainly do get a lot more flack for being unattractive or over weight. sometimes, of course, people just use whatever they can - be it the person's race, gender, appearance, whatever - just as fodder. but i think the fact that people can so easily and unselfconsciously refer to appearance when it comes to women says something in itself. i think it implies a deep-seated kind of sexism, perhaps. or something. you know? otherwise that kind of fodder wouldn't be so quick at the ready. i think there may be some sexism in that.

in that woman certainly do get a lot more flack for being unattractive or over weight.

sometimes, of course, people just use whatever they can - be it the person’s race, gender, appearance, whatever - just as fodder. but i think the fact that people can so easily and unselfconsciously refer to appearance when it comes to women says something in itself. i think it implies a deep-seated kind of sexism, perhaps. or something. you know? otherwise that kind of fodder wouldn’t be so quick at the ready.

]]> By: James http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2007/11/30/the-fantasy-of-being-thin-is-not-just-about-becoming-small-enough-to-be-perceived-as-more-acceptable-it-is-about-becoming-an-entirely-different-person-%e2%80%93-one-with-far-more-courage-confidence/#comment-15300 James Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:05:13 +0000 http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2007/11/30/the-fantasy-of-being-thin-is-not-just-about-becoming-small-enough-to-be-perceived-as-more-acceptable-it-is-about-becoming-an-entirely-different-person-%e2%80%93-one-with-far-more-courage-confidence/#comment-15300 Fair point, but I dunno about the sexism. Brian Cowen takes a fair bit of flak over his appearance. Mary Harney is getting it mainly because she is minister for health. If she were minister for education, then I would back your point 100% - but there is an irony here that we also saw when Jim McDaid, minister for transport, was caught drunk driving down the wrong side of the Naas dual carriageway, or when Mr. Ahern, our minister for finance, didn't even have a bank account. I still agree with you, but I don't take offense over the jibes about Harney's weight because at least the argument has some reason behind it. Fair point, but I dunno about the sexism. Brian Cowen takes a fair bit of flak over his appearance. Mary Harney is getting it mainly because she is minister for health. If she were minister for education, then I would back your point 100% - but there is an irony here that we also saw when Jim McDaid, minister for transport, was caught drunk driving down the wrong side of the Naas dual carriageway, or when Mr. Ahern, our minister for finance, didn’t even have a bank account. I still agree with you, but I don’t take offense over the jibes about Harney’s weight because at least the argument has some reason behind it.

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