Michelle Obama's...rear?? Are you kidding me?

[GrayMatterWife]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifest...0ba_story.html

This is an article (editorial?) that ran in the Washington Post today regarding...the public criticism of Michelle Obama's rear end. I am not kidding.

On one hand, yes, I think she has invited people to review her own physical fitness and nutrition, since she began her "Move It" campaign to have the government more involved in children's nutrition. I am not saying that people have no right to comment if they believe that she is pulling a "do as I say, not as I do" in her advocacy. But, what I don't get is: how anyone arrived at the conclusion that she is (1) overweight or (2) has a large posterior! She clearly does free weights, and looks trim and healthy every time I've seen her.

She's not overweight. She does not have a large rear end. Am I missing something?

And, even weirder, the Washington Post is arguing that any criticism of Mrs. Obama's weight is...racial subtext. That it is a way to be "reminded" that she is black (as if we aren't aware of this fact??). WTF? Because...there are not fat white women? Totally not following that. Not following how nasty bottom-end remarks invoke racial issues, other than they are being made about a black woman. It sounds a whole lot more like the usual petty crap we throw at women (like calling Laura Bush "a librarian," which is both factual and suggests she is a boring in personality and dress, or criticizing HRC's calves/ankles, etc.).

I am not even sure this belongs in "Debates"...! But seriously...she is not fat.

[MissCrabette]

You'll all probably stone me after I say this, but... Yes, she is fat. She might not be overweight by medical standards, but she's not at her ideal weight either. She's tall and carries her weight well, and she also dresses herself well. I'll give her that.

But having said that, let me just also say that there are healthy overweight people out there just as there are unhealthy thin people. Also, I don't believe that someone's worth is even remotely related to his/her weight.

I know she's trying to do a good thing, but criticism of her own lifestyle choices and appearance comes with that territory. I'm sure she knew that going in.

ETA: What upsets me is that this is even a story in a supposedly reputable paper. Seriously? Don't we have more important things to worry about?

[ladymoreta]

What a strange article! I think the speaker was very rude in calling anyone those names, regardless of whether or not they're the First Lady, black or white, fat or thin. And she's obviously, to me at least, very healthy, fit, and beautiful!

[MsSassyBaskets]

And, even weirder, the Washington Post is arguing that any criticism of Mrs. Obama's weight is...racial subtext. That it is a way to be "reminded" that she is black (as if we aren't aware of this fact??). WTF? Because...there are not fat white women? Totally not following that. Not following how nasty bottom-end remarks invoke racial issues, other than they are being made about a black woman...

You've never heard the term "ghetto booty"? You've never heard the song "Baby Got Back"? Comments on physicality certainly do invoke racial issues. I haven't heard anything about the comments in question but I wouldn't make a snap judgment that they COULDN'T POSSIBLY be racial in nature.

But WORD on calling bullshit on the constant physical commentary about women in the public eye. Sick of it.

[GrayMatterWife]

You've never heard the term "ghetto booty"?

No.

You've never heard the song "Baby Got Back"?

Yes, I've heard it.

I think I am just sick of any legitimate criticism of the Obama administration resulting in their supporters screaming "RACISM!" I am not a racist because I strongly disagree with most everything the Administration has done. Cry wolf enough, and no one believes you. I guess I am predisposed to thinking any invocation of "RACISM!" it is just another way to try and silence people. I am more inclined to think that people are just being nasty toward a woman because criticizing her appearance is the easiest way to insult her, rather than being nasty as a racist.[/QUOTE]

[MsSassyBaskets]

I am more inclined to think that people are just being nasty toward a woman because criticizing her appearance is the easiest way to insult her, rather than being nasty as a racist.

I agree with the first part, I'm just saying it CAN be both. Black women are the subject of a disproportionate number of comments about butts. It's a racial stereotype that may or may not have been intended on the part of the commenter.

Regardless, it's in bad taste. On top of that, the Washington Post should NEVER have picked it up -- they're just reinforcing the notion that it's acceptable to analyze and deconstruct women's physiques rather than their achievements and actions.

[diggitydot]

Not being at whatever is listed as an "ideal weight" doesn't equate to being "fat". Those ideals, similar to BMI, are antiquated, imperfect, and don't take into consideration differences in body types. DH is technically "obese" by his BMI. He has less than 8% body fat and is in amazing shape. He is in no way fat.

Why does this bullshit come up with women in any kind of high-profile position? Who fucking cares if her ass is a little larger than the writer thinks it should be? Who the fuck gives a fat rat's ass even if she WERE eating like shit and sitting on her couch all day? Why does ANYONE care?

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Who the fuck gives a fat rat's ass even if she WERE eating like shit and sitting on her couch all day? Why does ANYONE care?

Well I would care about this. She has an childhood obesity initiative and should therefore role model good behavior.

Body types are actually racial. Fat is stored differently depending on where your ancestors live. All women need fat to bear children, breastfeed, and survive. Woman of European descent and colder climates have it all over their bodies (obviously there are individual variations) while women from warmer climates concentrate their fat in their hips and their butts so it doesn't make them as hot if they had it all over. It's the same as variations in skin tone based on evolution. It actually is racial.

[niener]

Well I would care about this. She has an childhood obesity initiative and should therefore role model good behavior.

Body types are actually racial. Fat is stored differently depending on where your ancestors live. All women need fat to bear children, breastfeed, and survive. Woman of European descent and colder climates have it all over their bodies (obviously there are individual variations) while women from warmer climates concentrate their fat in their hips and their butts so it doesn't make them as hot if they had it all over. It's the same as variations in skin tone based on evolution. It actually is racial.

Agreed. I haven't read the article yet so doing a bit of drive-by posting here, but calling a black woman fat because she has a big rear is a clear racial remark to me. DH likes to joke he only married me for my ass (I've got a lot of junk in the trunk "for a white girl" ).

[diggitydot]

Diet and exercise aren't an "all or nothing" deal. You can eat shit in moderation and still be healthy. You can be lazy in moderation and still be healthy.

If MO wants to occasionally eat Oreos from her sofa, good for her.

[niener]

So I just read the article and my first thought was "Dammit, this idiot would be from Alabama..." . In case you didn't click on the link that took you to the transcript of the guy's speech, after calling Michelle "fat butt" he went on to discuss his disdain of "queers"... soooo, yeah, perhaps not the most racially sensitive person ever.

Not being at whatever is listed as an "ideal weight" doesn't equate to being "fat". Those ideals, similar to BMI, are antiquated, imperfect, and don't take into consideration differences in body types. DH is technically "obese" by his BMI. He has less than 8% body fat and is in amazing shape. He is in no way fat.

This!! Even as a college athlete with 4% body fat, DH was considered "overweight". BMI parameters are based on young and middle aged white males in the mid 1800s and are otherwise just short of useless. What "ideal" are we trying to hold her up against exactly? Is hourglass "ideal"? Is 36-24-36 "ideal"? Is 150 lbs "ideal"? I've never seen a photo of Michelle Obama that made me think she needed to loose weight. She clearly exercises, does some kind of strength training, and given her healthy eating platform and the fact that I've never seen evidence to the contrary, I can only imagine she eats a fairly balanced diet with the occasional appropriate splurge. Now if she were a junk food addict and scarfed down pizza and ice cream daily, that would be a story. This? Not a story.

[MarissaNicole]

You'll all probably stone me after I say this, but... Yes, she is fat. She might not be overweight by medical standards, but she's not at her ideal weight either. She's tall and carries her weight well, and she also dresses herself well. I'll give her that.

I don't get how she is "fat"

Granted I have no idea what her height, weight, pant size is... but when I look at her I do NOT think fat, unhealthy, or even heavy.

I totally agree with dd/niener in that I don't think BMI is accurate because it doesn't take into account muscle vs. fat or gender.

ETA: after reading the context of the comments - its important to note that it wasn't like he was intending for his comments to be publicized and the only reason it got any attention was probably because of the more alarming reference to "queers." Which again I think is much more disturbing.

[SuzySunshine]

Wasn't this in the NYT yesterday? Anyway, I can see how people think she has a big rear but do I think she's fat? No - do I think its racism to make an issue out of this? No. I think all first ladies, wives in important positions, etc. are criticized about something. With Hillary it was her hair and her pant suits with Michelle its her rear end. Do some women have larger rear ends? Yes - are some white and some black? Yes.

Must be a slow news day!

[MissCrabette]

I agree that the BMI is not a very useful measurement.

I also think that she is healthy and obviously works out. She's skinny-fat. She has parts of her body that are fit and trim and others that aren't. She has junk in the trunk... and tummy. I'll bet you if she tried the caliper test, she wouldn't fare too well. Neither would I. Obviously she is a 49-year-old woman and doesn't look like a teenager anymore, but let's just admit that she has gained some weight over the years. Nothing wrong with that. It happens to most people.

I think that we as a nation have become somewhat blind to obesity. We just don't see it anymore unless it's extreme. There are numerous studies of parents not noticing it in their own children. And since so many of us are overweight and obese, we tend to get defensive when someone like her gets attacked for being fat. What about the rest of us? Are we lard-asses? I'm not going to go there.

The point is that she put herself out there as pretty much the face of this program. As far as I'm concerned, she's a great spokesperson for it because she obviously works out and tries to eat sensibly. But let's not get so outraged when someone says that she has a fat ass. She does.

[scrub-jay]

I'm more concerned about the underlying body image issues for women and girls that this type of article feeds. Is is reasonable to consider that there is one "healthy" body type per gender?