why do men get all the breaks?

[BlaqueKatt]

new men's "fashion accessory"-the pot belly

Seems the sitting at a laptop guzzling 500+ calorie lattes has caught up with the hipsters*, and it's being promoted as "fashionable"-yet women still are required to be rail-thin and have a stomach you can balance a wine glass on(flat as a board)-no fair!

*Don't get me wrong, I'm all for people being comfortable in their own skin whatever they look like(and they should be- with over 6 billion people on the planet the only person's opinion that should have any bearing on how you feel about yourself is your own-hence the term "self-esteem" not "worry-what-everyone-else-thinks-of-me-esteem. No one can make you feel bad without your permission/consent)-but not make it a "hip new fashion accessory/trend for men only." I don't like "hipsters", and I don't like "fashion trends"-heck it took me months to find a two-piece swimsuit that came up to my actual waist rather than just above my "personal area" and below my hipbones(how do those even stay up?) pm me if you've been looking for one-they're great, not expensive($20 per piece so $40 total) and have a drawstring waistband for added "security"-

[violetyoshi]

I don't know what to tell you, but I'm sure this will fade away. I doubt anyone will take this fashion advice seriously, and people will go back to trying to appear at least of reasonable weight.

I think this is some sort of failed attempt at trying to mirror the fat acceptance movement, by including men. Either way, it's a fail, anyone with a brain will see that so it's a non-issue as far as I see it.

[guywithashovel]

I saw this article earlier today. I thought it was kind of weird.

Though there have been some societies in which heavy women were considered more attractive. So I guess some places cut women slack there.

[Mindflayer]

Ok, I found the article interesting until this came up:

This makes sense, in a way, but how does one account for the new prevalence of Ralph Kramdens? Have men given in or given up? Are they finished with asserting the privileges that have always accrued to men. Or is the Ralph Kramden Barack Obama’s fault?

I stopped reading after that because it just went into other political figures... and I just don't understand what that has ANYTHING to do with the original focus of the article.

[violetyoshi]

I saw this article earlier today. I thought it was kind of weird.

Though there have been some societies in which heavy women were considered more attractive. So I guess some places cut women slack there.

I saw Oprah talking about one, called Martania. She sang "There's a plaaaaccee fooorr usss!" as a joke, like finally somewhere where plus size women are hot!

[violetyoshi]

Ok, I found the article interesting until this came up:




I stopped reading after that because it just went into other political figures... and I just don't understand what that has ANYTHING to do with the original focus of the article.

That is WTF

[Boozy]

I stopped reading after that because it just went into other political figures... and I just don't understand what that has ANYTHING to do with the original focus of the article.

If you hadn't stopped reading, you would have noticed that the very next paragraph explained the reference:

Hipsters, by nature contrarian, according to Dan Peres, the editor of Details, may be reacting in opposition to a president who is not only, as the press relentlessly reminds us, So Darn Smart, but also hits the gym every morning, has a conspicuously flat belly and, when not rescuing the economy or sparring with Kim Jong-il, shoots hoops.

[Slytovhand]

Riiiggghhhhtttttttttttt..............

So.. not exercising is now a fashion statement...?????

NO, sorry, my not pulling my finger out is not going to be so excused! My gut is my responsibility (well, actually, it's my not taking responsibility, as the case happens to be!)

[Rapscallion]

Trying to see this as a break. Excess weight is bad for you, so...



Rapscallion

[BlaqueKatt]

Trying to see this as a break.

ummm now fashionable to be out of shape for men-but women still held to the "must be thinner than Kate Moss to be considered attractive" standard.

look at the "sex symbols from the 60's-80's most of them have graceful curves, and quite a few have the "dreaded tummy pooch" now look at today's fashion models*-mostly very bony angles and protruding pelvic bones/rib cages-sorry if your pelvic girdle is visible and I can count your ribs you're probably underweight-your skeleton is not supposed to stick out.

*yes I'm aware she's not a "model" but she is considered to be by many males I know to be the current "hottest thing under the sun"(I count 8 ribs and can see her full pelvic girdle)-I have no idea who current fashion models are as I do not follow fashion at all

[BroomJockey]

It used to be that being fat and pale meant you were rich. After all, it meant you didn't do intensive outdoor labour. Then office jobs came around, where you sat around inside all day, so being fit and tan meant you were rich because you could afford to spend time working out and being outside working on your tan. The standard keeps swinging.

My position on this particular thread? Non-issue. It's just the pendulum swinging again, so suck it up until it swings a bit further for the ladies.

[Rapscallion]

ummm now fashionable to be out of shape for men-but women still held to the "must be thinner than Kate Moss to be considered attractive" standard.

I'm more amused by the way fashion has effectively said that unhealthy is good.

Rapscallion

[DesignFox]

I don't find the gut to be attractive at all. I don't care if you are male or female. Suck it in. If you're happy. Great! But the gut will not be earning any swoons from me any time soon. Fashion accessory or not.

Even if guts came in style for women, I'd still be hiding mine! *laugh*

Now I'm thinking about that country song about "rockin' the beer gut..." *snicker*

[MystyGlyttyr]

Wait, that article was SERIOUS?

I saw the headline and just went "Eh, another Weekly World News that Yahoo misaimed" and read it giggling because I thought the the tongue was firmly in the cheek.

Ow.

[Boozy]

I have to admit that I found my husband's paunch adorable, when he had one. (He's working out again, so he's since lost it. And he still looks good to me. I guess I just like my husband in general. )

I think most men find a slightly voluptuous female figure more attractive than the typical fashion model's body. Super thin women may photograph well, but they look quite gaunt and boyish in real life. Most of the women my male friends drool over have nicely rounded hips and buttocks.