Thursday, August 16, 2007

Boobylicious

More quality than the TAB form guide...


A couple of days ago, I sent an email out to my entire address book in what I thought was a relatively passive gesture (although one designed to make the recipients privately furious). The email contained a link to this article about a competition Zoo magazine is running to win breast implants for one lucky lady (or more specifically, one lucky male’s girlfriend).




As Ruby pointed out, I probably should have requested an ix-nay on the hitting reply all button. Instead, there’s a fiery debate occurring via email and lord knows how many people who’ve thus far refrained from commenting are getting jacked off with me for starting this whole thing. Oy, vey!

Praise Dumbledore for delivering unto us Web 2.0. I should have just blogged it in the first place...

So I’m moving the debate here, at which point it will undoubtedly die as is the rule of Sod’s Law. I’d rather it didn’t, but I feel it incumbent upon me not to isolate the many people who aren’t able to have endless replies filtering their inbox. Sorry y’all.

---
The
article in question, from The Daily Telegraph:



“MEN'S magazine Zoo has been blasted for a sleazy competition that invites male readers to "win" their girlfriend a boob job by sending in shots of her cleavage.


Women's health groups have attacked the magazine, branding the competition a poor-taste publicity stunt that is unethical and possibly even illegal.

"I'm disgusted and appalled, and very doubtful they can even offer major body modification as a prize," said public health researcher Dr Jenny O'Dea, of the University of Sydney.

"You simply cannot treat women in this way, like objects there for men's satisfaction."

Zoo Weekly magazine has launched the online competition offering $10,000 breast implants as a prize to the girl "who deserves it most".

"One lucky Zoo reader will be able to give his girlfriend the ultimate present," magazine editor Paul Merrill said in a statement.

"It's impossible to think of a more romantic gift than new breasts. [Hear that? IMPOSSIBLE! Seriously, try and think of something MORE ROMANTIC! See! YOU CAN'T!!]

"It's the gift that keeps on giving."

The magazine has called for men, or their girlfriends, to send in shots of the woman's cleavage which are then voted on by readers.

"Once we've got them all in, our readers will vote for who deserves it the most," said Mr Merrill, who believes this is the first competition of its kind in the world.

"The winner will receive the plastic surgery valued at $10,000."

Dr Howard Webster, president of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, said the organisation strongly disapproved of the stunt.

"It's medically unethical to offer surgery as a prize and furthermore it's inappropriate for a guy to win this prize and offer it to his girlfriend," Dr Webster said.

"What would we think if a women's magazine ran a lottery for a penis enlargement and asked women to volunteer their boyfriends?"

He said any surgeon who agreed to carry out the operation may be in breach of medical ethics and even the law.

A publicist for the magazine said the surgeon was still yet to be confirmed.

Asked if she was aware that such a competition may be illegal, she said "that may be the case but that's something the winner can sort out directly."

Meanwhile, sexuality researcher Dr Julie Mooney-Somers, of the University of NSW, said she was concerned men would volunteer women without their knowledge.

"What's to say these women even want a boob job or that it's even safe for them to have it," said Dr Mooney-Somers.

"There may be some very horrified women out there thanks to this."”



---

I think Paul Merril is what used to be referred to (in desperately politically incorrect times) as an 'indian giver'.

But I’d expect nothing less from Zoo. What saddens me are the number of men and women who responded to this story in The Tele. I wish we could get to the stage where people could see that women’s groups aren’t made up of green skinned wicked witches who regularly get together to shoot the shit and cast spells with menstrual blood and testicles. It’s this very example of abusing stereotypes that has recently led me to temper my blanket disapproval of Liberals – but that’s a post for another time…


Here are the choicest comments from the pool of despair that met me following the article:

This has been done before, very successfully i might add, In a UK magazine called Redline. Its a car magazine. The competition was a huge success, and the girls who were entered felt excited about the price they where going to win. People forget that girls want nice breasts, this will certainly help someone feel better about themselves. Brilliant.

Posted by: Matt 9:34am today Comment 33 of 34

Actually, I have nice breasts already. They’re kind of small and they don’t look amazing in a bathing suit but they serve their purpose well. I guess their diminutive size is why I have such APPALLING SELF ESTEEM and nothing at all to do with the fact that I’m constantly told how blondes have more fun.



Victoria of Melbourne - Sweetheart, I think you've gone abit far with this one. I do understand and appreciate womens rights groups, but seriously, everyone has taken this way too far 'If a woman wants a breast augmentation, that should be her own private and independent decision, not a publicity ploy at the hands of a media outlet and a selfish desire by her partner'. I wouldn't call this a selfish desire by someones partner. You know how many women out there would love to get their boobs done if they had the money. I just think You really need to chill out and get a life honey!! Maybe if you took the time out and stopped whinging, perhaps you could see the funny side to this...

Posted by: Beck of Leichhardt 8:49am today Comment 29 of 34

Ah yes. The whinging argument. I dislike it, therefore I am a sad, bitter, shrivelled up old sexless spinster who just needs to lighten up and ‘find the fun’. I always forget that.


Relax. The women should be rapt that their husbands were thinking about them by entering them in this competition!

Posted by: Marty of Melbourne 6:09pm August 13, 2007 Comment 22 of 34

And they say romance is dead…


Yes mens mags are sexist, but hey what do you expect! I would have a huge laugh if my boyfriend entered me in the competition and would be even happier if I won. People win cosmetics and cars to make them feel better, why not a boob job? Maybe if people are worried about how it would affect the women who doen't know they are being entered, they must also authorise the entry

Posted by: sarah of sydney 5:33pm August 13, 2007 Comment 19 of 34

It does seem to be the polite thing to do, doesn’t it? Honey, just so you know, I think your breasts are SMASHING, but they could be a bit more SMASHINGER. Cue you feeling better about yourself!



There are thousands of women who are more than happy to get boob jobs - so why not save yourself the $10,000 in the process? It should probably be women submitting their own entries though, rather than winning and feeling liek they have to proceed even if it's not what they want!

Posted by: AD of Sydney 5:26pm August 13, 2007 Comment 18 of 34

Gosh, it would be terrible if they felt they had to proceed even if they didn’t want to! Still, recovery times these days is supposed to be awfully fast, and she’ll have the groping hands of her partner to ride her through the pain.



gee if i was a girl and had small breasts, and wanted a booby job , i'd send my own entry in

Posted by: pete of nowra 4:40pm August 13, 2007 Comment 4 of 34

Gee, if my boyfriend said ‘booby’, I’d punch him in the willy.


And it's Beck again...

I think these stupid women's group have gone abit far with this. My boyfriend buys Zoo religiously each week, and I do read it. There is some bits that may seem to go abit far, but I think it's only meant to be abit of fun, and it shouldn't be taken too seriously. We have a good laugh at some of the stuff that's in it, overall I think it is a great magazine with an even better price tag. And I'd be very greatful if my boyfriend won me a boob job!!! Maybe I'll send in a pic of my cleavage..

Posted by: Beck of Leichhardt 4:37pm August 13, 2007 Comment 3 of 34

The thing people often forget about women’s advocacy groups, Beck, is that you get to work because they made it happen. The sexual empowerment thing – that came from Playboy. And boy don’t I feel empowered now! Who even NEEDS a brain?



Simple, if your offended by it, dont buy the mag, and dont enter the comp. My girlfriend would like me to win it for her. While it would be very, very poor form for a bloke to take a pic and send it in without his girlfriends knowledge or approval, who are you do gooders to tell everyone else what their beliefs should be? Get over yourselves

Posted by: Nathan Smith of WA 1:59am today Comment 26 of 34

Right now I’m more offended by your atrocious disregard for grammar. Wait….nope, back to being offended by your ability to breathe.



WOMANS HEALTH GROUP... a bunch of old hags who got nothing better to do then to whinge about us guys having abit of fun.

Posted by: fernando of city 9:21pm August 13, 2007 Comment 24 of 34

I know! It’s really mean. Why don’t you go out and date rape someone for a spot of fun? I’ll stand watch and scare do-gooders away with my wrinkled up Medusa face.



Dr Webster's got it right. When are Cleo and Cosmopolitan going to run a penis enlargement contest? Would Paul Merrill like to send a picture in?

Posted by: Jessica of Coffs 6:38pm August 13, 2007 Comment 23 of 34

Jessica, you speak my language! (Haggish)


---


Now, all the people that were so terribly inconvenienced by the email thread (and I completely get it if you were) please feel free to live in blissful ignorance of the comments on this post. Love to you all xoxo


Peace out (hags)

31 apples:

Nai said...

Apologies to those who have already read my two cents on the infamous email, but here it is again. Let the flaming begin.

"What would we think if a women's magazine ran a lottery for a penis enlargement and asked women to volunteer their boyfriends?"

--- I can imagine the (justifiable) outrage from men regarding how humiliating and debasing this would be. Scarily, boob jobs and other 'body modification' has become so acceptable for women that there will be plenty of women who will happily put themselves into the competition. They'll probably claim it makes them feel more empowered. Of course it won't make the feel empowered, it will make them feel valued and the fact that they are unable to differentiate between empowerment and being valued is the real problem with this scenario.

actonb said...

firstly - you go girl! Look at the blogging frenzy you've whipped yourself into!

secondly - I wasn't irritated by the 'reply all' exchange of ideas. It was rather novel to have intelligent arguments cluttering my inbox... although it's been an age since I was at uni, so wasn't aware that 'jiggery-wankery' was an academic term. I feel so old.

And in need of a boob job, obvs.

susanna said...

nai - so it was you who said that on the email thread? bravo. i agreed and agree.

we all know (well i do) what a unreconstructed 2nd wave, hairy old femmo i am (and thus a very bright shade of green indeed, with a tall, pointy hat), so you know what i think - GO AUDS!

i really enjoyed the email shitfig...er thread. i didn't feel i could express my complete agreement creatively enough (a la nai above) to add anything to the debate.

mskp said...

i loved it too.

and i have an irrational hatred of people whining about hitting reply all. seriously, get over yourself.

i also deplore the slicing open of women's chests to insert gluggy bags of liquid, as much as i hate the laissez-faire attitude of society towards the practice. the magazine competition just fuses all these concerns together into a salient reminder. i'm most alarmed by the rejoinder of smart people that feminism is a wank, or that feminism actually caused this abuse of women, or that nothing we say or do can change anything. i find comments like this more devastating from people who should know better, than i do from a shock jock or the average fuckwit writing into the tele.

but i guess that's because i'm a jiggery-wankery, boring, nasty, militant, ugly, sexless, elitist, old feminist bitch. so i WOULD think that, wouldn't i?

Nai said...

Susanna - Yep that was me, ta!

meva said...

I loved the 'reply-all' posts! After I stopped reeling in horror at the concept of the Zoo competition, I followed the spirited debate with relish.

But it really is a sick concept, isn't it! Those poor women whose blokes enter the competition. It must be soul destroying to be that undervalued.

Eleanor Bloom said...

Awesome again Audrey.
Your last few posts have succinctly justified my determination to remain single for a good long while.

I am one part fuming (ie. FUMING!!!) and one part disbelief.

'Giving his girlfriend the ultimate present' *chokes* just reminds me of all the times men have bought me something which is really for them to enjoy eg. lingerie, sex toys, power tools (oh, same thing), now add to list: boobies.

You can just imagine the winning (boy, do I use that term loosely) boyfriend claiming ownership to them. 'You can't leave me! Those breasts are MINE!!'

PS - Thanks for the chuckle re:
"Wait… nope, back to being offended by your ability to breathe."
Spot on.

Rosanna said...

Dear Audrey - your tags made me laugh once again. 'People are shit'. Amen, sistah.

As for Zoo weekly, I have no words. None. None at all.

I do, however, have a little self respect so am going to end it here xo

gigglewick said...

"Men's mags are sexist, but hey what do you expect"? Oh, I don't know. Surely blokes can come up with something to talk about without resorting to mutilation of their partners to meet their idealistic notions of womanhood? OR CAN THEY?

Also - f-ck it dudes, if you want a bigger rack, go out and get one for yourself (I'm too busy to bother with post-op recovery thank you very much)

PS I wish I was IN a women's group that cast spells about menstrual blood and testicles.

Bec said...

I am really enjoying the discourse on this, as much as i can enjoy discourse on something that makes me furious.

Just don't start me on:

1. Pauline Hanson

2. The current ninemsn poll relating to number 1 (or any ninemsn poll usually),

and/or

3. I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry.

Gloria said...

"What would we think if a women's magazine ran a lottery for a penis enlargement and asked women to volunteer their boyfriends?"

BURN!

And that about said it all. I don't want to comment too much on this because others have said all that I want to say.

tigtog said...

Nai, this comment of yours really crystallised something for me, thankyou:

Scarily, boob jobs and other 'body modification' has become so acceptable for women that there will be plenty of women who will happily put themselves into the competition. They'll probably claim it makes them feel more empowered. Of course it won't make the feel empowered, it will make them feel valued and the fact that they are unable to differentiate between empowerment and being valued is the real problem with this scenario.

Yes! There is a huge difference between empowering oneself and enhancing one's social value to others, and it gets conflated All The Time.

Audrey, fabulous post!

mindlessmunkey said...

The whole issue of cosmetic surgery of any kind is incredibly complicated. The fact is that breast "augmentations" exist - they happen, and some women want them. I'm not going to wander into the mine-field of trying to analyse why, or what societal pressures have led them to that choice, etc. But I don't think it's constructive to decry the procedure as oppression, or cast the women who choose to undergo it as victims of their own disempowerment. That runs the serious risk of merely writing a new set of rules: "No, women are not what men have always wanted them to be. Instead, women are THIS, and any woman who doesn't comply with THIS is clearly oppressed." In this way, I think many feminists merely paint themselves into a different corner. Can't we find a perspective that is inclusive, and acknowledges the choices even of those we disagree with?

I think the really offensive thing here is not necessarily the idea of breast-implants themselves (although I find them extremely distasteful personally), but the idea of a man winning the breast implants for his partner. If the competition was being run in (for example) Cosmo, and women were choosing to enter, and win the implants for themselves, I think it would still be controversial, but wouldn't have raised quite as much furore.

MelbourneGirl said...

hey girl. i haven't read all comments here but just caught up on the emails. i must admit i did think very early on in the thread "oh why didn't she blog this? it needs to be more public" but that was just out of thoughts of audience, not inconvenience for myself.

i agree with you and all "boring militant feminists" about this, especially ruby. shit he's good.

sorry i haven't enough time to write more but i hope the conversation keeps going.

Nai said...

Mindlessmunkey - I understand where you are coming from regarding not wanting to be prescriptive on what constitutes an emancipated woman. Going the hack on people who are so disappointed/unhappy with their bodies that they are willing to go under a knife to 'correct' it is counterproductive. It really is like kicking a puppy when it's down (and licking its post-op stitches). I don't apologise for assuming that those who choose to have plastic surgery are unhappy or disappointed (or any number of more extreme and equally negative emotions) with their bodies; and by extension themselves. Why else would you get yourself cut up, implanted, augmented, depleted, sucked out, have bones broken, bones removed, suffer internal bleeding/bruising and consent to a lengthy recuperation process if you weren't incredibly unhappy or disappointed with your appearance?
As far as I can remember, in this comment page or the previous email, no one has attempted to vilify the people who choose to have these operations (but memory can fail). The discussion has mainly been on how revolting it is to have a completion to win a boob job for your flat-chested girlfriend. Those that have strayed away from this area have focused their ire on the reasons why people (overwhelmingly women) would choose to do this to their own bodies.
My sister and one of my oldest friends have both decided that once they finish having babies they want to get a boob job to 'put them back to where they belong'. They are both women whose self worth has been predominantly based in their aesthetic appeal, ever since they were pretty little 2 year olds. To them, the idea of not being as attractive as they perceived themselves to be as 19 year olds is too much to handle. But I don't try to point this out to them because it would involve either telling them they are being idiotic, or discussing their desire to get this operation which would involve opening up some pretty raw wounds and applying liberal doses of Maldon Salt. The best I can do is tell them they look hot and compliment their offspring. Easily done, they are hot and their kids rock.
The reasons for getting plastic surgery are deeply complicated and simply vilifying those who ‘choose’ to get it done is counterproductive. However, ignoring the pressures that are placed on people to have these surgeries, be it overt pressure from a fuckwit boyfriend or ‘soft’ (and more effective) pressure from our youth orientated, media-maniacal, airbrushed to death, consume or die society would be morally insupportable.
Sorry for the hijacking. I almost blogged my response on my page and asked you to have a look, but then the hijacking would have been too much for even me.

Ianto Ware said...

I thought the email argument was fantastic, although it was interesting to see how quickly it got reframed as being an issue for 'militant feminists' who didn't understand what women really want. Which additionally assumes that men don't care about these issues, or won't benefit from discussing them.

The comment about cosmetic surgery being "incredibly complicated" was pretty apt - look at the case of transexuals, who do a hell of a lot more to alter their bodies to fit their sense of self.

I guess this is another glorious example of messed up gender issues fucking people over. It's a shame that feminism, which is pretty much the only wing of theory to really look at this shit, immediately gets reduced to the ramblings of a few insecure old crones when it's still so freakin' relevant.

Anonymous said...

On a side note, I am horrifed at the language on the cover of the magazine. The biggest headlines readng "What it Feels Like to KILL" and "ALLIRA'S SEX DIARY". The juxtaposition of sex and murder is really creepy.

Aside from the boob job competition being a sadistc, mysoginistic conspiracy, obvs.

x
teaspoon

queenzelda said...

1) daily telegraph readers "abit" is actually spelt "a bit

2) what could possibly be more romantic than telling your girlfriend that you don't love her just as she is, but that she really could do with better breasts? What better way to tell her you love her than to critique her on an essential part of her feminity?

3)Do such mags (and to be honest FM radio stations) come up with these ideas innocently? Do you think they expect all the furore and ire that they inspire? Because if they do, do you think they would have more fulsome justifications of their motives. I can't help but enjoy people's apologies and justifications for actions which inspire such public reactions.

4) I agree with Mindless Munkey, the idea would be much less offensive (hypocritical treatment of body image aside) if it were a competition in cleo rather than a win 'em for your girlfriend.

5) I understand Zoo have now backtracked heavily and are saying the prize is actually $10,000 cash rather than surgery.

6)Readers vote for the prize, wouldn't it be great if instead of voting for the smallest tits or something, the prize was awarded on merit and someone who just survived a double masectomy won it. i.e. someone for whom the self esteem boost could be life changing, rather than a blonde bikini model who then goes on to use her prize to win next month's Ralph "Girl Next Door" comp or something!

Bec. said...

I too think the premise of the competition is disgusting, what with the boyfriend nominating their partner for the prize. Women should be treasured for the beautiful, individual lovelies they are.

However, I also think it would be nearly as bad if the competition were in Cleo or some 'womans' magazine for the woman herself to apply for. Flicking through pages and pages of airbrushed, perfectly perfect models, only to come across a competition in the same magazine for cosmetic surgery?

Lets set the too high standard, and then offer surgery as a prize so readers who know they aren't as perfect as the images before them can go through surgery to become a little closer to the unattainable image.

I don't think that's necessarily better.

redcap said...

I'm actually wondering whether this might not all a cunning plan. I know, "men's magazine" and "cunning" aren't usually found in the same sentence, but remember the frenzy that broke out of the Dutch kidney transplant show? Had any of us heard of Zoo or its little editor last week? No.

But then, as much as I would like it to be, it's probably not a hoax. After all, a set of fake norks is so much better than two tickets to Paris for telling a gal how special she is. And romantic. Don't forget romantic.

~cyber-punches Paul whatshisname in the willy~

Anonymous said...

1. Jeebus, how romantic. Imagine if this happened in Bridget Jones or something similar...
Mark Darcy: Because I love you...just the way you are
Bridget Jones: Just the way I am?
Mark Darcy: Well, no, not exactly. I would love it if you had bigger cans, obviously, and can't you do something about that saggy arse?!

2. Can I sign up for a feminist group that casts spells with testicles and menstrual blood?

3. I do like the idea of the penis enlargement competition in Cleo, Cosmo, etc. That would piss a few people off, and would be funny. There's always men's mag with tits and vag everywhere, have some women's mags with schlongs on every page! Hurrah!

4. I wonder if men with "man cans" (though I'd rather call them moobs) would like their partners to enter them in a competition for a breast enlargement

5.gee if i was a girl and had small breasts, and wanted a booby job , i'd send my own entry in

Posted by: pete of nowra 4:40pm August 13, 2007 Comment 4 of 34

Gee, if my boyfriend said ‘booby’, I’d punch him in the willy.

Bahahahahaha

audrey said...

Excellent! A real live debate!

Forgive me not replying to each of you (as is my usual jiggery wankery practice – what an AWESOME word), but everything I think has pretty much been encapsulated by everyone else here. To an extent, I get what mindlessmunkey is saying but the point of my post (and the infamous email) wasn’t to contest the reality of plastic surgery being pretty much invincible as an activity. I’m more interested in how it is we’ve come to this point, where it’s considered acceptable and even normal to have a doctor slice your puppies open to insert hideously unattractive bags of fluid. Seriously, I just don’t get it.

I’m also outraged by Merrill’s assertion that ‘you can’t get more romantic than buying someone a new pair of breasts’. How is it that someone can say this in today’s world and people NOT be up in arms? I’m just baffled really, and that’ bafflement comes not from a lack of understanding as to why people think they use plastic surgery but how we’ve come to live in the kind of society that even has it.

I think Nai’s point about empowerment versus value is an excellent one, and basically articulates the entire argument for me. It’s an argument that can be applied to all areas of supposed female empowerment these days, especially sexual. Nai, you are so, so, so right on this. I doubt if I can express anything further on that point.

Also, tigtog – I really liked your post at LP on the Rock Eistedfodd. I couldn’t agree more!

Ianto, I agree but will go further and say the issue of transexuality is an entirely new kettle of fish. I remember having furious arguments with girls in gender studies classes because they insisted on referring to Female Genital Mutilation as FG Surgery. Their reasoning was that some women (and men) chose to have reconstructive surgery on vaginas for cosmetic reasons (or sexual self identity) and that it was unfair to blanketly refer to it as Mutilation. I’m sorry, but when you’re talking about little girls having their clitorises sliced off in the name of culture, it’s mutilation and anything else is entirely different. Besides, I’d suggest that cosmetic surgery on your vagina, regardless of how ‘empowered’ the woman in question is in her decision, IS mutilation. Opting to mutilate yourself doesn’t make the practice any less barbaric.

Queen Zelda – Even if they have changed the prize to a simple $10k cashbag (knowing that it’s ostensibly for women to puff up their ‘boobies’) it’s still indefensible to offer a prize based on how amazing your girlfriend’s breasts are (which I know you agree with). What makes it even worse (if that’s possible) is that it’s not even the women entering their pictures to win FOR themselves – it’s on behalf of their boyfriends who are simply products of current fashion trends. In a sex survey in Marie Claire a few months ago, 42% of 2000 male respondents said that they preferred completely nude vaginas, followed by trimmed with completely natural coming in last place. A bare vagina is only considered desirable because we’ve been told it’s what vaginas should look like to be considered sexy and attractive.

So my question is, if it’s so easy to manipulate what the world considers sexually desirable, why is it so difficult for women to stand up and say ENOUGH!?

audrey said...

Anon 3:26 - I think the fact that erect penises aren't allowed in mainstream magazines says it all. Women are always ready for sex...that is, they don't need to apparently achieve anything to be ready for sex. Sticking them in a magazine with their bits showing isn't offensive in any way because it's what they're there for and they LIKE it. Men though...well, let's be honest. Their peenies are ridiculous and showing them with them hanging out makes them all vulnerable and unmanly. It's also kind of gay.

Rebekka said...

I was really enjoying the reply-all jiggery-wankery.

But then I'm home sick in bed with a cold, and since Facebook scrabble had stopped working, I was going insane with boredom.

And I'm right with mskp on the comments from people who should know better - as if feminism caused women's oppression. AS.IF!

Rebekka said...

OH MY GOD - I just found something even worse.

There is a website called myfreeimpants.com, where women sign up to get boob jobs and post photos of themselves, and then "benefactors" donate money. I blame the patriarchy has blogged about it.

blue milk said...

Oh its all just good fun is it? Why does all the good fun have to be at women's expense?

Good post Audrey.

queenzelda said...

Oh I agree, I was merely saying they have backtracked since all the negative press.

Dot said...

great post!

one aspect of the competition that worries me is this up-coming article showing photos of people with 'flat-chests'... as there will only be one 'winner', all anyone else will get is some public exposure of their so-called ‘flaw’ and a cemented sense of having an unsatisfactorily small chest. will it only make them desire a boob job more? it’s an insidious cumulative process of fit-the-mould.

Anonymous said...

Is this significantly different to reality shows that I know a lot of people really enjoy, such as extreme makeover in the message that it sends to people?
They have in the past had such an adverse effect on people's self-esteem that it has resulted in suicide

Sakura said...

Great post! When I read this news item on the internet, I was shocked.
What gets me are all these women who comment on the article saying they wish their boyfriend would submit them for the boob job - oh yeah good one dipstick let's just hope these people breed themselves out of the gene pool. However, knowing our luck they will all be pushing prams about with the biggest tits on the planet that have been reconstructed so many times that they can't actually produce any milk.
Who says romance is dead?

audrey said...

Like Ariel Levy says, sexual attractiveness has become a cultural currency. Of course, what people think is 'popular' is really 'fuckable'. I'm paraphrasing there, but you get the picture. If you haven't read Female Chauvinist Pigs do so this very instant.

Latest anon, I remember reading about that. A woman scheduled to be on Extreme Makeover was told that her teeth would take too long to fix so she wouldn't be on the show anymore. This is after her family had been recorded talking about how dog ugly she was. Her sister felt so guilty about saying those things that she suicided.

Bekk, that site is despicable. I cannot BELIEVE that.

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