Does the media pick on fat white women more then fat black women?

Question

Just something I noticed- the media never seems to pick on heavy black women. Look at Queen Latifa- she's absolutely beautiful, but no one could say she's a tiny little thing. (I know there are more, but I don't really follow any sort of celebrities, so I don't know names) As soon as a white woman gets a little cellulite, its all over the tabloids. I can't really think of a successful heavy white woman that isn't considered butch. It seems like they have to be anorexic to be popular. Has anyone else noticed that? Anyone have a theory as to why?

Cotton Balls:

Yes, but Kristie Ally's claim to fame after she gained weight was that she was fat. Didn't she come up with a show called "Fat Actress", or something like that?

Answer 1

hey now that you mention it thats very true. I guess it because white women are expected to stay thin and black women's culture allows them to be seen as overweight and makes it
okay.

Answer 2

It's been statistically proven that white girls feel more pressure to be "thin and pretty" then other races. The race/gender that was shown to be less affected by the pressure to be attractive is black men. I think white women are more attacked by the media for their looks, but I also think that they are the ones buying into the whole beauty thing more so then other races.

But it isn't just white women getting attacked. Look at Tyra Banks, being harassed by tabloids for being 160??? Ridiculous. Star Jones is often the butt of comedins jokes for her weight.

You do have a point with the successful heavy white woman. Kirstie Alley was successful until she gained all that weight and only successful again when she lost it all. Anna Nicole Smith was a successful model and plus-size model, but she also went and lost all that weight.

Answer 3

I think it has more to do with attitude than with weight. Queen Latifa, Mo Nique, etc... all these women embrace the fact that they are heavy women. They do not focus on their outer beauty but their inner beauty. We can learn alot from anyone who has a positive attitude.
Your mention of Kristie Allie, I though she was always a hilarious actress, and she came right out and said " I am unhappy with my weight, lets fix this." I though she was a positive role model for any woman who wanted to start eating healthy, and she had a great attitude even before she lost the weight!

Answer 4

That's self-destructive. It sounds like you're meeting the wrong kind of men. And you're being superficial as well, only being interested in wealthy men. While I would agree that there is an over-sexualizing stereotype against black folk, sexuality in itself is not wrong. Sexual attraction is primarily how people first notice each other romantically. Being a virgin isn't something to be proud of, nor is it something to be ashamed of. Having sex doesn't make someone a better or worse person. I'm not saying go out and have lots of random sex, just don't think that avoiding physical intimacy at all costs is worthwhile. The lovers in Song of Solomon had sex before they were married, and their intimacy is celebrated in the Bible, and the woman is treated as equal to the man. At the risk of sounding creepy, I think dark black women are more beautiful than high yellow women. Have you ever heard the poem by Lord Byron? The way I memorized it, I got a couple words reversed, but I like my way better. She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes; Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies. One ray the more, one shade the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o’er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express, How pure, how dear their dwelling-place. And on that cheek, and o’er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent! Those pills are probably a scam, and dangerous even if not. If you're not happy with your self image, then I'd suggest talking to a doctor about a balanced diet and exercise, since those are the only way to safely change your body shape, plus they make you feel great and improve your overall health. You shouldn't aim to be very skinny, a little chubby is better than skin and bones. If you're self-conscious about your skin color, then just use sunblock. But you shouldn't let it bother you. Meet different men. You may end up meeting white men who are specifically interested in black women because it makes them feel more open-minded, but is that really so wrong? How people are first interested in others is always superficial. I mean, you're looking for specifically white men. Once he gets to know you, it will be about you for you, not just your ethnicity, and vice versa.

Answer 5

Well look at all the hell Oprah has caught over the years for her weight struggle, the tabloids deliberately show pics of Tyra Banks' "cellulite ridden" thighs, Star Jones is one of the most mocked celebrity women of our time for her weight.

Most recently, look at American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, and the controversy that followed indicating that she was a negative role model for young girls, simply because of her weight.

It seems to me they get picked on by the media/comedians quite a bit.

Answer 6

It all has to do with the culture and the men in the culture. The black (and hispanic culture for that matter) like the curves, and they enjoy big hearty meals that are more cultural than anything else; whereas the white culture tends to focus on eating healthy and staying thin and it seems to be a quality of their status.
If you haven't seen the movie "Phat girls", you need to watch it. It stars Monique and it explains how the African culture think that heavy women are valued and respected more. The heavier they are the more status they have in their community. They criticize the skinny girl and say that she is almost sickly.
Bottom line, its all about culture, not just media picking on a particular group.

Answer 7

I think it's just a matter of culture. Black people seem more proud of their bodies regardless of how they look. They like having a round butt, and flaunt it, so when a woman is overweight, they already have that going for them. White women aren't supposed to have a butt, at least not in the same way. At least by what I've heard people say.

Answer 8

Black women are more confident than most white women. Alot of black men also like their women to be thick. White men want their women to be stick figure thin. I am dating a black man and when I talk about needing to loose weight he tells me that I don't need to. If I was with a white man he would probably been talking crazy to me because I have put on weight in the past 2 years. It is society that also has alot to do with it. Queen Latifa and Monique just to name a few are proud of their bodies and carry theirselves with confidence.

Answer 9

Oprah, Tyra Banks, Star Jones, the pinesol woman....just to name a few.

Answer 10

It is true. That is why we have so many unhealthy, stick thin white girls in front of us all the time. Black women are comfortable in their own skins no matter the size. We all need to feel beautiful no matter what size or shape we are.

Answer 11

Kirstie Ally is no stick figure and she's probably more beautiful than most 20 year old "celebrities," she's certainly prettier than Paris or Lindsay.