Saturday, December 20, 2008

The media today seems a bit obsessed with Kim Kardashian and her body. Well - it seems mostly obsessed with her body. You can't turn on cable TV without seeing her flash across the television set or notice an advertisement for her show, "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." Furthermore, it seemed as though NY subway magazine stands had more male viewers than usual when her Playboy front cover showed up on the stands. Plus, you have to find it amusing when she playfully comments about how much she likes her own butt. Now what is it about this girl's body (or should I say, booty?) that pulls in the attention? Haven't women been sporting curvy bodies for a while, only to be told that "sorry ladies, thin is in"? And yet, contrary to this "standard," men will naturally gravitate to someone like Kim Kardashian, who does not sport your classic Abercrombie and Fitch model body. And so I have to ask - why?

I have noticed this dichotomy in society for a while now but chose to remain quiet about it until now. The media worships "curvy," and worships "thin." And at any given moment, it will worship one over the other at any given moment, depending on what you're watching on television - either a Versace fashion Show (thin thin thin), for example - or a Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (curvy thin) - or, "The Girls Next Door"/"Keeping Up with the Kardashians" (curve curve curve). Can the media make up its mind already?

Or perhaps I'm being too harsh on the media - perhaps it shouldn't have to definitely say whether or not curvy or skinny is in. Perhaps they do their part by putting some "alternatives" out there - you can look like J Lo, Keira Knightley, Scarlett Johanssen, or Kim Kardashian - take your pick. And yet, on some level, there is this default concept of "skinny is in" that is quite disturbing.

Case in point:



Clearly this blog is biased towards curve, so you already know what I'm about to say before I say it - there is something wrong with promoting this type of image as the standard of beauty. Most women do not look like this. For those that do - all the more power to you - there is nothing wrong with natural skinny. But when you go out of your way to diet, avoid carbs, exercise like crazy, and complain about being too fat (and we all know somebody who has a "thigh" obsession), there is definitely a problem. Let's face it - the media will promote a Keira Knightley standard of beauty before they'd consider promoting Kim Kardashian's body type. Not because Keira's body is inherently more beautiful and appealing - but because there is an underlying current of denial of the natural female form. And although there are plenty of rumors that Kim's body isn't exactly "natural," her body shape is actually more in line with the typical woman today - big boobs, big butt, or both. And hey, some women have some tummy too - what's so wrong about that? And so I end this blog post today by stating that I am a huge fan of "healthy curve" - curve that you're naturally born with, and embracing it and loving it, despite what society tells you to do with it. And if you have people in your life that tease your curve - perhaps consider the fact that underneath all that criticism, they may actually be jealous of that curve. Ever think about that? With all the "curvy" women in Hollywood splashing across our TVs and magazines, I would not be surprised. ;)