Dara Torres-Amazing

There has been a lot in this "Dara" thread.... I agree that many public figures such as fashion models present unrealistically (and unhealthy) thin images of women. But obesity is a far larger and deadlier problem. Recent data says 30+% of Americans are obese. I found data that says there may be 10M women dealing with various eating disorders. That is a lot of women but far more are overweight. I don't suggest any less attention on eating disorders and healthy body images for girls and women. I am concerned about the growing number of "it's ok to be fat" messages and movements today. Rosie O'Donnell and Cameon Mannheim are not good body images for young girls. A teenage girl shouldn't over-react if she's 5'5 and 140 - but she absolutely must act if she is 200 lbs. And for Elise526 - I am almost 50. I do not believe for a second that women are less respected today than they were in the 50s. I don't think it means that people expect women to be like Dara or Oprah. There are many parts of the feminist community I disagree with but I am glad that women have the freedoms and choices that they do. I am far more interested in educated, active women like my wife. That doesn't mean they can't be stay at home moms, or schoolteachers. I don't think the Mayberry RFD lifestyle is something many Americans want. My mother, at 79 years old, is thrilled with what she can do today.

There has been a lot in this "Dara" thread.... I agree that many public figures such as fashion models present unrealistically (and unhealthy) thin images of women. But obesity is a far larger and deadlier problem. Recent data says 30+% of Americans are obese. I found data that says there may be 10M women dealing with various eating disorders. That is a lot of women but far more are overweight. I don't suggest any less attention on eating disorders and healthy body images for girls and women. I am concerned about the growing number of "it's ok to be fat" messages and movements today. Rosie O'Donnell and Cameon Mannheim are not good body images for young girls. A teenage girl shouldn't over-react if she's 5'5 and 140 - but she absolutely must act if she is 200 lbs. And for Elise526 - I am almost 50. I do not believe for a second that women are less respected today than they were in the 50s. I don't think it means that people expect women to be like Dara or Oprah. There are many parts of the feminist community I disagree with but I am glad that women have the freedoms and choices that they do. I am far more interested in educated, active women like my wife. That doesn't mean they can't be stay at home moms, or schoolteachers. I don't think the Mayberry RFD lifestyle is something many Americans want. My mother, at 79 years old, is thrilled with what she can do today.