Member Articles

The big question is: How long can I shield them from all of the stress that is associated with the word “fat?" The pressure affects all of us – big, small, brown, orange, etc. If someone is large, they usually wish they were smaller. If someone is small, they often make an effort to look that way or to become even smaller. A happy medium does not exist. It is, in my opinion, much easier to prevent my kids from discriminating against someone according to any other physical characteristic. But, the media is almost unavoidable and has the power to affect their self-esteem. (I admire Dove for their Campaign for Real Beauty, a real standout in this case.) It is rare to see a female model or actress who is less than emaciated -- kudos to those who don’t fall into the trap -- be portrayed or glorified. The message being thin equals beautiful. Unfortunately, it’s not always a healthy thin either.