It's Fred Flintstone's Fault
To move on from the theme of "things that make me want to smash a plate over someone's head," allow me to link this article, which rants about the fat husband/thin wife double standard on television. The author claims that this trend started with The Honeymooners and continues to this day with According to Jim and similar shows.
"And let us not forget animated shows, starting with the 'The Flintstones,' in which Fred’s bride was sexy (for a cartoon character) Wilma... Why should this trend bug me so much? Because at the dating service I ran for more than two decades, I continually had to 'battle' with overweight men who insisted that just because they were heavy, they did not want to meet overweight women. Many of these portly men blatantly admitted that they were not attracted to heavy women... And what can you expect, as these guys were members of a generation that grew up watching many of the shows mentioned above?"
The author also asked his wife if she could think of any shows where the wife was overweight, and Roseanne was her answer, though of course Dan Connor was overweight too. I'll also throw in George and Weezie Jefferson as a possibility, although I might be thinking of their respective Old Navy commercial weights, not their weights while they were on the show.
Now I don't think overweight guys are unattractive, any more than I feel that way about overweight women. But I'd like to see an overweight women portrayed as sexy and desirable on television, like, sometime before I die. I'll even settle for a cartoon.
"And let us not forget animated shows, starting with the 'The Flintstones,' in which Fred’s bride was sexy (for a cartoon character) Wilma... Why should this trend bug me so much? Because at the dating service I ran for more than two decades, I continually had to 'battle' with overweight men who insisted that just because they were heavy, they did not want to meet overweight women. Many of these portly men blatantly admitted that they were not attracted to heavy women... And what can you expect, as these guys were members of a generation that grew up watching many of the shows mentioned above?"
The author also asked his wife if she could think of any shows where the wife was overweight, and Roseanne was her answer, though of course Dan Connor was overweight too. I'll also throw in George and Weezie Jefferson as a possibility, although I might be thinking of their respective Old Navy commercial weights, not their weights while they were on the show.
Now I don't think overweight guys are unattractive, any more than I feel that way about overweight women. But I'd like to see an overweight women portrayed as sexy and desirable on television, like, sometime before I die. I'll even settle for a cartoon.
posted by mo pie at 7:30 AM
15 Comments:
Well, for cheering-up sake, let's bend and stretch the rules a little.
Oprah (especially in the Color Purple, although film).
Emme (although only on the E-network).
Camryn Manheim (especially in that killer Ungaro gown at the Emmys).
Kate Dillon (although mostly in print).
Mia Tyler (although also mostly in print).
Mo'Nique (I don't watch the Parkers much -- do they have a story line about her love life?).
Still not enough.
Girls, let's all go get our own television specials. Really! (If they can put "Can't Get a Date" on the air ...) I'll do everyone's background music.
(I sent that writer-guy a nice note. I wonder if he'll write back.)
I vaguely remember this show, Veronica's closet, where Kirstie Alley (who wasn't as fat as she eventually got but was fatter than Rebecca Howe) and Kathy Najimy were sexy and dating, ESPECIALLY Kathy's character, Olive.
Olive was awesome.
Did you never watch Camryn Manheim on The Practice?
Ethel Mertz was on the chunky side. Of course, she was married to Fred, so there's that. But if you look to those series where the "comfort figure" wasn't married to the father figure, it seems there was some definate realism there. (Hazel, Aunt Bea, even Mr. French...)
Ethel Mertz was on the chunky side. Of course, she was married to Fred, so there's that. But if you look to those series where the "comfort figure" wasn't married to the father figure, it seems there was some definate realism there. (Hazel, Aunt Bea, even Mr. French...)
What about Designing Women? Wasn't Delta Burke portrayed as the sexy one? How about Facts of Life? Blair was the rich, sexy one and she was the heavier one towards the end of the show. I admit I'm not really familiar with either of these shows, so maybe my perception is off -- I really haven't watched that many episodes. Just brainstorming.
Michele
Mary, I used to watch The Practice in the hopes that I'd see Camryn's character get some action, but I never did, except for one episode where she was dating someone who turned out to be an ax murderer, and had a whole speech about how she didn't want to have sex because she was ashamed to be naked. So no, I don't think of that as a fat-positive portrayal. Unless there are some episodes I missed.
Talking about The Facts of Life reminds me that Natalie was the first one to lose her virginity. I loved Natalie when I was younger; she was my chubby role model! (And Mindy Cohn was an alumna of my college, apropos of nothing.)
I have never been to your blog before, but I thought I would post this. They are still portraying these couples the same way. Ever seen "According to Jim" There are more too. I don't think it is fair, but I also don't think it is fair for us women to judge ourselves so harshly. I know that I am far more critical of myself and other women who are overweight (of course I will never make any unsolicited comments, thats just rude) but when I see a guy who is a bit on the hefty side, I don't think nearly as much of it. Why? I have no idea. I would really like to move to one of those Africa countries where big women are considered to be the sexiest. I can't wait until Mo'nique's Fat Girlz movie comes out. Either that or be transported back in time where Rubenesque was THE shape to be.
How about so-called reality television? On "Dog the Bounty Hunter", Dog's wife (or soon to be, anyway) Beth is very sexy. She's not heavy, but bigger than his small frame.
Hmmm, maybe HBO's "Carnivale" is the answer to your search. The bearded lady and the senior 'dancer' are both played by larger women, and both characters have sex scenes (with men) that aren't played for laughs or pathos. Granted that the series was set in a carnival, and one of the show's themes is that, behind the scenes, the carnival workers aren't really such "freaks," for the most part.
Having a fat spouse is a problem for both genders in a marriage...each comes with a certain set of problems which makes it hard to breach the issue.
The "fred flinstone" effect makes it somehow acceptable to be a fat oaf with a petite wife
While oversensitivity and excuse making allows some women to bear no responsibility for their own weight gain.
I have found that even mentioning weight in regards to a wife or a husband becomes an instant source of flames and attacks.
The obviouse reason is there are a whole lot of fat wives and husbands that don't want the subject to even come up!!!!
But lets face it its real the only place where I have found that it is acceptable to even talk about the subject is the website www.myfatspouse.com ... that site is a little mean but at least it doesn't allow the flame censors to run the show
I think you see large women portrayed more in African American shows than mainstream shows. Going back to the 70's and 80's with shows like "Goodtimes" and "What's Happening," although the lead women were not portrayed as sexy.
However, more mordern African Amenrican shows like "Thea" and "The Parkers" (even though neither show was good) are showing the leading overwieght females as sexy.
The true double standard is women.
How often do you see a thin woman with a fat man...? Never... Most the time fat men date average/size women.
According to skinner woman.. this is because they wish to be with someone "attractive" (i do not even have to support this vist a dating site)
Now on the other hand a fat woman will not wish to date the overweight man... For a similar reason... because he isn't "attractive"
Do we see a double standard?
To break it down:
Skinny woman will date skinny men.
Skinny woman won't date heavy men.
Heavy woman date skinny men...
Heavy woman won't date heavy men.
Skinny men will date skinny woman.
Skinny men will date heavy woman.
Heavy men date Heavier woman.
Heavy men date Skinny women.
And you talk about Double standards?
Movies to potray fat men with skinny woman is met as comic relife.. and is suppose to be out of place... odd and Disfavorable.
So all your moaning and bitching accomplished was ... stupidty... overweight men are never potrayed as handsome or stunning...
Chris Farley? Need a laugh...
Drew Carrey? Heck Mimi insults his weight and shes fatter..
John Goodman? Potrayed as stupid..
Jason Alexander? Seinfield the fat balding man...
You scream double standard... when actually the double standard is against men...
The diffrence is men act like men and could give two shits.
I can honestly say that the sight of Camryn Manheim in a low cut gown is enough to give this 6ft, 175Lb red blooded heterosexual male a raging woodie! And that is no lie. She is a good looking woman as far as I am concerned
I love overweight men and I am a overweight woman - I find them very attractive and they turn me on very much - I am sure there are overweight men who love us overweight woman and find us the same way - Your statement that we want Mr. Stringbean is wrong - I love the curves and the feel of that type of man against me. Not some bag of bones that is only dating me to take me for money or abuse me. Which most of the skinny guys who date overweight women do.
I love being overweight and people need to just face that! I love to smoke, drink and have freedom!
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