Comments on: Good Intentions, Bad Word Choices: Conversations on Women’s Bodies http://fringemagazine.wordpress.com/2007/10/03/good-intentions-bad-word-choices-conversations-on-womens-bodies/ the noun that verbs your world, http://www.fringemagazine.org Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:53:06 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Sarah http://fringemagazine.wordpress.com/2007/10/03/good-intentions-bad-word-choices-conversations-on-womens-bodies/#comment-79 Sarah Fri, 05 Oct 2007 13:31:00 +0000 http://fringemagazine.wordpress.com/2007/10/03/good-intentions-bad-word-choices-conversations-on-womens-bodies/#comment-79 I think that's a good point - my dad commented that he should have said, "How does that make you feel?" which is a nice, neutral way to allow mom to talk about it without edging into dangerous territory.<br/><br/>I wish I could say I'd rather my fiance tell me if I look terrible in a outfit than lie to me, but in truth I'd rather hear the lie from him. I would, on the other hand, expect a friend to tell me the truth. It's a strange dichotomy. I think that’s a good point – my dad commented that he should have said, “How does that make you feel?” which is a nice, neutral way to allow mom to talk about it without edging into dangerous territory.

I wish I could say I’d rather my fiance tell me if I look terrible in a outfit than lie to me, but in truth I’d rather hear the lie from him. I would, on the other hand, expect a friend to tell me the truth. It’s a strange dichotomy.

]]> By: Honey B http://fringemagazine.wordpress.com/2007/10/03/good-intentions-bad-word-choices-conversations-on-womens-bodies/#comment-78 Honey B Thu, 04 Oct 2007 23:16:00 +0000 http://fringemagazine.wordpress.com/2007/10/03/good-intentions-bad-word-choices-conversations-on-womens-bodies/#comment-78 Great food for thought! I think men AND women are told constantly through ads("Do you ever feel...mmm...not so fresh...??) , magazine articles and products ("personal hygiene products"?!) that women's bodies are smelly and unclean. <br/><br/>I wonder, though, if part of it is women's oversensitivity to what men say. Men have been taught never to ask a woman's age (why not?) and never to imply that she might not be 'young' (like in your parents' conversation) and never to be honest about how she looks (That old comedy stand-by "Do I look fat in this?"). They're basically taught to lie to a woman's face to make her feel better about herself.<br/><br/>No wonder men feel uncomfortable bringing up any topic about women's bodies, they know they'll always say something wrong! Great food for thought! I think men AND women are told constantly through ads(“Do you ever feel…mmm…not so fresh…??) , magazine articles and products (“personal hygiene products”?!) that women’s bodies are smelly and unclean.

I wonder, though, if part of it is women’s oversensitivity to what men say. Men have been taught never to ask a woman’s age (why not?) and never to imply that she might not be ‘young’ (like in your parents’ conversation) and never to be honest about how she looks (That old comedy stand-by “Do I look fat in this?”). They’re basically taught to lie to a woman’s face to make her feel better about herself.

No wonder men feel uncomfortable bringing up any topic about women’s bodies, they know they’ll always say something wrong!

]]>