By: Maggie May Ethridge
Updated: Dec. 20, 2015
Originally Published: May 29, 2015
“Are you the person who claimed I was only talented when I looked more appealing, and that my husband shouldn’t be in charge of my direction because he let me appear so unkempt?” she challenged the critic. “Would you ever say that to a man? If John C. Reilly or any other actor is portraying a character who’s feeling low and defeated, would you say, ‘Wow, you look awful!’?”
She then asked the reviewer if he had a daughter. Upon his affirmation, she replied, “Think about your words to her. Do you tell her she’s only valuable or significant when she’s attractive?” Women who ascend to real influence and authority in the U.S. often face scrutiny regarding their appearance, a critique they can either accept silently or confront head-on. Let’s explore five remarkable responses from powerful women who have tackled body shaming:
Hillary Rodham Clinton
From the unflattering buttons sold at a Republican event that read “KFC Hillary Special: 2 fat thighs, 2 small breasts… left wing” to the endless chatter about her hairstyle choices, Hillary has endured more than her share of body criticism. If we could catch her as she campaigns to become the first female president of the United States, we might ask her how much she truly cares about these disparaging comments.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah turned the tables on her body shamers by taking control of the narrative surrounding her weight fluctuations and body image battles, making it her own. Picture Oprah amidst her mountains of green, proclaiming in that iconic voice: Who gives a rat’s ass!!!
Lana Fairchild
Ah, Lana. Thank you for your courage! While she may not be a firefighter or a soldier, she is certainly shaking things up in a culture where my daughters are growing up in a world that values certain body types over others. I adore her take on the backlash she received for wearing a shirt-dress to an event: “If someone like Olivia Wilde had shown up in tiny shorts, she likely would have been praised, not scrutinized. I think what really bothered people was, ‘Why are we forced to look at your thighs?’ My response is, get used to it; I plan to live to 100, and I’ll be flaunting my thighs every single day!”
Amy Stokes
Even before her debut film, “Wild Adventures,” hit theaters, Amy faced criticism for being “too heavy” to play a sexually liberated character. Oh, the absurdity of body shaming! Amy’s sharp short film, “The Last Uncertain Day,” showcases her refusal to be cowed by such petty insults, demonstrating just how little power she gives to those who criticize her.
This article was originally published on May 29, 2015.
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In summary, these powerful women showcase how to combat body shaming with confidence and strength. They remind us that our worth isn’t defined by our appearance but by our actions and voices.