Comments on: Just Like Us http://undecidedthebook.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/just-like-us/ Analysis paralysis, grass is greener syndrome, longing for the road not traveled: How the success of the women’s movement has left us stumped in the face of limitless options -- and how to get over it. Sun, 07 Apr 2013 16:05:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Baby Bumps and the Beauty Myth, Plastic Surgery and Politics: Or, What Jessica Simpson Has To Do With You. « Undecided http://undecidedthebook.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/just-like-us/#comment-3230 Tue, 11 Sep 2012 13:52:52 +0000 http://undecidedthebook.wordpress.com/?p=5633#comment-3230 [...] Exhibit A: Journalist Katie Couric debuts her new eponymous daytime talk show with a big “get.” With an election right around the corner, who’d she score? Jessica Simpson, there for the much-anticipated debut of her post-baby body. [...]

]]> By: Samantha http://undecidedthebook.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/just-like-us/#comment-3069 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:56:54 +0000 http://undecidedthebook.wordpress.com/?p=5633#comment-3069 I agree. Although I don’t have experience with pregnancy (yet), I don’t understand how the media can jump on the bandwagon with further degrading women’s self-esteem about their bodies when they’ve already had it smack-dab in the face all of their lives. I never really thought about it in the way that you’re already adjusting to a ton of changes, then having that nagging at the back of your mind. Great post.

]]> By: Nikki http://undecidedthebook.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/just-like-us/#comment-3063 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 10:26:17 +0000 http://undecidedthebook.wordpress.com/?p=5633#comment-3063 Love this! I’m not a mother (yet?), but I definitely see a lot of friends struggling with confidence issues a few short weeks after giving birth. There could have been some pro’s to this narrative, if it were posed in a healthy “stay in shape and have a healthy lifestyle when pregnant,” kind of way, or even a “look, other women are struggling, too, and they have personal trainers, so don’t get discouraged!” kind of way, but neither of those are really the main focus.

I live outside of the US now, and I must say that I don’t notice all of this focus and attention on the bodies of mommies-to-be or those that have just delivered. And that’s saying something, for being in Paris, where skinny jeans rule and an overweight woman is a sight that stops traffic. That being said, there is an obvious difference between a healthy focus on maintaining a good body weight for your size and lifestyle, and a tabloid-generated emphasis on being beautiful – or else.

Thanks for the great post!

]]> By: colleenieg http://undecidedthebook.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/just-like-us/#comment-3060 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 03:03:06 +0000 http://undecidedthebook.wordpress.com/?p=5633#comment-3060 She’s not going to find any sympathy from me. I gained only 20lbs with both my kids but my body changed forever. The stretch marks galore and the increased breasts size (that never went away even after nursing and losing weight) was not something I ever expected. It’s fine with me, but I hate how they parade these post baby bods like you are somehow lacking if you fail to look better than you ever did before kids! Bodies change and every woman doesn’t bounce back the same. It sets up many mothers to feel bad about themselves when they’re dealing with enough changes already.

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