I don’t watch Mad Men. It’s very hard to fit everything in with the abundance of Food Network/Cooking Channel shows and the reality crap I watch. So I am unfamiliar with Christina Hendricks, her body of work and her body. It was only via Time Magazine I read her quoted as saying “I think calling me full-figured is just rude.” I ripped out that article pronto.
After some googling I found out that Ms. Hendricks is shall we say busty.
I was then confused, does “full” refer to being buxom or is full-figured a euphemism for fat? One definition described “having an amply proportioned or heavy body”. Another source said in the fashion world, full-figured is size 12 or above. Ehow had this to say about the full-figured woman “she has thick hips, a rounded backside, large breasts and a non-narrow waistline.” From that it seems full figured is a buxom/overweight combo but they clarify “full-figured does not automatically constitute overweight, many full-figured women are healthy, active and conscious of balanced eating.” And yet thesaurus.com didn’t give me anything close to healthy or balanced eater as a synonym. “Not-narrow” = ouch.
The quote from Hendricks came during an incredibly awkward interview by Australian journalist Kate Waterhouse . Maybe it was jetlag but Hendricks seemed ticked off before full-figured was mentioned. I also couldn’t help but notice that Ms. Waterhouse is tiny and curve-less. Does this matter? It may. I would take a comment regarding my parenting from another mom in the park very differently a comment uttered from a person without children present. I also take issue with the assumption that one wants to be a body type poster child. “You’re an inspiration to full-figured women”. How about being an inspiration for other actresses or simply an inspiration to women? The question not only assumes Hendricks considers herself full-figured but also that she’s somehow showing other “amply proportioned” women that you can be this size and succeed. Even Ms. Waterhouse’s sweet Australian voice didn’t let her get away with this.
Finally, there’s the issue that we can say things about ourselves that doesn’t mean others can. I can say I’m moody, obsessive, short or old…but you can’t. If you do, I’ll pull a Christina and tell you you’re rude.
What do you think full figured means? Is someone “non-narrow” automatically an inspiration? Do you think this question was out of line? What would you have done in Ms Hendricks situation?
What do you think full figured means? Is someone “non-narrow” automatically an inspiration? Do you think this question was out of line? What would you have done in Ms Hendricks situation?
