Hello, lovely readers! Before I introduce you to the first Bitchin’ Table of 2011 (whoop whoop!), I’d like to say a quick hi. My name is TrippingOnSunshine, I’m a new addition to ShoutOut!JMU, and I’m super pumped to be writing today’s post. I like feminism, feminist men, feminist women, feminist prose, feminist walks on the beach… needless to say, I’m looking to live and breathe (and increase) women’s rights. Because, as Madeleine Albright said in her 2008 interview with TIME Magazine, “I also think it is important for women to help one another. I have a saying: There is a special place in hell for women who don’t,” and I’m not looking to head that way!
So, without further ado, your Bitchin’ Table, brought to you by moi and the spectacular SomethingBeany…
TrippingOnSunshine: I’m here today, with my hot chocolate in Carrier Library, graced by the internet presence of SomethingBeany. How ya doing, SomethingBeany? Did you enjoy your snow day?
SomethingBeany: Well hello, TrippingOnSunshine. Oh, and what a grand snow day it was. Er, it WAS until TrippingOnSunshine pointed this little gem out to me…Spanx a lot, say pregnant women
TrippingOnSunshine: Let me tell you, it made me (and my snowcone foodbaby) sick!
SomethingBeany: So what is it exactly that we’re talking about? SPANX for pregnant women. Really? REALLY? (For our readers who are not familiar with Spanx, it is a product designed to suck in a woman’s body and make her lines more smooth under clothing.)
TrippingOnSunshine: (And judging by the link, it’s best paired with glass stilettos – mommy-to-be Cinderella, take heed!)
TrippingOnSunshine: I mean, I like my pregnant women curvy, ya know? They’ve got a baby in there and all… and then Spanx has to go and show us that pregnancy is something that should be concealed. What’s up with that?! I mean, Spanx to cover up my Dhall foodbaby, that’s one thing. But Spanx to cover up my real baby? But the baby’s daddy and I worked hard to make that thing! I want some cushion to show I did the pushin’! Har, har.
SomethingBeany: Or, if you’re like me, you spent a lot of money on a sperm bank and a turkey baster to make that baby. Be proud of that baby! Be proud of your baby weight!
TrippingOnSunshine: Yeah! Pregnant women should be loud and proud and I’ll be damned if Spanx makes a woman look like she’s “put on a few pounds” instead of what she’s really doing, which is carrying a freakin’ human being inside of her! Spanx has officially made that awkward elevator conversation even more awkward. Now, are you fat or are you pregnant? Oh, you’re pregnant and wearing Spanx? Whoopsies!
SomethingBeany: And I’ll tell you what, TrippingOnSunshine, no one needs that added confusion. If you’ve made the decision to procreate, why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of this nine-month period of time where you are NOT confined to society and the media’s unrealistic standards of beauty.
TrippingOnSunshine: Isn’t that the truth. Let’s be real, if you’re 8 months along, you’re going to show, and that’s a beautiful thing! It means you get to park in Expectant Mother parking spots, it means someone offers you a seat on the bus– why would you give up that special experience just to hide a few inches?
SomethingBeany: What is it about our society that makes pregnant women everywhere feel like they need to hide it? Or feel like its okay to show their “baby bellies” but that they’ll be damned if they’ll let anyone see that pregnancy might also effect their thighs. I tell you what, there isn’t a person on earth that didn’t get here through someone’s womb. Taking good care of your body during pregnancy is a sign of responsibly caring for your baby, ensuring that you’re bringing a healthy human being into this world and that’s nothing to be ashamed of.
TrippingOnSunshine: So true! Shouldn’t we be encouraging expectant women to be putting on weight? Added weight is a sign of eating more. A pregnant woman eating more is a sign that her fetus is eating. Weight = good. Generally, it means that a pregnant woman is doing what she can to ensure that her fetus will be born in a normal birth weight range. Why is our society putting body image pressure on women who are only doing the healthy thing — doing what millions upon millions of women have done before them by putting on weight? These women are adding on a few pounds so that their fetus will be a healthy size. Who is society to decide a pregnant woman’s self-concept for her?
SomethingBeany: We should be celebrating and thanking that body. Well, TrippingOnSunshine, thanks so much for bringing this article to my attention. I hope we can encourage our readers not to feel locked into these standards if/when they decide to become pregnant.
TrippingOnSunshine: Of course, SomethingBeany! I hope that our readers can think critically about what are normal life processes before they feel compelled to buy unnecessary products in this (unfortunate) buy-buy-baby (HAHA, get it?!) culture. Thanks for bitchin’ it out with me!
SomethingBeany: Anytime, TrippingOnSunshine!
___
Have a great weekend, fearless readers!
ShoutOut! James Madison University 