In a recent visit to a retail store, I stumbled upon a greeting card categorized under “Weight Loss,” a concept I had never considered worthy of celebration. This prompted me to question whether it is now customary to monitor the weight changes of our friends and family. With curiosity piqued, I examined the card, and what I found sadly confirmed existing issues regarding societal perceptions of women and their bodies.
While fat shaming affects individuals of all genders, the card’s bright pink design clearly signals its target audience. The front displays an image of a scale, emblazoned with the phrase “Losing Weight and Looking Great.” The inside message was even more disheartening: “So excited for YOU and the WONDERFUL CHANGES you’re making in your life!” The capitalization of “YOU” reflects a familiar connotation of approval tied to weight loss. There was no equivalent card in a more neutral or masculine color, reinforcing the notion that a woman’s worth is contingent upon her size.
This card implies that unless a woman loses weight, she lacks value. It suggests that only after achieving weight loss can she receive recognition and respect. I envisioned someone purchasing this card for their colleague, Emma, who might have recently shed some pounds, only to feel that this acknowledgment was the only validation she would receive.
Is the existence of such a card merely a symptom of the broader greeting card industry’s penchant for monetizing every life event? Or is it a more insidious reminder that our societal worth is often measured by our physical appearance? A photograph of the card shared in a parenting group elicited a wave of responses echoing my own outrage. Many expressed that receiving such a card would leave them feeling hurt and offended; it’s one thing to congratulate someone on their weight loss journey, but outright purchasing a card that conveys “I value you less when you’re heavier” is insensitive and misguided.
One member of this group shared her experience of losing over 100 pounds in under a year post-surgery. She noted that her father’s responses to her progress are often limited to “Keep it up,” signaling to her that his approval is conditional. Another member revealed that her father consistently comments on her weight, linking it to her health, and expressing a desire for her to be a “nice, slim girl.” She confided, “I want to lose weight, but part of me resists because it forces him to love me as I am. He would absolutely send me that card.”
As someone navigating my own journey with weight, I make it to the gym three times a week, not necessarily to fit a certain mold but to enhance my longevity and mental health. Working out has become about more than appearance; it’s a means to ensure I can witness my children grow up. In these times, my motivations have shifted. I often channel my frustrations about societal issues into my workouts, visualizing my challenges as I run on the treadmill.
In contrast, another member of our community mentioned that the political climate has disincentivized her desire to lose weight, as she doesn’t want to conform to societal standards of beauty. Instead, she embraced weight training, emphasizing strength over size, and finding empowerment in resistance against oppressive ideals.
It’s hard to imagine a similar card intended for men, celebrating their overcoming of challenges like erectile dysfunction. Picture a blue card stating, “Staying Erect and Ready to Inject” with a cheeky message inside. This disparity highlights the ingrained gender biases within our culture.
What kind of greeting cards would be more meaningful? Perhaps one that celebrates parents for raising compassionate and understanding children, who would never consider giving someone a weight loss card.
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In summary, the existence of cards that celebrate weight loss reinforces harmful societal norms regarding body image, particularly for women. This kind of messaging not only trivializes personal journeys but also promotes the idea that self-worth is intrinsically linked to physical appearance.