Chasing the Deep

July 21, 2011 4 Comments Written by Nancy

The media teach us

that our primary goals as women

should be weight loss and the pursuit of beauty,

and this is particularly true of celebrities.

--

Maybe it's time for us all to stop chasing pavements

in that direction

and instead,

start rolling in the deeper goals.

Original Quote: "I love food and hate exercise," she laughs. "I don't have time to work out. Go buy my record; then I'll be able to lose weight. I actually don't care. I don't want to be on the cover of Playboy or Vogue. I want to be on the cover of Rolling Stone or Q. I'm not a trend-setter -- I'm a singer. I never want to be known for anything else. I'd rather weigh a ton and make an amazing album then look like Nicole Richie and do a shit album. My aim in life is never to be skinny." -- Adele

Beauty, Body Image, Celebrities, Dieting, Media

Jdg1965

The only thing I dislike is the cigarette burning in her hands. That is one of the worst forms of pollution around.
anon

the problem i have with adele is, yes, it’s amazing that she is comfortable with her weight and defying the industry to make her career about MUSIC and not her image. however, it doesn’t do anyone any favors to ignore their health. just because eating disorders to be skinny are dangerous doesn’t mean we should do the opposite. i love food and hate exercise as well, but as i get older (like, just hit my twenties) i realize that i have to start taking care of myself. it means that sometimes i have to eat a salad, not to lose weight, but because i need to eat veggies. and i have to work out, not to be ultra thin, but so i can be strong and maintain muscle. it isn’t the most fun, but it doesn’t have to be horrible. and there has to be a middle ground. don’t end up like paula deen.
http://twitter.com/lifepostepic Cade DeBois

Apparently her real aim is to end up with COPD by the time she’s 40, like my mother who was a chronic smoker too at Adele’s age. Classy that you used a pic of a young, successful celebrity looking sultry with tons of make-up while holding a lit cig–perhaps you’re too young to remember those sexist cigarette ads of the 60’s an 70’s aimed at women that this pic could easily be a parody of. Just keep that “empowerment quote” and stick a Virgina Slims “You’ve come a long way, baby” logo on it and you’re there! Seriously, could there be anything more emblematic of our society’s messaging that gets women to hate themselves and their “guts” than the portrayal of cigarettes as sexy, youthful and cool? Nothing says self-loathing more than a taking up am addictive habit that leads to heart disease, emphysema and cancer. But hey, at least those cancer sticks will curb your appetite!!!
- Nancy
  
  First, let me say that I’m very sorry about your mom.
  
  You make a good point. It’s true that this image does appear to glamorize smoking, and that was certainly not my intent. Personally, I don’t view cigarettes as sexy, youthful, or cool.
  
  I posted this image in spite of the smoking, because I found her quote to be empowering and inspiring. I loved how she expressed that her weight is irrelevant to her musical ability. I found this especially courageous since she’s part of an industry that celebrates female thinness at any cost.
  
  No one is perfect, and clearly Adele has her vices. Ideally, we should all have enough self-love to not abuse our bodies, whether it’s through obsessively dieting, abusing alcohol/drugs … or smoking.