Pregnancy in Entertainment

[MADem]

8. The obsession about body image seems to grow more strident with the

increase in obesity nationwide. It's a very curious thing.

I've never seen so much "body criticism" in all my years on earth, too. People are very demanding of some sort of impossible standard of perfection, both to one another, and to total strangers, even when their height and weight are proportional and they look entirely healthy.

And while the women have taken the brunt of the abuse and intrusive examination in this regard, the tables are starting to turn with regard to the men as well. Men are being urged to have "abs" -- a "six pack"--otherwise they are viewed as less desirable. It's by no means an equal playing field but it is an interesting shift in attitudes.

And then, on top of all that, there is the Cult of Celebrity. The paparazzi helped feed that beast, the papers print it, the curious public lives vicariously....and there you go.

I found out that some of these celebrities get paid "by the tweet" to sneak in advertisements to their "loyal followers." Talk about a No-Work, No-Show job! The celebrities don't even have to actually compose the tweets! It's all about selling "things"--clothes, fashion accessories, booze, all sorts of consumables--even absurdly priced, thousand dollar baby/toddler outfits. I think that is especially obscene.

And then, there's the whole "no boundaries" thing. People think it's "OK" now to ask anyone about everything and anything, to include that baby bump or that they saw so-and-so going into the dermatologist. Heck, if "Will and Kate" can't have any privacy, why should you, or me, or the couple down the street?

It's a very curious byproduct of modern society, this feeling that anyone can ask anyone about anything and this sense that people have some sort of entitlement to know what is going on in the lives of others. I do think the Cult of Celebrity contributes to all that.