Comments on: "Pounds and Personality"

By: Ceridwen

Ceridwen — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:47:06 +0000

I’m a little disturbed by the implication that only “chubby” girls need to be encouraged to develop their talents. Because thin girls will be noticed either way and their thinness will lead them to positive self esteem?! Right….. that’s why there are no neurotic, self loathing size zeros! Fun post, wish I wanted to shell out the money for the pamphlet.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:20:30 +0000

I also noticed that in the Anne books (and other books by LM Montgomery). I would have been such a hit in the late 1800′s!

By: mo pie

mo pie — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:52:01 +0000

I remember that about Anne! Part of the reason I loved the books… although I envied Diana’s creamy skin and “raven black” hair. I had Diana’s plumpness but Anne’s freckles.

By: akaellen

akaellen — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:14:07 +0000

I was recently re-reading Anne of Green Gables and was suprised that for the most part “plump” is presented as a desirable thing. Anne bemoans at the beginning of the book how skinny she is and her best friend Diana is described as very pretty and plump and dimpled.

By: Meryt Bast

Meryt Bast — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:16:58 +0000

I remember seeing “Pretty Plus” sizes in the girls’ clothing section of the Sears catalog, back in the 1980s. The ad does seem supportive, in that it offers pretty and fashionable clothing for plus-size girls.

I too wonder what’s in the booklet; going by the list of topics, it seems to me that it’s less about getting a girl to diet than it is about helping build her self-esteem. Unless, of course, the “tactless remarks” section advocates using such remarks as inspiration to lose weight, rather than how to cope with insensitive people.

By: devil

devil — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:40:33 +0000

I expected an ad from the 1950′s to be even more nasty toward “overweight” girls. This was the era of conformity and following the crowd.

I find the media these days even meaner about weight issues. In 2009, it’s not about following the crowd anymore, since most of the crowd would be considered fat. It’s about striving, at all costs, to be like the very, very few people who meet today’s “ideal” standards.

We’ve come a long way, but I don’t like where we’ve ended up. Let’s move in a different direction.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:04:29 +0000

I found the info for the booklet! I wrote to the college, and here’s what they wrote back….

Jamie…
I thought it was going to be a much longer search than it turned out to be! “Pounds and Personality: Advice for Parents of Chubby Girls” is located in Box 1, Minor writings, 1955-1971, 1982 and undated, of the Gladys Andrews Fleming Papers, 1939-1983. To obtain copies, please submit our reproduction request form (http://library.uncg.edu/depts/archives/Repro_Order_2009.pdf) along with payment. The cost for providing photocopies will be $5.70. We will send out your request as soon as payment is recieved.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Thanks,
J

Now, due to recession reasons I do not plan on spending the $5.70, but its there in case anyone would like to read it!

By: Tiana

Tiana — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 07:46:13 +0000

I wonder what “the “game” of dieting” is supposed to mean.

By: Addie

Addie — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 05:21:24 +0000

Hello Mo, first time commentor, long time reader ^_^.

I like the ad, it’s cute and the dress is actually pretty. At least they’re not being derogatory in it as so many ads now seem to be. Very abrasive and in your face. Even some that are suppossed to be for fat people.

By: Susannah

Susannah — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 04:04:16 +0000

I would love to have that dress! I would wear the hell out of it.