Hold on to your love handles

The Man-Gut

August 24th, 2009

Is apparently in, with hipsters, as a rebellious gesture in light of Obama’s hot abs. And they’re calling it the “Ralph Kramden”–at least the New York Times is. Oh my god, fashion, you are so weird.

Too pronounced to be blamed on the slouchy cut of a T-shirt, too modest in size to be termed a proper beer gut, developed too young to come under the heading of a paunch, the Ralph Kramden is everywhere to be seen lately…. Leading with a belly is a male privilege of long standing, of course, a symbol of prosperity in most cultures and of freedom from anxieties about body image that have plagued women since Eve.

I’m confused, though, because I thought Jon Gosselin was horribly fat. Is he fat, or a hipster!? I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE.

Posted by mo pie

Filed under: Celebrities, Fashion, Feminism

15 Responses to “The Man-Gut”

  1. La Wade, on August 24th, 2009 at 8:26 am Said:

    I would pay to see the look on Guy Trebay’s face while you asked him if Jon Gosselin is a hipster.

  2. nycivan, on August 24th, 2009 at 8:36 am Said:

    mo, thanks for posting this. I don;t know why, (maybe the pain meds I took an hour ago, but I am imagining a world without fat hatred. I know the buzz wont last long, but I m grateful for this moment of optimism.

    Wow, I am thinking about a time where thin people would look at my 380 pound belly and see a wealthy man who throws the best parties.

    If a man gut is called a ralph kramdon them I shall call my belly the jabba the hut!

    Cheers,

    Ivan

  3. April, on August 24th, 2009 at 8:37 am Said:

    Oh, so when men start sporting guts it’s a trend. When women do it, it’s an obesity crisis.

    huh.

  4. Lori, on August 24th, 2009 at 8:51 am Said:

    Oh, so when men start sporting guts it’s a trend. When women do it, it’s an obesity crisis.

    Well, obviously the menfolk have better things to do with their time than spend hours each day at the gym getting a six-pack.

    Women, on the other hand, have no higher purpose than being decorative objects, so there can be no excuse for them not doing whatever it takes to have whatever body type is seen as more desirable.

  5. Bree, on August 24th, 2009 at 10:09 am Said:

    Oh, so when men start sporting guts it’s a trend. When women do it, it’s an obesity crisis.

    And the children. Please, will somebody think of the children?

  6. littlem, on August 24th, 2009 at 10:55 am Said:

    Oh, so when men start sporting guts it’s a trend. When women do it, it’s an obesity crisis.

    I’m thinking April has coined the Phrase of the Day.

  7. Miss Laura Mars, on August 24th, 2009 at 11:24 am Said:

    @ Lori – I think you hit it with women being decorative objects. Precisely what I was thinking, but you said it much better than I could.

  8. EpicInBetweenie, on August 24th, 2009 at 1:08 pm Said:

    Hipness is so confusing. WHERE ARE THE LINES??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t45tJP7jbzw&feature=related

  9. Bianca, on August 24th, 2009 at 2:29 pm Said:

    Wait, I thought Jon Gosselin was a douche? i am so confused.

  10. Rebecca, on August 24th, 2009 at 4:03 pm Said:

    Well, all that I can say is that my husband has a gut, and I think that it is sexy. And he doesn’t have any problem with my belly either.

    And I think that Jon and Kate are both trainwrecks!

  11. Alyssa, on August 25th, 2009 at 12:20 am Said:

    Wait, guts are in? Does this mean I have to get rid of my hair scrunchie?!?!

  12. M, on August 25th, 2009 at 12:47 am Said:

    I love the last line of that article, referring to the magazine models: “Perhaps, he suggested, there is really only one of them. “It’s the same guy. They just move him around.””

    I full support this (well, maybe it’s a little harder for me to support if it’s a trendy thing to do…) but in addition to body acceptance I like a guy with a tummy :-)

    I think maybe some of the difference in the response to men vs. women is that with men it’s a return to tradition, but with women it’s something new?

    P.S. I’m confused about Alyssa’s scrunchie comment above. Clarify?

  13. M, on August 25th, 2009 at 12:47 am Said:

    I love the last line of that article, referring to the magazine models: “Perhaps, he suggested, there is really only one of them. “It’s the same guy. They just move him around.””

    I fully support this (well, maybe it’s a little harder for me to support if it’s a trendy thing to do…) but in addition to body acceptance I like a guy with a tummy :-)

    I think maybe some of the difference in the response to men vs. women is that with men it’s a return to tradition, but with women it’s something new?

    P.S. I’m confused about Alyssa’s scrunchie comment above. Clarify?

  14. Queen of Nuffink, on August 25th, 2009 at 4:53 am Said:

    I love this! I always had a thing for men with a keg rather than a six pack!

    Very sexy <3

  15. Liza, on August 27th, 2009 at 6:48 am Said:

    *Standard may not apply to women.

    (please continue self-loathing and starvation as usual)

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