Q&A with Sue Johanson: Sex and Body Image
SM: What’s your advice to women who have these body image hang-ups?
Sue Johanson: You just—in short terms—get over it. Either they like you or they don’t like you and if you’ve got a little bit of fat around your belly, hey, I bet they have some too. There is no such thing as the perfect body. We look at fashion models that are anorexic—and without clothes on they are downright gaunt; they are ugly. Now, fortunately, there are many males who do not like very thin women, who like women with some flesh on their bones; it’s a symbol of fertility, of femininity, pleasure. It means she enjoys life, she enjoys eating and she enjoys sex.
SM: So your advice is to simply get over your body image issues? That can be harder than it sounds.
Sue Johanson: If you don’t like yourself it’s kind of unrealistic to expect your partner to really like you. So we’ve got to come to the point of a new self-conception and self-esteem. Tell yourself: “I will never make the centerfold of playboy magazine, but I am one beautiful broad.” And come to believe that, so that you’re okay. Because you are okay.
Sue Johanson: You just—in short terms—get over it. Either they like you or they don’t like you and if you’ve got a little bit of fat around your belly, hey, I bet they have some too. There is no such thing as the perfect body. We look at fashion models that are anorexic—and without clothes on they are downright gaunt; they are ugly. Now, fortunately, there are many males who do not like very thin women, who like women with some flesh on their bones; it’s a symbol of fertility, of femininity, pleasure. It means she enjoys life, she enjoys eating and she enjoys sex.
SM: So your advice is to simply get over your body image issues? That can be harder than it sounds.
Sue Johanson: If you don’t like yourself it’s kind of unrealistic to expect your partner to really like you. So we’ve got to come to the point of a new self-conception and self-esteem. Tell yourself: “I will never make the centerfold of playboy magazine, but I am one beautiful broad.” And come to believe that, so that you’re okay. Because you are okay.
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| eeeeeeeee4686 | |
| sex film | |
| Jake400 | |
| OK ladies. First, guys look at gals admiring their best qualities, where women look at themselves and spot the worst quality. Second, its not what you got, its how you use it. Great looking gals can be rotten in bed; and regular woman can be fuckalious! If your guy is hard and all over you, your body can't be that bad! RJ | |
| MyOwnRules | |
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She wasn't saying "all" models are anorexic. She's saying that looking at the ones who are anorexic it's gross.
| lauramc70 -- Los Angeles | |
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I think it is very irresponsible for a doctor to make mean and genaralized statements by implying that all fashion models are anorexic. When I was younger I was as thin as some of these women and was that way because I have a fast metabolism which is genetic. Now at 36 and 5'7 I still only weigh 125, I eat whatever I want and exersize minimally just to stay toned. I'm not saying only very thin women should be models, why can't there be models who are all shapes and sizes like the general population? I have been accused many times of being anorexic or bulimic mostly by mean and nasty former female co-workers. But also by a very ignorant nurse in jr. high school who acted as if I had committed some kind of crime by being thin. These accusations were very hurtful to me and these women seemed to want me to have an eating disorder so they could feel good about why I was thin and about themselves. Dr. Johanson also talks meanly about how models' bodies look when they are naked. Should some of these women and girls have eating disorders they are going to extremely insecure and to talk negatively about the way they look will only make their conditions worse. Women or girls with these disorders should have our sympathy because they have an illness and should not be insulted. Mean descriptions would not be used for overweight women because it would seem insensitive. Even at my thinest, I always felt like a woman, yes a "real" woman. I always liked eating, sex, and life which Dr. Johanson says are liked by women who have flesh on their bones. I guess not by women who don't. Well she can kiss my skinny white ass! And of course a thin man would just be thought of as thin, not anorexic. Why is it that men can weigh 100 pounds or 350 pounds and do not face the same scrutiny! |
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| Olivia -- Tucson | |
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It's so true! I have so many friends that are afraid to really let go in bed because they're worried about what they look like.
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