In another sign of the impending apocalypse

[textualdeviance]

We now have a children's book explaining why mommy is getting cosmetic surgery.
Maybe it's just me, but personally, I think having cosmetic surgery in the first place should be grounds for being considered an unfit parent. Fair enough if there's something actually wrong--a crooked nose from a break, for instance--but vanity surgery is dangerous and stupid and sets a horrible example for kids: You're not acceptable the way you are, and in fact, you're so unacceptable that you need to undergo extremely painful surgery and risk serious complications or even death in order to become acceptable. How can sane people think this is an ok message for their kids?

Gods, our priorities are so screwed up in this country.

Comments

[aprivatefox.livejournal.com]

The irony here is that this is a vanity press book, which nobody would have ever heard of if not for Newsweek running an article on it in order to manufacture this controversy.

When this first hit, I'd have said "nobody will ever read this book" - it had no publicity, no marketing, and a print run of less than 5k copies. Now, with all the national media attention, the outrage against it is poised to make the book a viable market performer.

[waterfaery.livejournal.com]

It's funny... I would never have considered a breast reduction previous to being pregnant, but at the moment I am having daily back & neck issues. If I lifted weights 4X/week I would greatly reduce these, but finding the time and energy, with an infant and all, is really challenging. I'm constantly aware of and uncomfortable with my boobs now, which isn't how I felt before. But at least part of that *is* vanity. (oh... at the moment it's also that I need to pump, whoops!) Having my body come back after pregnancy exactly as it was except for a belly pooch, stretch marks, and breasts that are now six inches lower than they were before? It bothers me a little. If I were having no pain whatsoever, and it were just that it's hard to find clothing that fits me and is flattering, I probably still wouldn't consider the surgery. But right now, I'm thinking that after I finish breastfeeding I'd like to get down to a manageable size. I know I'm acceptable the way I am, and if it came to it, sure, I'd roll up my boobs into my bra, or tuck them into my waistband, or whatever. But I'd really like to not have them be a big giant pain the ass on a daily basis.

[pixxelpuss.livejournal.com]

I have no problem with adults without serious psychological problems deciding to undergo plastic surgery. Hell, I'd consider myself for purely vanity reasons. I find it a little harsh to suggest that it should be grounds for being considered an unfit parent. Rail against beauty standards all you like, but they're not going to go away. Do I think that anyone should judge themselves based only on their appearance? Hell no, a person's worth is determined by much more than their cup size. But, I don't find it even remotely appropriate to suggest to someone who is largely happy with who they are that they are in some way terrible for making this choice for themselves. I don't think that kind of judgment is helping anyone.