I saw this on Postsecret a few weeks ago and it warmed my heart. The combination of selflessness combined with a healthy/realistic view of body image makes me think that the woman who made this postcard is at peace with herself. She seems to be comfortable in her own skin and in today's messed up world of body fixation it gives me hope for the future.
If scars from battle are cool on men, why can't stretch marks be cool on women? I interpret this postcard as reframing something displeasing as something full of honor and pride. Of course I look at this as a man . . . perhaps you see something different?
May Light increase!
Church service at Holy Church near Rescue 1
4 weeks ago
10 comments:
Oh Mark, THAT is so much more than a stretch mark! Great if she is alright with that of course! Personally I think that if this woman wanted to do something about that skin, she would be totally justified in doing so. That almost looks painful to me.
You don't think those are stretch marks? Maybe she had quadruplets? Maybe not, I'm no expert. What else could that be?
I doubt she had quadruplets if the postcard says she has 3 kids... :)
Sorry, couldn't resist!
Jay
Jay, you expose my lack of thinking things through! Yet I am not undone. Perhaps one of the quadruplets didn't make it. Or she gave one away for adoption? So many possibilities. Plus maybe she is being deceptive maybe the woman is lying about the three kids - maybe she has five!
I've seen stomachs look like that after one baby. Part of it is probably stretch marks, but some is the fact that she probably gained so much weight during her pregnancy that her skin doesn't want to snap back to it's original form. If she's good with it, great for her! I would consider a tummy tuck if it was me. Am I shallow for saying that? Maybe. I just know I would feel better if that was removed. I don't like having things on me that flap. :)
I like your interpretation though...
My guess is she had triplets and that her skin is not very elastic. It looks dry and thin. That skin was stretched so tight it cannot shrink back to what it was or even close. I too think she may have gained a lot of weight because it looks like cellulite type skin.
I don't think my stretch marks are cool and I'll never show them off to the world, but they were definitely worth it.
I'm all for people feeling comfortable in their own skin. Whatever skin that is. Key word 'comfortable'. If she's okay with that, more power to her. If she's uncomfortable and would want it removed surgically (there is no exercise or diet that will get rid of that loose skin), that's great too. She otherwise has a fairly 'fit' looking body which tells me if she's not naturally slim she works on herself. This was 'left over' from having her babies and the fact that she's proudly showing it off makes me applaud her.
Honestly, that COULD happen from just one baby. My tummy doesn't look that bad, but I have the same type of stretch marks. And I didn't gain 50 pounds, or even 30, for that matter. My skin is just thin and dry. Also, Many many thin people have cellulite too.
Sorry, just thought I should defend a bit.
I also would not feel comfortable showing that off, but I think it's awesome that she can accept that.
If we have more kids, I wouldn't be surprised if I look that bad, and I would probably consider getting the extra skin removed.
Truthfully, my first reaction was...ewwww.. I've had four kids and I am not about to go around showing off my belly. Am I ashamed of my stretch marks? No. But I don't necessarily want to display them!
I'm actually not sure that is a real picture... the wrinkly part looks superimposed on the rest of her. Not that there aren't stretch marks like that, though...
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