Jessica Simpson and the post-baby body “reveal”

It’s so troubling. Stars have babies, stars are expected to step out in public with their new post-baby bod and everyone oooh’s and aaah’s about how they were able to “do it,” you know–get that baby weight off in record time. And this should serve as inspiration for how you can too.

I don’t know about you, but as someone who has never gone through pregnancy to childbirth, being pregnant for 9 months and going through childbirth is inspirational to me. I can’t even imagine the toll it takes on your body and mind and I can’t fathom, I mean, fathom, putting additional pressure on my body after a performance like that (especially if you are breast-feeding, which is exhausting).

So there is something epically disgusting about the objectification of celebrity bodies, pre and post-baby and how that makes the average baby haver feel. Not only are lady celebrities fighting the passage of time, aging, possible weight gain and all the other unrealistic beauty standards glommed onto them, but they run the risk of becoming obsolete lest they let something like giving birth get in the way of that bikini bod.

So, I’m annoyed and disappointed (but not shocked) that Jessica Simpson revealed her post-baby bod on Katie Couric’s new talk show and this is a) newsworthy and b) supposed to be an inspiration. It’s important to note that Simpson also has a deal with Weight Watchers. And Simpson has been on the cover of so many tabloids, because of her weight (and I can’t fault her for making some $$ off of all the unwarranted attention) and I can’t imagine the psychological implications of seeing your body photographed and belittled. But I had always hoped that her lasting lesson from this would not be that weight loss is the way to go, but to stick to the “love yourself as you are” which was her mantra for a little while.  

And I’m not saying it can’t be both. Maybe for her, loving herself is loving herself at this size–that’s not for us to judge. But the unfair pressure put on moms right after they have babies to be tight taut little super moms is unnerving and it makes new moms feel like shit. They have enough to worry about, they don’t need the extra pressure of losing weight and fitting into unrealistic standards of beauty, as well. Media gimmicks like Simpsons only perpetuate the widely accepted belief that women’s bodies are always supposed to be objectified.

Pic via.