From my hotel room in Gallup, NM: Katie H. sent in this picture of Jessica Simpson in a shirt that says “Real girls eat meat”:
Katie points out that this could be a really interesting contrast to the PETA PSAs using sexualized images of big-breasted blond celebrities to oppose eating meat and wearing fur.
But she also provided a link to PETA’s response to the photo, “Top Five Reasons Only Stupid Girls Brag about Eating Meat.” Note reason #4:
Meat will make you fat. All the saturated fat and cholesterol in chicken wings, pork chops, and steak eventually leads to flabby thighs and love handles. I hope the upcoming “Jessica Simpson’s Intimates” line comes in plus sizes! Going vegetarian is the best way to get slim and stay that way.
Katie pointed out that some of the other reasons play on the idea of attractiveness, too–compassion is “sexy” and the meat industry isn’t “hot.” It’s a very interesting connection between activism on behalf of animals and reinforcing ideals of femininity that focus on being thin and sexy above all else.
Thanks, Katie H.!
Comments 12
Wisaakah — June 20, 2008
I'm assuming that the saying on this shirt is a play on the "real men eat meat" idea. So why would they use "real girls" instead of "real women"?
Navidson — June 20, 2008
It could also be a blowjob reference.
R. — June 20, 2008
That shirt is open to a lot of interpretation. Some clean, some not. PETA drives me batty. I requested info on going veg and they sent me a poll and requested money. The info on vegetarianism never showed up.
Maddy — June 20, 2008
I'm a vegetarian who hates PETA. I'm also not a real woman because I don't eat meat or have curves. Vegetarianism shouldn't be marketed as a way to "get slim." If you eat poorly, meat or no meat, you're going to have trouble getting slim.
hypatia — June 20, 2008
I agree with Maddy.
1) PETA is just a horrible joke.
2) Why do we have to bash vegetarians or omnivores to prove attractiveness?
3) I know plenty of fat vegetarians because they still eat lots of junk food. It's about processed vs. unprocessed food, inactive vs. active lifestyles. A baked chicken breast has less fat than deep fried tofu.
And now I have a craving for some fried tofu.
Breck — June 20, 2008
I read somewhere that this shirt was meant as a personal dig at Tony Romo's ex (well, whether they were ever really dating is disputed) the country singer Carrie Underwood, who is a vegetarian.
No, I am not proud to know this. Not proud at all.
Sociological Images » PROHIBITION POSTERS — July 4, 2008
[...] an earlier post, noting they’re the old-school version of PETA ads that sexualize women (see here, here, and here) in the name of activism (and by Protestant standards of the time, I’m pretty [...]
Sass — July 21, 2008
I know a lot of fat vegetarians who are active and limit processed foods and are fat anyway. And I know thin meat eaters who don't excercise. How someone gets fat doesn't determine their current behavior...and you never know why someone is fat just by looking at them (hint: it's not always about "junk food").
Sociological Images » ONESIES FOR TRANSNATIONALLY ADOPTED INFANTS — December 5, 2008
[...] Saving The Planet - What Are You Doing?”, “Tough Guys Wear Pink”, “Real Girls Eat Meat”, “True Love Waits”, “I Love My Big Tatas”, and “Use Your Period For [...]
jackqueline — February 23, 2009
dam real gurlz got curves too
larry — August 5, 2010
Here's a good video on meat: http://meat.org
Kim — February 8, 2014
She's fat, because she eats more calories than she needs. Not because she eats meat. I'm an omnivore, and my body fat is less than 5%.